For an actor synonymous with meticulous script selection, Aamir Khan’s Thugs of Hindostan proved to be an unexpected disappointment. Despite its substantial budget and star-studded cast, the film ultimately fell short of expectations. Over time, Aamir has openly discussed the factors that contributed to its shortcomings, ranging from difficulties in casting to significant script alterations that left him feeling frustrated.
In an interview, Aamir recalled the considerable challenge of finding an actress for the female lead role. He revealed that numerous prominent actresses declined the part before Fatima Sana Shaikh eventually joined the cast. “When we were casting for it, no other female actor said yes to this part. Deepika, Alia, Shraddha, they all refused. That film was offered to the entire industry but no one wanted to do it,” he stated. When questioned if the script’s quality was a contributing factor, Aamir conceded that it might have played a role.
Once Fatima was cast, a new concern emerged regarding their on-screen dynamic. Having portrayed her father in Dangal, Aamir was now slated to play her love interest. This led the director to make a drastic decision: to completely remove the romantic storyline. The director’s reasoning was, “We won’t have a romantic track between you and her because she was your daughter in Dangal, how can she play your girlfriend here? Audience will reject this.”
However, Aamir strongly disagreed with this perspective. “I don’t believe in all of this. Main asal mein thode uska baap hun, aur na asal mein main uska boyfriend hun. Hum log film bana rahe hain bhai,” he asserted, emphasizing the nature of acting. He bolstered his point with a past example, arguing, “Audience is not this stupid that they will think that he is the actual father. We are underestimating our audience if we say that.”
This candid reflection from Aamir offers valuable insight into the creative tensions and decisions that shaped the ill-fated production.
