In a recent revelation, Aamir Khan confirmed that Alia Bhatt declined Thugs of Hindostan role, along with Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor, before Fatima Sana Shaikh was cast in the film. The actor opened up about the casting process and expressed his candid thoughts on the choices made behind the scenes.
Several Leading Actresses Passed on Thugs of Hindostan
Aamir Khan, a renowned figure in Bollywood and recognized for his reliable box office record, faced an unusual setback with Thugs of Hindostan, his ambitious collaboration with Yash Raj Films. The actor has not hesitated to discuss the film’s underwhelming performance. In a recent interview, he shed light on the casting difficulties encountered prior to production, sharing that Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, and Shraddha Kapoor were all initially approached for a lead role, but each actress ultimately turned down the offer.
During his conversation with The Lallantop, Aamir stated,
“When we were casting, no heroines agreed to do the film. Deepika said no, Alia was a no, and Shraddha also said no.”
—Aamir Khan, Actor
Fatima Sana Shaikh Cast Amid Audience Doubts
After being declined by several leading ladies, director Vijay Krishna Acharya and producer Aditya Chopra decided to cast Fatima Sana Shaikh. However, there was some hesitation about pairing her opposite Aamir Khan due to their previous father-daughter on-screen dynamic in Dangal. Aamir recounted,
“Ultimately, Victor (Vijay Krishna Acharya) went with Fatima. However, Aditya Chopra and Victor made it clear that although her test was good, she wouldn’t be paired opposite me because I had played her father in Dangal. They were concerned the audience might not accept it.”
—Aamir Khan, Actor
Challenging this line of thinking, Aamir voiced his disagreement with the assumption that the audience would resist such a pairing, saying,
“I don’t believe in such things because I’m neither her father in real life nor her boyfriend. We’re just actors making a film. Aren’t we underestimating our audience by assuming they won’t understand that?”
—Aamir Khan, Actor
Aamir Khan’s Personal Reflections on the Film’s Reception
Aamir Khan has been forthright about his feelings regarding Thugs of Hindostan. In an earlier podcast with Raj Shamani, the actor admitted,
“I didn’t like Thugs of Hindostan either. Today, I can openly say it. I really tried to convince Aditya Chopra (the producer)… When the film was about to release, I wasn’t happy with it. Kiran Rao (my ex-wife) knows that whenever I have a film releasing, I can’t sleep for two months—my mind goes into overdrive.”
—Aamir Khan, Actor
Aamir Khan’s Recent Work and Industry Reflection
Currently, Aamir Khan has returned to cinema after a break following the commercial disappointment of Laal Singh Chaddha in August 2022. He now stars in Sitaare Zameen Par, directed by R.S. Prasanna, marking his comeback after a three-year hiatus. The film has already started making waves in the industry and has garnered praise for Aamir’s performance.
Praising Aamir’s recent work, Dr Shashi Tharoor remarked,
“Aamir Khan’s acting was first-class in Sitaare Zameen Par,”
referring to Prasanna’s direction as “well-written.” —Dr Shashi Tharoor, Public Figure
This series of candid admissions from Aamir Khan reveals a rare glimpse behind the curtain of major Bollywood productions, highlighting not just the star’s ongoing commitment to honest storytelling, but also the challenging dynamics of big-budget film casting, and the expectations placed on both audiences and the artists themselves.
