Actor Aamir Khan, who recently turned 60, spoke about his career and shared insights into the making of the 2006 film ‘Rang De Basanti.’ Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, ‘Rang De Basanti‘ tells the story of a British filmmaker who decides to make a documentary about Indian freedom fighters. She chooses a group of carefree young men to play the revolutionaries. As the film progresses, these men are inspired by the past and begin their fight against corruption. The film was both a critical and commercial success, even earning a BAFTA nomination for Best Film Not in the English Language.
In an interview on the ‘Just Too Filmy’ YouTube channel. Known for choosing roles that go against the norm, Aamir discussed how the film’s original ending was different from what audiences eventually saw. He also highlighted its key message, which remains relevant today. Aamir explained how the film’s climax was initially written. In the first version, after killing the Defence Minister, the characters tried to escape but were eventually caught and killed. Aamir questioned this decision, asking, “Why are they running away if they don’t believe they’ve done something wrong? They shouldn’t run.”
This led to a major change in the story. Instead of running, the characters decide to go to a radio station and talk to the public about their actions. They admit that they first thought violence was the solution but later realized it was not. Aamir said, “Like Bhagat Singh did during his time, they do via the radio. Very importantly, they explain that they also thought that violence was the solution, but it isn’t. It’s the first film that verbally tells you that violence is not the answer.”
Aamir also spoke about the film’s overall message. He said, “No country is perfect. You have to make it perfect. Outsiders won’t clean the filth in your country; you have to get your hands dirty and clean it yourself. Becoming a part of the system and changing it from within was the overall thought behind the film.”
