Aamir Khan fired a struggling Daya Shankar Pandey from Akele Hum Akele Tum as he was overqualified: ‘I thought of him as a villain'
Speaking on the YouTube channel Friday Talkies, Daya recalled, 'I didn't have work. I was facing financial crisis. My family had refused to support me and I also thought I would earn my own money. I had asked the assistant director (AD) of the film Akele Hum Akele Tum to give me any role possible and so he got me 12 day work in that film and I was getting Rs 2000 per day.'
Daya Shankar Pandey shared that Aamir Khan knew him from earlier as they had worked together in the 1995 film Baazi, and he also knew that Aamir regarded him as a good actor. However, Aamir's positive opinion of Daya ended up costing him the role in Akele Hum Akele Tum. He explained. 'I would try and avoid Aamir sir so that he doesn't see me but one day he saw me and called me and asked what I am doing there. When I told that I am playing a junior artist's role, he told Mansoor Khan and the AD, 'He is a very good actor. Don't waste him.' I didn't want to hear this appreciation because I wanted to earn my per day and leave. I thought of Aamir Khan as a villain at that time. They did my pack-up.'
Though Aamir didn't allow Daya to continue playing the junior artist's role in Akele Hum Akele Tum, he later made up for it by casting him in Lagaan and also recommending him for a pivotal role in Ghulam. The actor further recalled how Aamir personally called him to meet director Mahesh Bhatt and Ghulam's writer Anjum Rajabali. However, even with the superstar's backing, Daya still faced rejection.
Sharing the experience, he said, 'Anjum and Mahesh kept rejecting me for roles in the film, saying that I am too thin and all. I got very insecure because Aamir Khan is recommending me but the writer is rejecting. What kind of bad luck is this.' However, Days revealed that eventually Aamir managed to convince them, and he was cast in the role.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
5 hours ago
- Pink Villa
When Panchayat actor Raghubir Yadav was accused of having extra-marital affairs with Nandita Das and Sanjay Mishra's wife
Panchayat actor Raghubir Yadav is among the finest talents Indian cinema has ever seen. Debuted with Massey Sahib, the actor has consistently proven his worth. However, he never received his due until the release of TVF's Panchayat. Not many know that multiple controversies have marred his personal life. Here's taking you down memory lane when the actor made headlines for his extramarital affairs. Raghubir Yadav was married to Poornima Kharga, an International former Kathak dancer. However, the couple started living separately in 1995, seven years after their marriage. What sparked a new controversy was Poornima's allegations against Raghubir Yadav. Back in 2020, Poornima filed for divorce after 32 years of their marriage and demanded a total of Rs 10 crore in alimony. When Poornima Kharga accused Raghubir Yadav of extra-marital affairs In an interview with SpotboyE, Poornima accused his estranged husband of having extramarital affairs with Nandita Das and Sanjay Mishra's wife, Roshni Achreja. She blasted in the interview and claimed that the two are fathering a 14-year-old son and are in a live-in relationship. Poornima said, "Raghubir is living-in with Sanjay Mishra's wife Roshni Achreja. He himself has admitted in Court. They have a 14-year-old son!" The Kathak dancer revealed that when Raghubir shifted to Goregaon, he lived in the same building as Sanjay Mishra. He used to visit Mishra and got friendly with his wife, Roshni Achreja. Further, she got pregnant with Yadav's child, after which she and Sanjay Mishra filed for divorce. Further, Poornima mentioned that Raghubir Yadav was also in a relationship with actor and director Nandita Das. She went on to reveal that the two fell in love on Raj Barot's show when they were both together. Raghubir and Poornima have a 30-year-old son together, who has been living with his mother ever since the duo parted ways. For the unversed, Raghubir Yadav has worked in highly acclaimed movies and TV Shows like Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne, Salaam Bombay, Maya Memsaab, Bandit Queen, Lagaan, Water, Peepli Live, and others. Three of his films even got nominations at the Academy Awards- Salaam Bombay, Lagaan, and Water. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates.
