Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan' has completed 25 years and remains one of the most iconic films made in India. As the team celebrates this silver jubilee landmark, the cast and crew reunited for a special screening and recalled fond memories. In a recent interview, actor Paul Blackthorne, who played Captain Andrew Russell, spoke about his experience as he returned to India for the celebration.
How the Role Came About
Recalling how the project came his way, Blackthorne said in an interview with Screen, "My agent called me in London and said, 'There's a Bollywood film they're going to audition you for.' I was like, 'Bollywood film? That's unusual.'" His doubts faded once he learned more about Aamir Khan and the scale of the project. "I familiarised myself with Aamir and suddenly realised, 'Wow, he's quite something.' Then I thought, 'Are you kidding? I have the opportunity to spend five months in India, work with this incredible man and have this experience.'"
A Life-Changing Experience
Looking back, Blackthorne describes the entire experience as life-changing. "It turned into this incredible phenomenon. It's been an extraordinary gift." One memory that remains vivid is hearing AR Rahman's music for the first time. "They put speakers on the cricket field and Aamir said, 'You're going to hear the music now.' Everybody sat down and listened. That was the first moment I thought, 'Wow. That music is going to be on top of this.'"
A Surreal Beach Moment
Away from the cameras, one incident has stayed with him. During a break after filming wrapped early at a palace location, he decided to spend time by the sea. "I went down to the beach. There was nobody around. I took off all my clothes and ran into the ocean." As he ran, pink-and-black flamingos flew past him, and flying fish jumped out of the waves. "At that point, I thought, 'Okay, let's cover up the crown jewels and keep everything intact.'" He described standing in the water, surrounded by nature's spectacle, and realising he was witnessing something extraordinary. Those beach trips became his Sunday ritual.
Enduring Affection for the Film
Even after 25 years, Blackthorne remains amazed by the affection people show for 'Lagaan'. "People get incredibly excited when they realise you're part of the film. Taxi drivers in England suddenly start Facetiming their family members." The reactions can occasionally be distracting, he joked. "I'll be sitting there thinking, 'Can you just concentrate on driving the car, please, sir? We can take a selfie afterwards.'" Nevertheless, he treasures the love audiences have shown. "It's a beautiful thing. If somebody has enjoyed something you've been part of, that feels wonderful. I feel very grateful to have had that opportunity."
