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All diehard Indian cinephiles might have heard countless behind-the-scenes stories about how the team behind Lagaan overcame numerous hurdles. From battling scorching heat and managing budget overruns to handling massive crowds — and even Aamir Khan singing the ‘Aati Kya Khandala’ song to keep the extras engaged — the challenges were endless.
The film broke conventional Bollywood norms, making it seem like a risky venture on paper. But here’s something you might not know: if it weren’t for the long-running TV series CID, Lagaan might never have existed. Curious? Read on to know more about the fascinating connection between CID and Lagaan.
Lagaan’s Surprising Origin Story
In an earlier interview with Mirchi Plus, Lagaan director Ashutosh Gowariker revealed that the two years he spent as an actor on the TV show CID were a great learning experience. But here’s the real surprise — he wrote the script for Lagaan in the makeup rooms of CID! Can you believe that? The Oscar-nominated epic was born between takes on a crime show set. Eventually the film gained cult status and went on to become one of only three Indian films ever nominated for an Academy Award, the other two being Mother India and Salaam Bombay!
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