India.com
11 hours ago
- India.com
Aamir Khan Names Jwala Gutta & Vishnu Vishal's Daughter – Heres What It Means
Hyderabad : Actor Vishnu Vishal and badminton star Jwala Gutta have finally revealed the name of their baby girl, who was born on April 22 of this year. The couple named their daughter Mira, and it was none other than Bollywood star Aamir Khan who chose the name. On Sunday, both Vishnu and Jwala took to Instagram to share adorable photos from the intimate naming ceremony. In the pictures, Aamir Khan can be seen attending the celebration and posing with the family. Along with the pictures, Jwala wrote, "Our 'Mira'! Couldn't have asked for more!! This journey would have been impossible without you, Aamir!! We love you. P.S. Thank you for the beautiful and thoughtful name!!!!" Vishnu's caption added, "Introducing our MIRA... A big hug to #AamirKhan sir for coming all the way to Hyderabad to name our baby. MIRA represents unconditional love and peace. The journey with Aamir sir to this point has been a magical one..." Vishnu Vishal and Jwala Gutta got married in April 2021 in a private ceremony in Hyderabad, after dating for a few years. Meanwhile, Aamir Khan has been busy with his work commitments. He recently returned to the big screen with 'Sitaare Zameen Par,' and is being praised for his role in the film. It is a sequel to the blockbuster movie 'Taare Zameen Par.' In the sports drama, Aamir plays the role of a basketball coach who is tasked with training a group of neurodivergent children. The film, directed by Prasanna, hit theatres on June 20. He will also be seen in superstar Rajinikanth starrer 'Coolie ' where he plays a bold role named Dahaa.
Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Indian Express
Aamir Khan christens Jwala Gutta, Vishnu Vishal's daughter Mira; couple thank actor for ‘coming all the way to Hyderabad'
Aamir Khan took some time out from the post-release promotions of his new film, RS Prasanna's coming-of-age sports comedy Sitaare Zameen Par, to visit Hyderabad. The purpose was to meet the newborn girl of Tamil actor Vishnu Vishal and wife, badminton player Jwala Gutta. In fact, Aamir has also named the baby girl Mira. On Sunday, Vishnu shared a picture with son Aryan, Jwala, Aamir, and Mira, with Aamir gently holding Mira in his arms. 'Introducing our MIRA… A big hug to #AamirKhan sir for coming all the way to hyderabad to name our baby. MIRA represents unconditional love and peace. The journey with Aamir sir to this point has been a magical one,' he wrote in the social media caption along with the picture. Jwala also took to social media and shared a bunch of photos. One of the pictures had her, Vishnu, Aryan, and Aamir look fondly at Mira, who's resting peacefully in Aamir's arms. In another still, Aamir is seen adjusting Mira in her pram. There was also a family portrait of Vishnu, Jwala, and her parents, along with Aamir who holds Mira in his arms. 'Our 'Mira'! Couldn't have asked for more!! This journey would have been impossible without u Aamir!! We love you (red heart emoji) P.S Thank you for the beautiful name,' Jwala wrote in the caption. Our 'Mira'! Couldn't have asked for more!! This journey would have been impossible without u Aamir!! We love you ❤️ P.S Thank you for the beautiful name!!!! — Gutta Jwala 💙 (@Guttajwala) July 6, 2025 Back in September 2020, on the occasion of her 37th birthday, Jwala announced that she's engaged to Vishnu. 'N dis happened last nite n what a beautiful surprise it was! Today when I think of my life what a journey it has been n 2day I realise there is so much more to look forward to! Towards our family, Aryan, friends, and work! its gonna be another great journey am sure (sic),' Jwala had tweeted. Jwala was previously married to fellow badminton player Chetan Anand, before their divorce in 2011. Vishnu was also married to Rajini Natraj, daughter of actor K Natraj. The two were collegemates and dated for four years before tying the knot in 2010. A year after becoming parents to son Aryan, the couple divorced in 2018. Jwala and Vishnu tied the knot in 2021 and became parents earlier this year. Aamir became a close family friend of Jwala and Vishnu after he met the badminton player at a function a few years ago. They grew close during the 2023 Chennai floods, when Aamir was in the city for his mother's treatment. After extending his stay for two more days because of the floods, Aamir spent more time with Vishnu and Jwala and became even closer to the family. Also Read — 'Kicked Ronit Roy, he wouldn't let me leave without Aamir Khan on Lagaan shoot', recalls Apoorva Lakhia: 'Aamir reached 90 minutes late, wasn't angry' Vishnu told Cinema Express that Aamir wants to make a film with him. 'Actually, I've been turning it down, as I want to relish our bond and not let business influence it. But sir is keen on making a film with me. So, we might join hands at the right time, for the right script,' he revealed. Meanwhile, Aamir will soon appear in a Tamil film, Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie, followed by another movie with the director in the lead role.
