Aamir Khan On Lagaan Not Winning An Oscar: “Of Course, I Was Disappointed & We Would Have Wanted To

Every aspect of it, from the performances to the sets to AR Rahman’s music was appreciated by one and all.

This day in history was marked with the release of Aamir Khan's film Lagaan, which was released 20 years ago. The period drama directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar that was released on the big screen was unlike any other. Audiences and critics alike were enthralled by the film. Everyone enjoyed everything about it, from the performances to the sets to AR Rahman's music.

All of this gratitude did not go unnoticed by the rest of the world. The film, which won hearts in its own country, went on to conquer the rest of the world after being nominated for an Academy Award. Lagaan accomplished a huge milestone just by being nominated, but it did not win. But that doesn't change the fact that everyone loves the movie. Aamir Khan has decided to speak about his feelings after losing at the Academy Awards. Continue reading to find out what Aamir has to say.

In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Aamir Khan expressed his disappointment that Lagaan did not win the Academy Award for Best Picture, “A lot of people have asked me this question, and they ask ‘How disappointed were you when Lagaan didn’t win?’. Of course, I was disappointed, and we would have wanted to win. A lot of people have asked me, ‘What could you have done differently in Lagaan?’ So that it could have won. Was it because it had songs? Was it because it was too long? And I’ve been telling people over the years, which I don’t think people have got yet, so maybe y’all can explain it to them.”

Aamir Khan also discussed the difficulties of simply being nominated for an award show like the Academy Awards. “At the Oscars, it is such a difficult process to even get nominated; it’s so difficult. If you are nominated, the members of the foreign language committee, 80%-90% or a huge percentage of them, out of all the films that came out that year, have loved your film. They have loved it so much that you are in the Top Five. In Los Angeles, they believe that if you are a nominee, you are coming and standing at the finish line. So, all are equally good. One is told to come and take a step ahead and they become the winner but the other four are just one step behind. So, what we failed to appreciate is that the members and everyone in the foreign language committee actually loved our film. Because, if they wouldn’t have loved our film, we wouldn’t have reached the Top Five,” The Lagaan actor said.

Aamir Khan also addressed the changes that others had suggested in order for Lagaan to win the Oscars, but he doesn't agree with them. Khan said, “So, that means there was nothing wrong in the film – the songs, the length, the musical aspect of it, the cricket aspect of it – all that was loved by the members and only then it got nominated. So, you have to understand that the film was highly appreciated, so you don’t look at it negatively, look at it positively. The fact that you reached the Top Five is a very big thing.”

In the comments area below, tell us about your favourite Lagaan moments. We're eager to know!

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