Filmmaker Mansoor Khan shared that he was relieved his original script for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar never went into production, as it could have potentially ruined Aamir Khan’s career.
Filmmaker Mansoor Khan, known for directing iconic movies such as Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, recently opened up about the unexpected success of his debut film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. He also shared that he was relieved his original script for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar never went into production, as it could have potentially ruined Aamir Khan’s career.
Appearing on the India Now and How YouTube channel, Mansoor revealed that before filming Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, he had the idea of directing a sports drama conceptualized by his father, Nasir Husain. “I began writing a story, which eventually became Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar… Daddy was writing Qayamat, to launch Aamir. We started in 1986, and the film was released in 1988; I’m a slow filmmaker. But the point is, even I had Aamir in mind for Jo Jeeta; he would’ve been 19-20 at the time. Thankfully, I didn’t make that film. I would’ve destroyed Aamir’s career,” Mansoor said.
The director further revealed that he wasn’t happy or satisfied with the script, which prompted him to seek his father’s assistance with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Mansoor said, “I asked him, ‘What is this film about?’ And he said, ‘It’s a love story.’ I said, ‘But every Hindi film is a love story.’” He continued by saying that he remains displeased with certain parts of the film to this day and has expressed his dissatisfaction during the trial show.
“I was so upset after the first trial. I told my father, ‘We need to reshoot the scenes; they’re so bad.’ My father was walking confidently, and I was running after him saying, ‘This is bad, that is bad.’ He didn’t even listen to me because he sensed it was good. Even today, I feel I should’ve shot those scenes differently, but it’s just a very small part,” Mansoor added.
After his experience with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Mansoor realized he was heading “in the wrong direction” with Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, which led him to rewrite the film. “My dad understood the audience’s pulse, but I had no idea. I wasn’t a film person; I wouldn’t go to Gaiety Galaxy. I realized that people had even enjoyed the scenes I disliked. So I rethought and rewrote Jo Jeeta,” he explained.
In the same interview, Mansoor also shared an interesting anecdote about his film Josh. He revealed that Kajol had turned down the role of Shah Rukh Khan’s sister. “When I narrated the script to Kajol, she had to play SRK’s sister. She simply said no and turned down the film,” Mansoor recalled. The role eventually went to Aishwarya Rai.
Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan himself initially declined Josh, believing that the role of Max would be played by Aamir Khan, Mansoor added.
Also Read:
Comments are closed.