Paul BlackthorneAndrew Russell who played Captain in ‘Lagaan’ recalled an unexpected bathroom conversation. Aamir Khan before one of the most important scenes of the film. The British actor said Aamir reminded him of his current weight before shooting the gambling scene where Bhuvan challenges Russell over the villagers’ tax. Blackthorne said the exchange left him frozen, but he made it through the scene.
Paul Blackthorne at Aamir Khan and ‘Lagaan’ reunion
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Paul Blackthorne talked about his return to Mumbai as “Lagaan” celebrates its 25th anniversary with a theatrical re-release and a cast reunion. He said: “It’s been an absolute whirlwind.” He added: “Last night we had this really fun 25th anniversary party, focusing on all things AK. [Aamir Khan’s] Phenomenal films of a quarter of a century.”Blackthorne said the actors also joined to read the scenes. He said, “Honestly, I had to try to remember how to read the Hindi script, and then I couldn’t do it anymore!” He added: “But the absolute highlight was seeing Lagaan again on the big screen. Sitting there and remembering what a truly incredible piece of cinema it is.”The actress said that working with Aamir elevated her performance. He said, “Working with actors of Aamir’s caliber is a gift. If you really listen and feel their truth, your truth also comes out. It elevates your entire performance.”
Paul Blackthorne recalls the ‘teen guna lagaan’ scene
Blackthorne said one memory stands out from the recording. Before shooting the crucial bet scene, she went to the washroom, and Aamir went in next to her. He recalled Aamir saying, “Oh, Paul. This is a very important scene. The most important scene in the film.”Blackthorne said, “I froze and thought, ‘Oh, God!'” He added, “Absolutely, sir. I’ll do my best. All right, let’s wash our hands and get on with it!”The actor also recalled that he studied Hindi for three to four months before the shoot in London. He said, “That’s the most important part of acting: listening.”Cricket brought another surprise. Blackthorne said that Aamir arranged a friendly match, and got him out twice on the first ball. Then Aamir said to him, “Maybe we could do a little work on your cricket after lunch.”Blackthorne spent his lunch breaks training. He joked that the editing saved the film, as someone gently bowled the ball during his batting scenes while Captain Russell looked tough on screen.
In Laga
Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, ‘Lagaan’ starred Aamir Khan as Bhuvan, a villager who leads his village in a cricket match against British officials to evade a heavy tax. The film also starred Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Suhasini Mulay, Yashpal Sharma, Raj Zutshi, Raghubir Yadav, Akhilendra Mishra, Rajesh Vivek, Daya Shankar Pandey and Aditya Lakhia.‘Lagaan’ became one of the most famous films in Hindi cinema and earned India an Oscar nomination in the category of Best Foreign Language Film. The film is remembered for its blend of sports drama, period stories, AR Rahman’s music and a story set in colonial India. Aamir also produced the film, which remains a major title in his career and Gowariker’s filmography.
