Aamir Khan feels this actor could play the lead in Lagaan if it were remade today; it's not Ranbir Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan

Aamir Khan played Bhuvan in Lagaan, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The sports drama film became a box office success in 2001.

Updated on: Sep 20, 2025, 16:27:57 IST

By Santanu Das

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Lagaan, starring Aamir Khan, is often considered one of the finest films in Indian Cinema and has achieved cult status over the years. It was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. What if Lagaan were to be made today? Who would play the lead role of Bhuvan? Aamir Khan had the answer.

This National Award-winning actor delivered one of the biggest hits of Indian Cinema earlier this year.

What Aaamir Khan said

The actor was the latest guest on Komal Nahta’s podcast Game Changers: The Producer Series, where he was asked who he would envision as Bhuvan if the film were remade today.

Aamir replied, “Vicky Kaushal, I think he has that quality of Bhuvan – dignity, strength, inner strength, steadiness, and integrity. He reflects all of that very naturally. He is a great actor."

About Lagaan

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) is an epic period musical sports drama film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The film also stars Suhasini Mulay, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajendra Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Rajesh Vivek, Raj Zutshi, Akhilendra Mishra, Daya Shankar Pandey and Yashpal Sharma. It also featured British actors Rachel Shelley and Paul Blackthorne. It received widespread acclaim upon release and won numerous awards.

Vicky Kaushal at the premiere of Netflix's series 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood', in Mumbai. (Photo by Sujit JAISWAL / AFP) (AFP)

Vicky's career in Bollywood

Meanwhile, Vicky made his acting debut with Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan. In the next few years, he established himself as a leading star in Bollywood with films like Uri: The Surgical Strike, Sardar Udham, and Sam Bahadur to name a few. His filmography includes a variety of genres, from action and historical biopics to romance and horror.

His latest release- Chhaava, which came out this year in January, became the third-biggest hit in the history of Hindi cinema, with a total collection exceeding ₹500 crore. Fans will see him next opposite Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in Love and War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupechaRead More

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