“Maine Ab Tak Film…”: Aamir Khan Says He Rejected SRK’s ‘Swades’ As He Found It “Boring”
After Aamir Khan turned down Ashutosh Gowariker’s project, Shah Rukh Khan stepped in to take the lead in ‘Swades’, which released in 2004 to widespread critical acclaim.
In the world of cinema, even the most iconic collaborations don't always repeat themselves – sometimes, it's simply a matter of creative difference. One such case is that of Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker, the celebrated duo behind the Oscar-nominated ‘Lagaan’. While the film became a landmark moment in Indian cinema, their follow-up project never materialized, and Aamir has now revealed why. In a recent interview with Zoom, Aamir Khan shared that he had been offered the lead role in ‘Swades’, Gowariker’s next directorial venture after ‘Lagaan’.
However, he turned it down. And, to this day, he hasn’t watched the film.
Explaining his decision, Aamir said candidly, “I found it very boring! I had said this to Ashu when he narrated the whole story to me. In fact, I’ll tell you; Ashu narrated the story to me when we were making Lagaan. It was titled Kaveri Amma then. That’s what he told me.”
At the time, the project was titled ‘Kaveri Amma’, named after the character who played the foster mother of Mohan Bhargava, a role that eventually went to Shah Rukh Khan.
Recalling the moment, Aamir added, “It was a three-hour-long narration. When he asked me how I liked it, I said I want to tell you my first reaction first. I said, ‘I got bored. It’s very important for you to hear this reaction. Ki tera thought kitna bhi noble hain, aur jo tu kehna cha raha hain woh bohot hi sahi cheez hain, aur bohot zaroori bhi hain, lekin itne boring tarike se kahega toh mujhe maza nahi aayega. Baki ka mujhe pata nahi hain but main bore ho gaya hoon.”
He continued, “Aapko isko interesting karna hain. Actually maine ab tak film dekhi nahi hain Swades. Toh shayad usne correct kiya hoga… Logo ko Shah Rukh ka kaam khaas pasand aya tha maine ye note kiya tha.”
‘Swades’, released in 2004, went on to become one of Shah Rukh Khan’s most acclaimed performances. Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, the film won two National Awards and has since achieved cult status for its heartfelt storytelling and strong social message.
Aamir Khan, meanwhile, is now gearing up for the release of ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, directed by RS Prasanna. A remake of the Spanish film ‘Campeones’, the movie is set to hit theatres on June 20.
