Aamir Khan celebrates a decade of 'Lagaan' in style

When sports-themed period film "Lagaan" released in 2001, it created a rage and now after a decade, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan celebrated the film's 10 years and his own 10 years into production with fanfare and jubilation.
The actor invited all those who were part of "Lagaan" and also the teams of all the films produced under his banner "Aamir Khan Productions".

"I'm very happy to meet my entire team of 'Lagaan' after so long. The film has completed 10 years. It's so nice to meet all these people and celebrate with them," Aamir told reporters here late Wednesday night.

"Teams of all the other films are also here. I thank them that such great talents have worked with our production house and made it what it is today," he added.

A special screening of a film based on the making of "Lagaan" was also organised for the guests that included Ashutosh Gowariker, Imran Khan, Javed Akhtar, Gracy Singh and others.

In 2002, "Lagaan" was nominated for the best foreign language film at the Oscars but it didn't win the award.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was the narrator in "Lagaan", also made an appearance.

"I'm happy and proud that my name is associated with such a great actor, director and producer like Aamir Khan and with a film like 'Lagaan' that created waves even internationally," Amitabh said.

The evening also witnessed the presence of Aamir's wife Kiran Rao, who was an assistant director on the sets of "Lagaan", and his ex-wife Reena Dutta.

"I don't believe that it's been 10 years now. Today when we saw this screening, we realised that it has been so long. We are very thankful to Ashutosh and Aamir that they made such a great film and made us a part of it," Kiran said.

"It's a very unique film and you can't make such films every day. History was written when this film was made," she added.

It was reported at that time that Aamir and Kiran began dating during the shoot of "Lagaan" but the actor denied it.

"I did not meet Kiran properly that time because she was a part of a 300-plus crew, so I was not really good friends with her during that time. I made friends with her later in 2003," the actor revealed.

Aamir also ruled out the possibility of a sequel to "Lagaan". "We will not make a sequel of this film. That's for sure," he said.

Aamir Khan productions celebrate a decade of film-making

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has said he never aspired to be a producer but the strong script of 'Lagaan' made him resolve to plunge into the film-making arena.
He was addressing a success party last night to celebrate 'Lagaan', which completed ten years, and with it Aamir Khan productions also completing a decade into film production.

Aamir said producing a movie was a tough job as he had seen his father and uncle making Hindi films and trying to come to terms with the medium. ''I never wanted to become a producer but with the passage of time the medium has fascinated me'', he told the cast and all others associated with the film and his company.

A documentary 'Madness', on the making of Lagaan, was screened for the guests. Made by Satyajit Bhatkal, who handled production for Lagaan, it brought back memories of the movie for the cast and crew of the film.

Lagaan had broken all rules of Indian cinema, it was made against a village background, where the hero wore a dhoti and the climax was a cricket match, all forbidden areas in Indian film making.

An ambitious project written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan, it became the third Hindi-language film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay! (1988). Lagaan became a super hit, breaking all records. It also won critical acclaim.

The function was about this joy and happiness that came after a series of difficulties and hurdles, which the Lagaan team overcame.

Aamir Khan production with Lagaan began a memorable journey of producing good cinema. Under the AKP banner are also credited films like 'Tare Zameen Par', 'Dhobi Ghat', 'Peepli Live', 'Jane Tu Ya Jane Na' and the latest and yet to be released 'Delhi Belly'.

Among the personalities that graced the occasion were Ashutosh Gowariker, who wrote and directed Lagaan, Javed Akhtar who wrote the songs, Udit Narayan wth son Aditya Narayan, Vaibhavi Merchant, Abbas Tyrewala and Amitabh Bachchan, who gave the voice over for Lagaan and all actors, who worked in an AKP film.

In Ram Sampat, I predict that a star is born Aamir Khan

Bollywood star Aamir Khan seems to be in awe of composer Ram Sampath's work in the soundtrack of his forthcoming production venture "Delhi Belly" (DB). He is promiting it on social networking platforms, saying each track is a gem, but in the same breath, he requests people not to hear them on pirated CDs.
Composer Ram Sampath has gone experimental with the songs in "Delhi Belly" and Aamir feels he will become a star after the adult comedy.

"The music of DB is out in stores now and I am so excited because I am really happy with the way the sound track has turned out. Ram Sampat has done some truly inspired work, and so have the various lyric writers. Each track is a gem. After really long I think its an album you would want to own," Aamir said Saturday in a message on his blog www.aamirkhan.com

Aamir, who is in Pondicherry to shoot for Reema Kagti's film, is asking his followers on his blog to give him feeback on the soundtrack.

"Please give me feedback, I'm very keen to know what you guys feel. But can I request you not to listen to it on pirated CDs or on websites who put up pirated versions," asked the 46-year-old.

Releasing July 1, the film, directed by Abhinay Deo, is an adult comedy and stars Imran Khan, Vir Das, Poorna Jagannathan, Kunal Roy Kapoor and Shenaz Treasurywala.

On Facebook, Aamir wrote: " 'DK Bose' and '....Uddhaarwaley Khisko' are only two of eigth kick-ass songs in 'Delhi Belly'. In Ram Sampat, I predict that a STAR is born!!! He has been a talent in hiding for sometime now, and post 'Delhi Belly' nothing can stop him. Mark my words...."

"Bhaag DK Bose" is said to be the brainchild of the film's writer Akshat Verma and later Amitabh Bhattacharya penned the song and Sampath composed and sang it.

"The DKB music video has been shot by a young, and in my opinion very talented director-editor, Sajid. Sajid has shot some great music videos and was recommended to me by Ram and Sona. Believe it or not he shot it in one day flat!!! I think we should all watch out for him," wrote Aamir on Facebook.

As a producer, "Delhi Belly" is Aamir's sixth production venture and expectations are high because so far he has maintained an outstanding track record with all this productions ventures from various genres becoming a big success at the box office - "Dhobi Ghat", "Peepli Live", "Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Naa", "Taare Zameen Par" and "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India".

Aamir Khan: Delhi Belly language might offend some Director

If Aamir Khan feels his forthcoming production venture "Delhi Belly" will affect his image as a family entertainer, director Abhinay Deo says the language used in the adult comedy might offend a section of the audience.
"Honestly, I think a lot may get offended with the language used in the film. Of course, it's completely youth oriented," Deo told IANS.

Releasing July 1, the film has been scripted by Los Angeles-based Akshat Verma, who studied movies at the University of California. Releasing July 1, it stars Imran Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Roy Kapoor.

"The script is outstanding. It's so funny. As a director I could take that script and go further. It's a very my kind of a film," said Deo.

Though it is coming just after his directorial debut "Game", "Delhi Belly" was shot first, and Abhinay assures that "'Delhi Belly' was shot before 'Game' and both being films from absolutely different genre, treatment of the two films were completely different".