Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, whose iconic film Lagaan is set to complete 25 years since its release, has described the project as one made with belief, passion, and honesty. The colonial epic will be screened at the BFI IMAX on July 12, 2026, as part of the upcoming London Indian Film Festival (LIFF).
Festival Highlights
The upcoming edition of LIFF promises a diverse array of offerings, including Aamir Khan in Conversation, a Goodness Gracious Me Reunion, Europe's first Indian AI and Film Showcase, and UK premieres of independent features and short films across five UK cities.
Closing Gala and Aamir Khan's Talk
The Closing Gala will feature Aamir Khan in Conversation at BFI Southbank on July 16, tying in with the 25th anniversary of the Academy Award-nominated film. The actor will deliver a rare talk about the making of Lagaan and his career journey from child actor to one of the world's most bankable superstars, known for blending entertainment with social issues.
Reflecting on the film, Aamir Khan stated, "As Lagaan completes 25 years, it's hard to put into words what this journey has meant. We made the film with a lot of belief, passion, and honesty, never imagining the kind of love it would receive and continue to receive all these years later. I'm truly delighted that this milestone is being celebrated with a screening at the BFI. To see Lagaan still connect with audiences across generations and across geographies is very special."
Opening Film: 52 Blue
The festival will open with the euphoric rites-of-passage story 52 Blue, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ali El Arabi. The film stars Adil Hussain and Neha Dhupia. The director and cast will be present for the screenings.
Comments from Festival Director
Cary Rajinder Sawhney, CEO and Programming Director of LIFF, said, "We are delighted to share the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Lagaan and show this epic film on the UK's largest IMAX screen with major actor producer Aamir Khan present to talk about its making. Other inspirational figures coming to the festival are Britain's legendary 'Goodness Gracious Me' comedy team, who will make a rare appearance together. We open our 17th festival with '52 Blue', a riveting and inspirational film about youth finding a way against impossible odds, which seems to wonderfully go against the grain of these seemingly despondent times."
He added, "There are so many impressive Indian indie features and short film premieres on show this year from different states and we even delve into the emerging world of Indian AI and filmmaking. It's great to see the festival expanding its footprint this year beyond London to Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, and Bradford."
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