Aamir Khan Admits Feeling ‘Hurt’ After Reema Kagti Scolded Him on Lagaan Sets: ‘I’m the Producer’

Mumbai: Aamir Khan may have been the star and producer of Lagaan, but that did not stop filmmaker Reema Kagti from pulling him up when she felt he was disrupting the shooting schedule.

Looking back at the making of the 2001 classic, Aamir recalled how Kagti, who was then the film's second assistant director, firmly rejected his request to be given an additional 15 minutes for breakfast. The actor said her blunt response left him feeling “hurt” — even though he was also the film's producer.

‘I’m the producer and she is scolding me’

Aamir shared the anecdote while reflecting on his early experiences with Reema Kagti.

Lagaan, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, had a large ensemble cast, meaning the assistant directors had to carefully coordinate the timings of numerous actors and crew members.

Aamir explained that he eats slowly and therefore asked the team to call him 15 minutes earlier for breakfast.

Kagti, however, refused to make an exception.

According to Aamir, she told him that the entire hair and makeup team could not be brought in 15 minutes early simply because he needed more time to eat.

The actor recalled his reaction with amusement: “I’m the producer and she is scolding me.”

When he tried to explain that he needed additional time, Kagti reportedly remained firm and told him that he had to arrive on time.

Aamir said her tone was particularly harsh.

“She spoke to me very harshly. I felt hurt,” he recalled.

Aamir decided to skip breakfast

The actor then decided to take matters into his own hands.

After being reprimanded, Aamir told Kagti that he would simply stop having breakfast on set.

But instead of being concerned, Kagti reportedly accepted the decision without changing the schedule.

Aamir recalled that her response was essentially that he could then be ready on time.

The solution did not last long.

After about a week, an exhausted Aamir eventually returned to having breakfast on the sets.

The anecdote has since become one of the more amusing behind-the-scenes stories from Lagaan, illustrating how strictly the production team maintained its schedule despite the presence of one of Bollywood's biggest stars.

Reema Kagti did not treat Aamir differently

The incident also sheds light on Kagti's reputation for maintaining discipline on film sets.

At the time of Lagaan, Kagti was still working as an assistant director. She would later establish herself as a filmmaker in her own right, directing movies such as Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Talaash and Gold, and co-founding Excel Entertainment's creative ecosystem with Zoya Akhtar and others.

Interestingly, Aamir and Kagti's professional relationship continued years after Lagaan. Kagti eventually directed him in the 2012 psychological thriller Talaash: The Answer Lies Within.

Another scolding came during Talaash

Aamir recently recalled another incident involving Kagti, this time during the making of Talaash.

He had asked permission to arrive about an hour late for a night shoot because he wanted to attend Sachin Tendulkar's retirement celebration. Kagti agreed, but the event lasted considerably longer than expected.

Aamir eventually reached the set four to five hours late.

Knowing Kagti's approach to punctuality, he joked that he was prepared to be scolded for Tendulkar.

He was not disappointed.

Aamir recalled Kagti asking him how he could arrive so late and questioning his professionalism.

The actor described the incident humorously and said he was still “working on” Kagti's anger.

From assistant director to acclaimed filmmaker

Kagti's journey from an assistant director on Lagaan to an established filmmaker makes the story particularly interesting.

She also worked as an assistant director on Farhan Akhtar's Lakshya. According to a separate account, she was known for pushing even senior actors to remain punctual during shoots.

Her insistence on maintaining schedules, therefore, appears to have been less about an individual actor and more about the demands of a tightly organised film production.

For Aamir, the memory now seems more amusing than bitter. His recollection of feeling hurt at the time offers a glimpse into the dynamics behind one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated productions.

Lagaan remains a landmark in Aamir's career

Released in 2001, Lagaan marked a major turning point for Aamir Khan. Alongside playing the lead role of Bhuvan, he also made his debut as a producer with the film.

The period sports drama went on to receive widespread acclaim and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, further cementing its place in Indian cinema history.

More than two decades later, stories from its production continue to fascinate audiences — including this reminder that, on Reema Kagti's set, even the producer had to be ready on time.