Lagaan to be screened in China

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">LONDON: While <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span> - India''s first Oscar-nominated film for over 40 years - is all set to be screened in China in November, its producer and lead actor Aamir Khan is moving on to his new venture, yet another period film on ''1857'' uprising - India''s first war of independence.<br />Hinting that <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span> would be released in China with Chinese subtitiles, Khan denied it was an "anti-British" film.<br />"It was a humane story.It is a story of triumph of human spirit and achievement of the underdogs," he said answering questions on Sunday night at <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The Guardian Interview with Aamir Khan: The Spirit of Lagaan</span>.<br />Though he was quite disappointed that <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span> missed Oscar by a whisker, Khan said, "the event itself was quite entertaining" and that ultimate winner <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">No Man''s Land</span> was "very good."<br />The Bollywood actor who appeared at the British Film Institute''s National Film Theatre for the interview, read extracts from the forthcoming book <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The Spirit of Lagaan</span>, by Satyajit Bhatkal, about the making of the film and answered a range of questions on his career, his heroes, future projects and future of Indian Films. <br />Asked about India''s chances in the 2003 cricket World Cup, the ace actor who displayed expert knowledge of the game in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span>, said, "we are doing very well. Hopefully we will win the World Cup." <br />On offers to act in Hollywood movies, the Indian star said he would love to act in any American or British Films if the script was good. "I have not come across such a script yet," he added.<br />The Bollywood heart-throb said he would act and produce films only if the criteria were similar to those of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span> and got the right director.<br />Khan said though he was offered the lead role in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber''s musical <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Bombay Dreams</span>, he turned it down as he felt what was portrayed as Mumbai was not appropriate. "Besides, I told Andrew that I can not sing," he added.<br />When quizzed who his idols were, the versatile actor said, "I am a huge fan of thespian Dilip Kumar and American actor Harrison Ford."<br />Lauding British actors Paul Blackthorne, who played the role of Captain Russell and Rachel Shelley, cast as Elizabeth, in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span>, Khan said they did a wonderful job in speaking in Hindi in a short time. </div> </div>