Taare Zameen Par is remembered as one of Bollywood’s most iconic family films, directed and produced by Aamir Khan. But what many don’t know is that the role Aamir eventually played was originally written for Akshaye Khanna. In a throwback interview, Khanna shared the amusing story of how the Mr. Perfectionist ended up taking over the project.
How Aamir Khan “cheated” Akshaye Khanna
In a chat with Mid-Day India, Akshaye recalled being “cheated” by Aamir when it came to Taare Zameen Par. When asked if the film’s writer, Amole Gupte, had approached him to play the lead, Akshaye quickly said no.
He explained that Gupte had wanted to narrate the story to him, but since he didn’t know Akshaye personally, he asked Aamir Khan—who had worked with Akshaye on Dil Chahta Hai—to make the introduction. Aamir agreed, but only on one condition: he wanted to hear the script first.
As Khanna recalled, the moment Aamir heard the story, he was completely captivated. “He liked it so much that he ended up doing it,” Akshaye said. Later, Aamir admitted to him, “I didn’t allow him to come to you; I did the movie myself.” Akshaye, ever gracious, simply replied, “Okay, no problem.”
The film went on to become a mega blockbuster, marking Aamir’s directorial debut and winning multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards.
What’s next for Akshaye and Aamir?
Akshaye Khanna will next be seen in Dhurandhar 2, set to hit theatres on March 19, 2026. Meanwhile, Aamir Khan is gearing up for a cameo in his upcoming production, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos.