How Aamir Khan took over the reins of Tare Zameen Par

What happened between Aamir Khan and Amol Gupte regarding the direction of Tare Zameen Par?

Beginning with friendship

Aamir Khan and Amol Gupte are old friends. They used to do theatre together since school days.

When Amol talked about casting Akshaye Khanna in his film, Aamir’s interest piqued.

Aamir’s eyes welled up on hearing the script and he immediately asked why Amol didn’t give him the role.

From the beginning, Aamir was skeptical about Amol’s direction.

He said very clearly, “If you want me to produce the film, you will not direct it. I don’t trust you as a director.”

While rewriting the ending of the script, Aamir relented. Seeing Amol’s passion for the story, he decided to give him a chance to direct.

Amol started shooting with the kids when Aamir was not on the set.

Alarm bells rang when Aamir’s team asked him to see the footage. He didn’t like what he saw.

“The rushes looked clumsy,” Aamir recalled. When confronted, Amol described the same footage as “golden.”

This confrontation was the culmination of the vision. Aamir offered to step down completely, as both actor and producer, and bear all expenses.

“I have lost faith in you as a director,” he told Amol.

Surprisingly, after stepping down, it was Amol who suggested that Aamir take over the direction of the film.

A decision that would go on to shape one of Bollywood’s most beloved classics.