A compelling new insight has emerged about the making of the celebrated film “Lagaan” through director Kiran Rao's candid recollections of her time as assistant director on the project. In a revealing interview, Rao opened up about the long hours and early mornings required to coordinate such an immense production.
She shared memories of beginning her day at 4 AM to ensure the smooth running of operations on set. Among her early tasks was preparing toast for leading lady Rachel Shelley, who portrayed Elizabeth. Rao paints a picture of the hectic pre-dawn routine needed to have all actors from hair, makeup and wardrobe in position by shooting time.
Her comments provide a glimpse into the challenges of marshaling the resources for such an epic tale, from coordinating two cricket teams to costumes appropriate for the period. While the finished film dazzled audiences worldwide, Rao's experience hints at the sustained effort behind the scenes.
She also noted Aamir Khan's visionary four-hour initial cut that laid the foundations for the cinematic masterpiece, long before cricket action had been added. Rao's insider perspective sheds new light on transforming creative vision into reality for a landmark work in Indian cinema.
