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Aamir Khan was scolded by Reema Kagti on Lagaan set for eating slowly: ‘I said I’m the producer’
Aamir Khan recently recalled how Reema Kagti scolded him on the sets of Lagaan for not arriving on time for a shot.
Aamir Khan debuted into production with Lagaan.
If a list were to be made of the defining films of the 21st century, Ashutosh Gowariker‘s Lagaan would undoubtedly find a place in it. Led and backed by Aamir Khan in his debut production, the film has not only aged like fine wine but also remains a classic example of what a commercial film can achieve in terms of storytelling and emotional impact. What is even more interesting is that the film’s behind-the-scenes stories are as compelling as the film itself.
‘Reema Kagti scolded me, I’m the producer’
Recently, Aamir Khan revealed in a conversation with Just Too Filmy how he was scolded on the sets of the film by assistant director Reema Kagti (who later directed him in Talaash) for not showing up on time for a shot. Recalling the incident, he shared with a laugh, “Lagaan had so many actors, and she was the second AD. She had to plan all the timings—about who would come at what time, who would have breakfast when, etc. They used to keep 15 minutes for breakfast, and I eat slowly, I do everything slowly, so I told them to call me 15 minutes earlier. She scolded me and said, ‘For you, the whole hair and makeup team will not come 15 minutes earlier’.”
He further added: “I’m the producer and she is scolding me. I said, ‘It takes time for me.’ She said, ‘I don’t care, you have to come…’ She spoke to me very harshly. I felt hurt. So I said, ‘From now on, I will not have breakfast.’ It didn’t affect her; she said, ‘Very good, you can be ready on time then.’ After a week, exhausted, I went back to having breakfast there again.”
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‘Leave Aamir Khan behind’
Previously, in an interview with Friday Talkies, Apoorva Lakhia, who also worked on the film as an AD, recalled the strict discipline enforced on the sets. He shared how punctuality was taken very seriously and how even Aamir Khan was once left behind due to being late.
“There were clear instructions that the bus would leave at a fixed time, with only a three-minute grace period for anyone running late. On the third day, Aamir was late. Ronit Roy was handling security, and everyone was already seated on the bus, waiting for him. Everyone was looking at me, wondering what I would do. I was nervous, but I knew I had to set an example,” Lakhia recalled. “I told the driver to leave Aamir behind, but he refused. Ronit was standing at the door of the bus, waiting for Aamir. At one point, I just kicked Ronit. He fell out, and I grabbed the driver by the neck and told him, ‘I will break your neck if you don’t start driving.’”
Apoorva Lakhia wondered if he would get fired for leaving the producer behind, but luckily, nothing of that sort happened as Aamir understood that he had to enforce strict discipline on the set. Lakhia is now looking forward to his next release, MaatruBhumi, starring Salman Khan.
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Released in June 2001, Lagaan is one of the most celebrated Indian films of all time. It remains the last Indian film to be nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars and went on to win eight National Film Awards.
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