Aamir Khan, director Ashutosh Gowariker and members of the cast and crew of ‘Lagaan’ reunited in Mumbai ahead of the film’s 25th anniversary on June 15, bringing together several familiar faces from one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated films.
As the milestone approaches, Aamir Khan organised a special reunion that turned into a nostalgic gathering for the team behind the 2001 release. The event saw old co-stars and collaborators revisiting memories from the film, which has remained a landmark in Hindi cinema.
The reunion included actors Paul Blackthorne, Rajendranath Zutshi, Aditya Lakhia, Yashpal Sharma, Akhilendra Mishra and Dayashankar Pandey, along with Suhasini Mulay, who played Bhuvan’s mother Yashodamai.
Reena Dutta and Aamir Khan’s daughter Ira Khan were also present. Images and videos from the gathering were later shared online, drawing attention from fans as the film marked its silver jubilee year.
Aamir Khan Productions also shared a glimpse of the reunion on social media, showing the cast revisiting the film’s script and reliving memories. The post was captioned: “Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker reunite with the Lagaan cast after 25 years.”
A key highlight of the anniversary celebrations was the return of British actor Paul Blackthorne, who played Captain Andrew Russell in the film.
Blackthorne travelled to India specifically to attend the events and shared updates of his visit on social media. Known globally for his roles in ‘Arrow’, ‘ER’ and ‘24’, he appeared enthusiastic about returning to Mumbai, where he met Aamir Khan, explored the city and reunited with former co-stars.
When ‘Lagaan’ released on June 15, 2001, it marked a shift in mainstream Hindi cinema. Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced under Aamir Khan Productions, the film told the story of Bhuvan and a group of villagers who challenge British officers to a game of cricket to avoid oppressive taxation.
The film’s soundtrack by AR Rahman continues to be widely celebrated, while its climactic cricket match remains one of the most iconic sequences in Indian film history.
‘Lagaan’ also received India’s nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, becoming only the third Indian film to achieve this distinction after ‘Mother India and Salaam Bombay!’ It further won eight awards at the 49th National Film Awards, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
The reunion coincides with a special theatrical re-release of ‘Lagaan’ from June 12 to June 14, allowing audiences another opportunity to experience the film on the big screen.
