Aamir Khan admits firing four Jo Jeeta actors for making his life hell on set, recalls ‘torturous’ experience: ‘Bade badtameez…’

Aamir Khan admitted that he asked for four actors to be fired from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar because they were making life difficult for him.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | March 21, 2025 01:49 PM IST

4 min read

Aamir Khan and Ayesha Jhulka in a still from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.

Actor Aamir Khan revealed that his memorable 90s film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar was actually filmed twice over, after director Mansoor Khan realised that some portions of it weren’t working. Originally, the sports drama didn’t star Deepak Tijori and Pooja Bedi, with different actors having been cast in those roles. Aamir said in an interview that Mansoor was dissatisfied by the female lead’s performance, which prompted him to reshoot significant portions of the film. Aamir suggested that while they were at it, they should also fire four other actors, because they were unpleasant to work with.

In an interview with Just Too Filmy, Aamir recalled the story. He said, “It was a torturous experience to make the movie. It was pure torture. That film was made twice. The first time, we’d already shot around 60-70 days in Ooty. That’s when Mansoor told me that the girl who was playing Devika wasn’t working. He admitted that it was his fault, because he’d cast the wrong person for the role. She was simply too nice, and the movie needed that character to be snooty and arrogant. It was only after this that Pooja Bedi was cast.”

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Aamir said that half of what had already been shot included the Devika character, which meant that all of it had to be redone. He was particularly disappointed because he thought that he’d done a terrific job so far in the film. But because Mansoor wasn’t pleased, he was left with no choice but to do it all over again. He continued, “The remaining 20% of the movie had four actors whom I won’t name… But they were extremely rude. They made life hell for Mansoor and I. I told Mansoor, ‘If we’re redoing 80% of the movie, lets fire these guys and redo the entire thing’.”

Previously, actor-model Milind Soman has spoken about departing from the Jo Jeeta cast because he was displeased about the way the production was being run. In an interview with Barkha Dutt, he said that he landed up on set one day, only to learn that there was no breakfast. “I threw my bicycle saying, ‘Where’s my breakfast?’ They offered me nothing. I was not at home, I was at the mercy of the production for food,” he recalled, adding, “It was not important to me at that time. What was important for me was that I should be happy doing what I am doing, and if I am not, then it doesn’t work.”

Milind’s role was eventually re-cast with Deepak Tijori, who agreed to come on board, but only on the condition that Milind isn’t left in the dark. Chatting with Radio Nasha, Deepak recalled, “The film was almost shut, apparently. Around 75% of it had been done. Jo Jeeta was a movie I really wanted to do, and when I didn’t get it, I was very upset. But I moved on after some time. A few months later, we heard rumours that things had derailed in Ooty, and that actors had walked off the set. One day, Bhatt saab, who was shooting Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahi in Ooty, called me and said that I must go to the Jo Jeeta set because Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan had asked for me.” The film emerged as a hit.

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