What Went WRONG? Why Did Aamir Khan REJECT Shah Rukh Khan's Swades Despite Liking The Story

Shah Rukh khan starrer Swades is now remembered as one of his most impactful and heartfelt performances. But not many know that it was Aamir Khan who was first approached for the role by director Ashutosh Gowariker. After their hit collaboration on Lagaan, Gowariker hoped to recreate the magic. But things didn’t go as planned.

In an old interview with Zoom, Aamir opened up about why he turned down Swades. He recalled how the initial narration left him unimpressed. He admitted, “I found it very boring.” What followed was a candid conversation between two creative minds who had just delivered one of Indian cinema’s biggest hits.

Aamir Turned Down Swades After A 3-Hour Narration

According to Aamir, Gowariker first pitched the film during the shooting of Lagaan. At that point, the film was tentatively titled Kaveri Amma, named after the character of the protagonist’s foster mother. He recalled, “I had liked the story very much. I said we’d make that one after Lagaan.”

However, when Gowariker returned post-Lagaan with a detailed version, things changed. Aamir sat through a three-hour narration but wasn’t convinced. The actor explained, “When he asked me how I liked it, I said I want to tell you my first reaction first. I said - I got bored.” He added that while the film’s message was noble, the way it was told didn’t engage him.

Aamir added, “I told Ashu that what you’re trying to say is very correct, noble, and important, but if you say it in such a boring manner… I got bored, I don’t know about everyone else.”

Shah Rukh Took Over Later, Aamir Hasn’t Seen The Film

Eventually, Shah Rukh Khan stepped in to play Mohan Bhargava, a NASA scientist who returns to India and rediscovers his roots in a remote village. The film touched on themes like social responsibility, rural development, and brain drain.

Though Aamir never ended up doing the film, he doesn’t regret the decision. He said, “I’ve actually not seen the film yet. Maybe he’d have corrected it and people would’ve liked it then. I did note that people loved Shah Rukh’s work in it.”

For the unversed, Swades (released in 2004) didn’t work at the box office, but it has earned cult status over the years.