Ashutosh Gowariker reveals one key factor behind Lagaan’s success: “Ek Aamir Khan hi hai mere paas”

Speaking at the event, Ashutosh pointed out a crucial factor which, according to him, was very important for the film to work back when it was released.

• Lagaan celebrates 25 years with a special screening in Mumbai
• Gowariker: Lagaan was experimental with new cast
• Lagaan was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars

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Ashutosh Gowariker's period sports-drama Lagaan completed 25 years since its release in 2001 and the film continues to be one of the legendary films of Indian Cinema. Headlined by Aamir Khan, Lagaan continued to be loved by the audience for its way of showing Indian villagers fighting the British Empire.

To celebrate the special milestone of the film, director Ashutosh Gowariker and Aamir Khan held a special screening of Lagaan at the Red Lorry Film Festival, marking its 25th anniversary on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Mumbai.

Speaking at the event, Ashutosh pointed out a crucial factor which, according to him, was very important for the film to work back when it was released.

He said, "Lagaan is an experimental film, experimental script, sab kuch experimental horaha hai. Usmein baaki ke jo characters hain, mujhe fresh casting karni thi. Ek Aamir Khan hi hai mere paas. Toh mere mind mein yeh tha ki Aamir has to look handsome in the film (Everything was experimental in the film and I wanted to cast fresh actors for the rest of the characters. I only had Aamir Khan with me. So in my mind, Aamir has to look handsome.)"

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"Clean-shaven, a slightly different haircut kardete hain, gaon ka hairstyle and no moustache. So I thought that was more important for the film," the filmmaker added.

During the screening event, Ashutosh also clarified that Lagaan did not seek inspiration from Dilip Kumar starrer Naya Daur, but rather had more similarities with the Asterix comics.

“It’s a myth. I was not inspired by ‘Naya Daur’ and I had not even seen the film. I was going by my own childhood memories of going to my hometown Kolhapur, going to farmland, fields, how farmers lived, so that was my personal experience that (I’ve added),” Ashutosh stated.

Also read: Aamir Khan celebrates 25 years of Lagaan, reveals the cast would listen Gayatri Mantra while travelling to the set

Lagaan follows the story of a small village in Central India, where an arrogant British officer harasses the villagers with high taxes. The film then portrays how the villagers fight back with hope and resilience after he challenges them with a game of cricket as a way to get free from paying the taxes.

Lagaan also made India proud with its nomination at the Oscars in 2022 in the category of Best Foreign Language Film.