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Aamir Khan recalls assistant director Reema Kagti scolding him on Lagaan set for slow breakfasts and being late, highlighting strict punctuality and discipline during the shoot.
Aamir Khan Opens Up On Lagaan Set Moment With Reema Kagti: ‘I’m The Producer’
The memories of long shooting days, dusty fields, and team lunches still linger when one thinks of Lagaan. But beyond the iconic scenes and songs, it’s the little behind-the-scenes moments that continue to surprise… even years later.
In a recent chat with Just Too Filmy, Aamir Khan shared a rather unexpected incident from the film’s set, one that involved him being firmly pulled up despite being both the lead actor and producer. Recalling the moment with a laugh, he said, “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’.”
The assistant director he referred to was Reema Kagti, who, as per Aamir, didn’t hold back despite his position on the film. He continued, “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.”
The story is just one of many that highlight how disciplined the shoot of Lagaan was under director Ashutosh Gowariker. In a separate interview with Friday Talkies, filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia shared another incident that shows how strict the schedule was—even for Aamir.
He recalled, “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 said. “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.’”
Despite the chaos, Aamir reportedly took it in stride, understanding the need for discipline on such a massive project.
Released in June 2001, Lagaan went on to become one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated films. It earned an Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category and won eight National Film Awards.
April 26, 2026, 08:32 IST
