Akhilendra Mishra recalls how Aamir Khan changed India's Oscar journey with Lagaan, says the film was dismissed as 'just a cricket movie'
Akhilendra Mishra has reflected on how Lagaan became a turning point for Indian cinema on the global stage and how Aamir Khan played a crucial role in paving the way for future Indian films at the Oscars. In a recent interview, Mishra revisited the skepticism the film initially faced and the historic shift it eventually brought about.
Recalling India’s early Oscar history, Mishra told Hindi Rush, “Mother India was nominated in 1956, becoming the first Indian film to reach the Oscars. After that, there was a long gap. People often mention Salaam Bombay! in this context, but it wasn’t technically an Indian film—it was a British production, even though its backdrop and soul were Indian. Its Oscar entry came from Britain.”
How Lagaan changed global perception of Indian cinemaAccording to Mishra, the landscape changed dramatically with the release of Lagaan in 2001. “After Mother India, the next big moment came in 2001 with Lagaan. Before that, Indian films weren’t even being considered seriously. Lagaan changed that perception. People suddenly realised that Indian filmmakers could make films of this scale—grand, conversational, and larger than life. The way the film merged history with cricket was extraordinary. It was truly historic.”
Reflecting on Lagaan’s Oscar loss, Mishra described it as a matter of timing rather than merit. “The reason Lagaan didn’t win the Oscar was because No Man’s Land was an extremely strong and sensational film that year. Lagaan finished at number two—just a mark or two away. It was sheer hard luck.”
Inside the Oscars night with Aamir Khan and the Lagaan teamHe also shared memories from the night of the Academy Awards. “That entire night, the Lagaan team, along with Aamir Khan’s production office, stayed up watching the ceremony. When we stepped out in the morning, the entire media was waiting. Aamir was there the whole night. We met around 6 a.m. and spoke at length.”
Mishra revealed that while shooting, the team sensed they were part of something special, though none imagined an Oscar nomination. “While making Lagaan, we always felt that the film would do something special. We used to sit together and talk—‘What a shot! What a shot!’ Even during random scenes, we would wonder, ‘What is this film becoming?’ But no one imagined it would go to the Oscars or even get nominated. That was truly amazing.”
Praising Aamir Khan’s leadership, Mishra added, “Aamir Khan treated all of us like family. He kept everyone together throughout the journey.”
The actor also recalled the intense box office conversation surrounding Lagaan’s release, as it clashed with Sunny Deol’s Gadar. “When Lagaan released, it clashed with Gadar at the box office, and there was a lot of discussion around that. Both films did phenomenal business. Interestingly, Aamir Khan and Sunny Deol had earlier delivered massive hits together with Ghayal and Dil. So people were already talking about that connection.”
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‘Just a cricket film’: Why many doubted LagaanHowever, before its release, Lagaan faced widespread doubt. “Before Lagaan released, many people dismissed it, calling it just a ‘cricket film.’ Press members would ask me, ‘You’ve played cricket—what is this film?’ Ashutosh Gowariker’s earlier films, Baazi and Pehla Nasha, hadn’t worked, so the industry had little faith. No one believed he could make a film like this, let alone one that would go to the Oscars and become a blockbuster.”
The film’s success ultimately silenced all critics. “But when Lagaan released, everyone fell silent.”
Summing up, Mishra credited Aamir Khan for standing firmly behind the project. “The real credit goes to Aamir Khan—for believing in the script, in Ashutosh Gowariker, and in the entire unit. He stood by the film no matter what. He backed it completely, and that’s what made the difference. That’s where Aamir Khan Productions truly established itself.”
Recalling India’s early Oscar history, Mishra told Hindi Rush, “Mother India was nominated in 1956, becoming the first Indian film to reach the Oscars. After that, there was a long gap. People often mention Salaam Bombay! in this context, but it wasn’t technically an Indian film—it was a British production, even though its backdrop and soul were Indian. Its Oscar entry came from Britain.”
How Lagaan changed global perception of Indian cinemaAccording to Mishra, the landscape changed dramatically with the release of Lagaan in 2001. “After Mother India, the next big moment came in 2001 with Lagaan. Before that, Indian films weren’t even being considered seriously. Lagaan changed that perception. People suddenly realised that Indian filmmakers could make films of this scale—grand, conversational, and larger than life. The way the film merged history with cricket was extraordinary. It was truly historic.”
Reflecting on Lagaan’s Oscar loss, Mishra described it as a matter of timing rather than merit. “The reason Lagaan didn’t win the Oscar was because No Man’s Land was an extremely strong and sensational film that year. Lagaan finished at number two—just a mark or two away. It was sheer hard luck.”
Inside the Oscars night with Aamir Khan and the Lagaan teamHe also shared memories from the night of the Academy Awards. “That entire night, the Lagaan team, along with Aamir Khan’s production office, stayed up watching the ceremony. When we stepped out in the morning, the entire media was waiting. Aamir was there the whole night. We met around 6 a.m. and spoke at length.”
Mishra revealed that while shooting, the team sensed they were part of something special, though none imagined an Oscar nomination. “While making Lagaan, we always felt that the film would do something special. We used to sit together and talk—‘What a shot! What a shot!’ Even during random scenes, we would wonder, ‘What is this film becoming?’ But no one imagined it would go to the Oscars or even get nominated. That was truly amazing.”
Praising Aamir Khan’s leadership, Mishra added, “Aamir Khan treated all of us like family. He kept everyone together throughout the journey.”
The actor also recalled the intense box office conversation surrounding Lagaan’s release, as it clashed with Sunny Deol’s Gadar. “When Lagaan released, it clashed with Gadar at the box office, and there was a lot of discussion around that. Both films did phenomenal business. Interestingly, Aamir Khan and Sunny Deol had earlier delivered massive hits together with Ghayal and Dil. So people were already talking about that connection.”
Video
‘Just a cricket film’: Why many doubted LagaanHowever, before its release, Lagaan faced widespread doubt. “Before Lagaan released, many people dismissed it, calling it just a ‘cricket film.’ Press members would ask me, ‘You’ve played cricket—what is this film?’ Ashutosh Gowariker’s earlier films, Baazi and Pehla Nasha, hadn’t worked, so the industry had little faith. No one believed he could make a film like this, let alone one that would go to the Oscars and become a blockbuster.”
The film’s success ultimately silenced all critics. “But when Lagaan released, everyone fell silent.”
Summing up, Mishra credited Aamir Khan for standing firmly behind the project. “The real credit goes to Aamir Khan—for believing in the script, in Ashutosh Gowariker, and in the entire unit. He stood by the film no matter what. He backed it completely, and that’s what made the difference. That’s where Aamir Khan Productions truly established itself.”
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