Aamir Khan breaks silence on his fallout with Ram Gopal Varma after Rangeela: ‘I’m sure I’ll miss him as a director’

The 1995 cult hit Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma and starring Aamir Khan, marked a turning point in Hindi cinema with its unique storytelling, vibrant visuals, and chart-topping music by A.R. Rahman. While the film garnered both commercial and critical acclaim, a behind-the-scenes controversy left a lasting impact on the relationship between its lead actor and director, one that led to the two never working together again.

During an interaction with fans on Rediff, Aamir Khan was asked about the much-talked-about rift with Ram Gopal Varma. A fan wrote, “What went wrong between you and Ram Gopal Verma? He is a terrific director and you would only stand to gain by your friendship!!”

In response, Khan said, “Ram Gopal Varma and I never did share a friendship, and I’m SURE I’ll miss him as a director.”


The controversy that caused the rift

The fallout reportedly began when Varma made a comment during the shoot of Rangeela, referencing a scene that featured a waiter. He remarked that the actor playing the waiter gave a better performance than Aamir Khan in that specific scene. The comment, which was meant as a technical critique on scene dynamics, was misquoted and perceived as a dig at Khan’s acting.

Due to limited communication avenues at the time, Khan was unable to clarify the context directly with Varma. Feeling hurt and betrayed by what he believed was an intentional slight, Khan distanced himself from the filmmaker. The incident marked the end of what could have been a fruitful professional collaboration.

Ram Gopal Varma later addressed the issue, explaining that the comment was misinterpreted and expressing regret over the misunderstanding. He admitted that it led to Khan feeling wronged and accepted responsibility for the fallout. However, despite his attempts at reconciliation, the damage was irreparable, and the two never collaborated again.




Aamir’s next: Sitaare Zameen Par

On the work front, Aamir Khan is now gearing up for the release of Sitaare Zameen Par, touted as a spiritual successor to his 2007 classic Taare Zameen Par. While the original explored the story of a dyslexic child and the challenges of learning disabilities, Sitaare Zameen Par takes a more uplifting route, focusing on children with special needs and delivering its message with humour and heart.



Directed by RS Prasanna and produced under Aamir Khan Productions, the film is set to hit theatres on June 20.