‘Lagaan’ actor Paul Blackthorne recalls suffering heat stroke on set as film clocks 25 years: ‘Andrew Russell deserved to be cooked’

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Paul Blackthorne has revealed that he knew little about cricket when he performed Captain Andrew Russell in Aamir Khan’s ‘Lagaan’. Trying again on the film 25 years after its launch, the British actor stated intelligent modifying and a affected person crew helped him seem convincing on the crease.He additionally recalled suffering heat stroke after falling asleep for almost three hours inside an overheated costume space throughout filming.

Paul Blackthorne admits he struggled with cricket

In an unique interview with India At this time, Blackthorne laughed when requested whether or not his cricket expertise matched these of his character.“No, I’m completely horrible,” he admitted.The manufacturing crew adjusted the best way his batting scenes have been filmed. Whereas the ultimate footage confirmed a quick bowler charging in the direction of him, a crew member gently threw the ball to Blackthorne whereas taking pictures his close-up parts.He recalled being requested to “attempt to hit this one” as the crew patiently labored round his restricted cricketing means. Blackthorne joked that he would by no means have secured the function on the power of his sporting expertise.Blackthorne performed Captain Russell, the boastful British officer who challenges the drought-hit villagers of Champaner to a cricket match. If the villagers received, they might not have to pay the oppressive agricultural tax, or lagaan, for 3 years.Aamir Khan starred as Bhuvan, who accepts the problem and assembles a crew of villagers unfamiliar with the sport. Gracy Singh performed Gauri, whereas Rachel Shelley appeared as Elizabeth Russell. Ashutosh Gowariker directed the film.

‘Lagaan’ actor recalls suffering heat stroke on set

Blackthorne additionally spoke a couple of horrifying incident attributable to the extraordinary heat throughout the shoot.The cricket pavilion seen within the film additionally housed the costume and wardrobe departments. Throughout a break, Blackthorne hid beneath some clothes rails and fell asleep there for round three hours.Shortly after waking up, he was referred to as for a horseback photograph shoot. Though he initially insisted he was advantageous, the photographer observed him starting to slide from the saddle.“I obtained heat stroke,” Blackthorne recalled, including that his face had turned shiny pink and he grew to become severely unwell.The actor stated he poured water over himself to calm down after spending the afternoon within the sweltering costume area. Trying again with humour, he remarked, “Andrew Russell deserved to be cooked.”

Extra about ‘Lagaan’

Launched on June 15, 2001, ‘Lagaan’ mixed sport, drama and India’s colonial historical past. The film grew to become a significant crucial and business success and was nominated for Finest Overseas Language Film on the 74th Academy Awards.Its last cricket match, wherein the villagers face the British officers, stays some of the memorable sequences in Hindi cinema. The film accomplished 25 years on June 15, 2026.