A quarter of a century after portraying one of the most memorable antagonists in Indian cinema, British actor Paul Blackthorne finds himself revisiting the world of Lagaan with a sense of nostalgia and gratitude. Best known internationally for his roles in television hits such as 24 and Arrow, Blackthorne remains deeply connected to Indian audiences because of one character — Captain Andrew Russell, the stern British officer whose infamous ‘teen guna lagaan’ challenge became the turning point of one of Bollywood’s most celebrated sports dramas.
As Lagaan completes 25 years and returns to theatres alongside special reunion celebrations featuring the cast and crew, Blackthorne has been reflecting on the film’s enduring legacy and the extraordinary journey that came with it.
“It’s all been rather overwhelming in the best possible way,” he says. “Just last night, we gathered for a wonderful celebration marking the film’s 25th anniversary. It was a chance to look back not only at Lagaan but also at the remarkable body of work Aamir Khan has created over the last twenty-five years. Before that, the cast reunited and revisited several scenes from the film. At one point, I actually tried reading Hindi again and quickly realised that I had completely forgotten how!”
With a laugh, he continues, “But the most emotional moment for me was undoubtedly watching Lagaan on the big screen once more. Sitting in that theatre reminded me of what a truly exceptional film it is. Even after all these years, it still feels incredibly powerful.”
Aamir Khan’s influence on the entire castLooking back on the experience, Blackthorne remains full of admiration for Aamir Khan, describing him as an actor whose presence naturally elevates everyone around him.
According to the British actor, working alongside someone of Aamir’s calibre was both inspiring and educational. “Performing with an actor like Aamir is a privilege,” he explains. “When you genuinely listen to what he is bringing to a scene and connect with that truth, it encourages you to discover a deeper truth in your own performance. That kind of collaboration lifts the quality of the entire scene.”
The anniversary celebrations also gave Blackthorne an opportunity to revisit the extensive catalogue of films produced under Aamir Khan Productions. As a result, he says he has become even more curious about exploring many more of Aamir’s projects that he has not yet seen.
Preparing for Captain Russell was no easy taskStepping into the shoes of Captain Russell required far more preparation than Blackthorne initially expected. The actor recalls being intrigued when his agent first approached him with the idea of working on a film in India.
The prospect of spending several months in a country where he had never previously worked—and performing in a language he did not speak—felt both exciting and intimidating.
Determined to take the role seriously, Blackthorne spent nearly four months in London learning Hindi before production began. His goal went beyond memorising dialogue. He wanted to understand the conversations happening around him so that he could fully immerse himself in the environment.
“For me, listening is one of the most important aspects of acting,” he says. “It’s impossible to react truthfully if you don’t understand what’s being said around you.”
Once production moved to Gujarat, he continued refining his language skills with the help of director Ashutosh Gowariker and Aamir Khan. Rehearsals became a regular part of the process, especially before major scenes, allowing him to improve both his pronunciation and delivery.
The cricket challenge he never expectedWhile language was one hurdle, cricket turned out to be another challenge entirely.
Coming from England, Blackthorne assumed that he would naturally be comfortable with the sport. That assumption disappeared rather quickly during a friendly cricket match organised by Aamir Khan for the cast.
“When we first arrived, Aamir thought it would be fun to arrange a casual game,” Blackthorne recalls. “I confidently walked out to bat and was dismissed on the very first delivery. Aamir kindly suggested I try again. So I took guard once more—and got out on the first ball again!”
The memory still makes him laugh.
“Aamir then looked at me very seriously and said, ‘Perhaps we should spend some lunchtime working on your cricket.’”
What followed was a series of lunch-break training sessions designed to improve his batting skills. Despite his efforts, Blackthorne admits that movie magic played a significant role in making Captain Russell appear competent on the field.
“Thankfully, the editors worked wonders,” he jokes. “Whenever audiences see Captain Russell smashing a fast delivery across the ground, the reality was much less glamorous. During filming, someone would often be standing a few feet away gently tossing the ball towards me and saying, ‘Try hitting this one, Paul.’ More often than not, I’d still miss it!”
Although cricket didn’t come naturally to him, the experience turned him into a lifelong admirer of the sport. Reflecting on the famous India-England rivalry, he jokes that some modern contests occasionally remind him of the competitive spirit displayed in Lagaan.
The washroom conversation he can never forgetAmong all the memories from the film, one moment remains particularly vivid in Blackthorne’s mind.
It happened just before shooting the pivotal sequence in which Bhuvan challenges Captain Russell and accepts the wager that drives the entire story forward. The stakes in the scene were enormous: if the villagers defeated the British team in cricket, their taxes would be waived for three years. If they lost, they would be forced to pay three times the amount.
Moments before cameras rolled, Blackthorne found himself in an unexpected conversation with Aamir Khan.
“I had gone to the washroom,” he remembers. “Aamir happened to walk in and stood beside me. He looked over and said, ‘Paul, this is a very important scene. Probably the most important scene in the entire film.’”
The comment immediately heightened the pressure.“I completely froze,” Blackthorne says with a smile. “Inside my head I was thinking, ‘Oh dear God!’ Then I turned to him and replied, ‘Absolutely, sir. I’ll do my very best.’ After that, we simply washed our hands and went off to shoot the scene.”
Captain Russell’s legacy still surprises him
When Lagaan finally hit theatres in 2001, Blackthorne had no idea that Captain Russell would become such a recognizable figure among Indian audiences.
At the time, neither he nor the rest of the cast were thinking about how the film might be remembered years later.
“When you’re making a movie, you don’t focus on legacy,” he explains. “Your job is simply to show up, become the character, and perform honestly. You’re not thinking about what people might say twenty years later.”
Yet the impact became clear soon after the film’s release.“I remember speaking with Aamir on the phone not long afterward,” he recalls. “He told me, ‘Paul, people are walking around the streets of India quoting your lines.’ I was genuinely stunned. I never imagined those dialogues would become part of popular culture.”
The story behind Lagaan’s timeless appeal
Set in 1893 during British colonial rule, Lagaan follows the struggles of Champaner, a village devastated by drought and burdened by excessive taxation imposed by the British administration.
The conflict reaches a dramatic peak when Captain Andrew Russell proposes an extraordinary wager. If the villagers can defeat the British officers in a game of cricket, their taxes will be cancelled. Failure, however, would mean paying three times the original amount.
Despite having no experience with the sport, the courageous Bhuvan accepts the challenge, inspiring the villagers to unite against overwhelming odds.
Their journey becomes possible with the unexpected support of Elizabeth Russell, the captain’s sister, played by Rachel Shelley. Defying her own family, she secretly teaches the villagers the rules, techniques, and strategies of cricket, setting the stage for one of the most unforgettable climaxes in Indian cinema history.