Veteran actor Yashpal Sharma, known for his outstanding role as Lakha in the acclaimed 2001 film ‘Lagaan’, recently took a trip down memory lane, recounting his experiences on the set of the Aamir Khan-starrer. Through a fascinating set of anecdotes, Sharma revealed how the team bonded during their time in Bhuj, and shed light on Aamir Khan’s exceptional humility devoid of any starry pretensions. He also touched upon how Aamir successfully kept the cast’s focus sharply honed by limiting distractions such as women and booze.
In a conversation on the Friday Talkies YouTube channel, Yashpal Sharma laid bare his preconceived notions about Aamir prior to joining the ‘Lagaan’ cast. “I thought Aamir would be arrogant because that’s what my experiences with stars had taught me. Some NSD graduates would also think of themselves as stars… But Aamir is a wonderful human being, first and foremost,” Sharma disclosed.
Reminiscing about his time on the ‘Lagaan’ set, Sharma highlighted Aamir Khan’s grounded spirit and organizational skills. “Aamir would sit in the dirt and drink tea out of a paper cup. He also organized a cards club where everyone would get together in the evening to play,” he recounted. Reflecting on Aamir’s strategic approach to keeping everyone focused, Sharma remarked, “Maybe it was Aamir’s strategy to keep everybody away from women and booze, and from getting into random fights. Everyone was together on that set, and we maintained it for over five months. The passion, the late nights, the camaraderie all translated onto the screen.”
Elaborating further, Sharma revealed the cherished traditions that have continued long after the filming of Lagaan. “To this day, Aamir hosts card parties for the ‘Lagaan’ crew every Diwali. We would have gol gappas together, went to watch a movie together, played cricket together, rehearsed together. But look at Aamir’s humility, he invites us to his house for card parties every Diwali,” he shared.
‘Lagaan,’ directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, has carved out a legendary space in Bollywood history since its release in 2001. Set in the late 19th century during British colonial rule in India, the film is centered around the village of Champaner, burdened by the insufferable taxes imposed by British authorities. The movie’s plot takes an intriguing turn as Bhuvan, played by Aamir Khan, takes up a high-stakes challenge posed by British officer Captain Andrew Russell. Bhuvan and his fellow villagers must play and win a game of cricket against the British team to be exempt from paying taxes for the next three years. Failure to win would result in tripling of the tax burden.
The storyline thoughtfully captures Bhuvan’s team’s journey as they painstakingly learn the game of cricket from scratch, overcoming various hurdles along the way. Despite being initially unfamiliar with cricket, the villagers undergo rigorous training to develop their skills, going up against the more experienced British players.
What sets ‘Lagaan’ apart is its vivid portrayal of resilience, unity, and determination among the villagers. The film delves into deeper themes like social stratification, injustice, and the power of collective action. The game of cricket is used as a metaphor for the broader fight against British colonial rule, providing a stirring representation of India’s struggle for independence.
The movie received widespread critical acclaim and secured both commercial success and international recognition. ‘Lagaan’, hailed for its stellar performances, direction, music, and cinematography, went on to win numerous awards. Its impact endures, resonating with audiences even decades after its initial release.
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Sharma’s memories and stories provide a valuable glimpse into the behind-the-scenes atmosphere that forged such a memorable film. His anecdotes and reflections serve to highlight not just the film’s significance, but also the exceptional efforts and camaraderie that went into making it a historic success.
(With inputs from ANI)
Veteran actor Yashpal Sharma, who played the role of Lakha in Ashutosh Gowariker’s 2001 film ‘Lagaan’, recalled his experience from the sets of the Aamir Khan-starrer. He shared interesting anecdotes on how the team bonded and also revealed how Aamir has no starry air around him. Yashpal also mentioned how the superstar may have been successful in keeping the cast away from women and booze during the shoot in Bhuj.
During a conversation on the Friday Talkies YouTube channel, Yashpal said, “I thought Aamir would be arrogant because that’s what my experiences with stars had taught me. Some NSD graduates would also think of themselves as stars… But Aamir is a wonderful human being, first and foremost.”
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Anecdotes from Lagaan sets
Reminiscing his experience on the sets of ‘Lagaan’, he mentioned how Aamir would sit in the dirt and drink tea out of a paper cup. He also organised a cards club where everyone would get together in the evening and play. “Maybe it was Aamir’s strategy to keep everybody away from women and booze, and from getting into random fights. Everybody was together on that set, and we maintained it for over five months. The passion, the late nights, the camaraderie all translated onto the screen,” said the actor.
Yashpal further revealed that to date, Aamir hosts card parties for the ‘Lagaan’ crew every Diwali. “We would have gol gappas together, we went to watch a movie together, we played cricket together, we would rehearse together. But look at Aamir’s humility, he invites us to his house for card parties every Diwali,” he added.
About Lagaan
‘Lagaan’, an iconic Bollywood film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, was released in 2001. The movie is set in the late 19th century during the British colonial era in India. The story of the movie revolves around a small village called Champaner, which is burdened by exorbitant taxes imposed by the British authorities.
The protagonist of the film is Bhuvan, played by Aamir Khan, a young and spirited villager who leads his fellow villagers in a unique challenge proposed by the British officer Captain Andrew Russell. In an attempt to alleviate the tax burden, Bhuvan and the villagers enter into a high-stakes game of cricket against the British team. If the villagers win, they would be exempted from paying taxes for the next three years, but if they lose, the tax burden would be tripled.
The movie follows the journey of Bhuvan and his team as they prepare for the cricket match, learning the game from scratch and overcoming various hurdles. The villagers, who are initially unfamiliar with cricket, go through rigorous training and develop their skills to compete against the seasoned British players.
‘Lagaan’ showcases the resilience, unity, and determination of the villagers as they challenge the British authorities and fight for their rights. The film also delves into themes of social stratification, injustice, and the power of collective action. It presents a stirring portrayal of the Indian independence struggle, using the game of cricket as a metaphorical battleground.
The film received critical acclaim and achieved both commercial success and international recognition. ‘Lagaan’ also won numerous awards in India and was highly appreciated for its performances, direction, music, and cinematography.
(With inputs from ANI)
