Aamir Khan Removed Daya Shankar Pandey: Aamir Khan once removed actor Daya Shankar Pandey from the film Akele Hum Akele Tum, believing the actor was too talented for a background role, according to Pandey’s recent account. The incident occurred during a period when Pandey was struggling financially and actively seeking any available work in the industry.
Speaking on the YouTube channel Friday Talkies, Pandey recalled asking an assistant director on the film for a role, accepting a 12-day part as a junior artist. At the time, he was being paid ₹2,000 per day and relied on the earnings to support himself after his family declined financial help.
“I didn’t have work. I was facing financial crisis,” Pandey said in the interview. He explained that his main focus was earning a living and that he was trying to stay out of sight on set to avoid drawing attention. However, Aamir Khan, the lead actor of the film, eventually noticed him and intervened.
Pandey had previously worked with Khan on the 1995 film Baazi, and the actor knew Pandey as a capable performer. Upon seeing him on the Akele Hum Akele Tum set, Khan questioned his presence and, after learning of his minor role, approached director Mansoor Khan and the assistant director. According to Pandey, Aamir told them, “He is a very good actor. Don’t waste him.”
The praise, while well-intentioned, led to Pandey being removed from the role. “I didn’t want to hear this appreciation because I wanted to earn my per day and leave,” he said. “I thought of Aamir Khan as a villain at that time. They did my pack-up.”
Despite the setback, Khan later helped Pandey secure roles in other major projects. He cast Pandey in Lagaan and personally recommended him for a part in Ghulam. Pandey shared that Khan arranged a meeting for him with director Mahesh Bhatt and writer Anjum Rajabali. However, the actor initially faced rejection again, as the creative team was hesitant about his appearance.
“Anjum and Mahesh kept rejecting me for roles in the film, saying that I am too thin and all,” Pandey recalled. The repeated rejections left him feeling insecure, particularly since Khan had been vouching for him. “I got very insecure because Aamir Khan is recommending me but the writer is rejecting. What kind of bad luck is this.”
Eventually, Khan persuaded the filmmakers to cast Pandey, who went on to build a career with notable roles in Lagaan, Gangaajal, and Swades.
The incident highlights the complexities actors face in the industry, where talent, timing, and opportunity do not always align. Pandey’s experience also underscores how even positive intentions can have unintended consequences in a competitive environment.
