Tisca Chopra says Aamir Khan felt they should have sold tissue papers with Taare Zameen Par’s tickets: ‘We could have made double the money’

“This was after the ’90s formulaic approach was over. Since the 2000s, with the arrival of Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai etc., it was all about stories and performances. I felt a stronger connection to such works,” she added.

When asked if Aamir Khan, known for his meticulousness, was a difficult person to work with, as is the public opinion, Tisca Chopra said she never felt that way. “Because I too am meticulous and I like that kind of working style. In fact, I ended up irritating him by asking for retakes of my shots often, saying I could do it better. It was a wonderful experience. He worked so hard on each and every part of it to the point that it couldn’t be bettered any more.”

Tisca also opened about Amole Gupte, who penned the script and was the film’s director initially. “But his and Aamir’s vision did not match. The portions Amol directed didn’t make it to the final cut. But his script itself was so wonderful. It was outstanding. After reading the script, I hesitated to even return the text to them. I didn’t want to miss those words.”

Heaping praise on Taare Zameen Par further, she noted, “Not only did it change my career path and garner me international recognition, but it also brought about many changes in the education system and inclusivity. It also proved that there’s a sweet spot between creativity and commerce.”

Recounting her preparation for the role of Maya, the actor said, “It involved such ridiculous preparation, all thanks to the genius of Aamir Khan. I was the last among the four to be cast. Darsheel, Sachet (who played Ishaan’s brother Yohan) and Viipn Sharma (who portrayed Ishaan and Yohan’s father) were already on board. Darsheel was 8-9, and Sachet was 11. Once I became a part, they began pulling my leg since I was a ‘newcomer’. They were doing all sorts of mischievous things to me. One day, I got so frustrated that I pinned them down, put a sofa cushion over the two, and sat on them. That’s when they started respecting me.”

Referring to the emotional impact Taare Zameen Par has had on people, she shared another anecdote about Aamir Khan. “One day Aamir called me and said that we should have sold tissue papers also with the film’s tickets so that we could have made double the money. Even Karan Johar was teary-eyed after watching the film,” she added.

Tisca Chopra also praised Darsheel Safary, saying, “he’s a very rooted boy.” “His family is very secure, and he himself is a fantastic person and a happy soul. I recently met him at Aamir’s daughter’s wedding reception. He is still full of love.”

The actor also mentioned that after the movie, she started getting only mother roles and hence waited for some time, eventually landing the role of Anushka in Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji.