Aamir Khan Reveals Why He Turned Down Swades: "I Found It Boring"

Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker created magic together with Lagaan, a film that became both a critical and commercial triumph, even earning an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Naturally, fans expected the duo to collaborate again. Gowariker had planned his next film—what would later become Swades—with Aamir in mind. However, the actor ultimately passed on the project, and only now has he opened up about why.

In a recent interview with Zoom, Aamir candidly shared his reasons for rejecting Swades. He recalled that Ashutosh narrated the film—then titled Kaveri Amma—to him during the filming of Lagaan. “It was a three-hour-long narration,” Aamir said. “When Ashu asked me what I thought, I told him honestly—‘I found it very boring.’”

He added, “It’s very important to give honest feedback, especially to a friend. I told him, ‘Your message is noble, what you’re trying to say is valid and important, but if it’s delivered in such a boring way, I won’t enjoy it. Others might feel the same. You need to make it more engaging.’”

Interestingly, Aamir also admitted that he has never watched Swades, even after its release. “Maybe he made the corrections... I noted that audiences really appreciated Shah Rukh Khan’s performance,” he said.

Swades, starring Shah Rukh Khan as NASA scientist Mohan Bhargava, has since become one of the most loved and respected films in Hindi cinema. It's often cited as one of Shah Rukh’s best performances and won two National Awards.

As for Aamir, he will next be seen in Sitaare Zameen Par, directed by RS Prasanna. The film, a Hindi remake of the Spanish hit Campeones, is set to release in theatres on June 20.