Rang De Basanti (2006), starring Aamir Khan, is hailed as a cult classic, loved for both its powerful storyline and memorable songs. However, fans might be surprised to learn that the film’s climax was not part of the original script and was, in fact, reworked by Aamir Khan himself.
In a conversation, Aamir Khan explained that the original climax involved the group killing the defense minister and then attempting to escape the city, with each member of the group getting shot at different locations. Aamir, however, felt that this ending didn’t align with the spirit of the story.
“I love your script, but the end doesn’t make sense to me because why are they running? Do they feel they have done something wrong?” Aamir recalled asking director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
Aamir suggested an alternative ending, drawing parallels with Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary who chose to face arrest rather than run away after his actions.
“Bhagat Singh didn’t run away. He got arrested by choice and then expressed what he had to,” Aamir noted, proposing that the characters in Rang De Basanti should do the same.
He further shared that he had written a story years earlier that involved two men taking over a television studio to communicate their message to society. Aamir suggested incorporating this into the film’s climax, where the characters enter a TV station to go live and speak to the people. Mehra liked the idea, and it became the iconic ending that audiences now associate with the film.
Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Rang De Basanti featured an ensemble cast including Aamir Khan, Siddharth, R. Madhavan, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, and British actress Alice Patten. The film, released in 2006, remains a beloved classic, known for its impactful storytelling and commentary on youth, revolution, and patriotism.