Lagaan’s Long Haul: Aamir Khan Says First Cut Ran for 7 Hours—Distributors Nearly Bowled Over

Aamir Khan recently shared an intriguing behind-the-scenes tale from the making of the legendary film Lagaan. At a recent event, he revealed that the first cut of Lagaan was a whopping seven hours long, which understandably raised some eyebrows among distributors. In a bold move, he decided against selling the pre-release rights, a choice that didn’t sit well with many in the industry at the time.

 

Key Highlights:

 

•⁠  ⁠The original version of Lagaan clocked in at over seven hours, far beyond the typical film length, which understandably alarmed potential distributors.

 

•⁠  ⁠Distributors were worried that such a lengthy runtime would cut down on daily screenings, potentially leading to a 25% dip in box office earnings.

 

•⁠  ⁠Aamir Khan stood firm in his vision, opting not to sell pre-sale rights. He chose to take on the risk himself to keep creative control over the film’s final cut.

 

•⁠  ⁠Despite the initial doubts, Lagaan ultimately became both a critical and commercial success, even snagging an Academy Award nomination and securing its legacy in Indian cinema.

 

Outlook:

Aamir Khan’s willingness to take risks and his dedication to quality storytelling with Lagaan set a new standard for Bollywood. His journey highlights the significance of creative conviction and has motivated a new wave of filmmakers to prioritize their vision over immediate profits.

 

Source: Indian Express