Aamir Khan’s much-anticipated film Laal Singh Chaddha failed to make an impact at the box office, despite high expectations. Reflecting on its underperformance, Khan admitted that he had overdone his role and took full responsibility for the film’s failure. Recently, filmmaker Mansoor Khan shared his perspective on the project, suggesting that Junaid Khan would have been a more suitable choice for the lead role.
According to Mansoor, Junaid Khan’s screen test had impressed him immensely. He revealed that Aamir had invited him to watch Junaid’s audition, and he was struck by the young actor’s natural innocence—something even the most skilled performers struggle to replicate. He emphasized that emotional authenticity is often more significant than technical acting skills. When he proposed Junaid for the role, the film’s producers at Sony and director Advait Chandan were reportedly taken aback.
Mansoor further noted that he would not have chosen Kareena Kapoor for the film either. He dismissed concerns about the movie’s commercial viability, calling such apprehensions unfounded.
When asked whether Aamir had exaggerated his performance as the younger version of his character in Laal Singh Chaddha, Mansoor responded with amusement. He felt that Aamir had actually misjudged the older version more. Recalling an early screening of the film, he shared that he had immediately questioned Aamir’s choices, particularly his exaggerated mannerisms, which reminded him too much of the actor’s role in PK.
He also mentioned that Aamir often gathers close associates for early screenings to get their feedback and, unfortunately, always asks for his opinion first. During the initial viewing, he told Aamir that his portrayal felt excessive, which later became one of the film’s biggest issues. Aamir himself acknowledged the mistake and even hosted a “failure party” after the film’s release, taking full responsibility.
While Mansoor praised the screenplay adaptation of Forrest Gump, he was critical of the decisions surrounding Aamir’s portrayal. He questioned who had advised Aamir on the mannerisms, clarifying that it was not the director, Advait Chandan. If he had been in charge, he stated, he would not have allowed Aamir to approach the role in that manner. This miscalculation, in his view, disrupted the film’s overall tone, making scenes feel disjointed and diminishing the emotional impact.
