As Akshaye Khanna continues to receive widespread praise for his powerful performance in Dhurandhar, several of his older interviews have resurfaced online. One such clip has reignited interest in a lesser-known casting story from Bollywood: Akshaye, not Aamir Khan, was the original choice to play art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh in the 2007 classic Taare Zameen Par.
In an interview given a few years ago, Akshaye revealed that filmmaker Amol Gupte had initially wanted to narrate the script to him but did not know him personally. Since Gupte was close to Aamir Khan, he approached him instead. Akshaye recalled that Aamir insisted on hearing the script first before recommending it. However, after listening to the story, Aamir liked it so much that he decided to take on the role himself.
Akshaye shared that Aamir later informed him about the decision during a chance meeting at a studio. According to Akshaye, there was no resentment or regret on his part. He felt Aamir delivered a remarkable performance and admitted that destiny had played its role in shaping the film the way it did.
Aamir Khan later echoed the same story in a separate interview, explaining that he had never expected the role to be offered to him. He said he initially intended to recommend Akshaye but was deeply moved by the script and eventually came on board as both actor and director. The film went on to become one of Hindi cinema’s most loved and impactful works, addressing childhood learning challenges with sensitivity.
Interestingly, Taare Zameen Par later inspired its thematic successor Sitaare Zameen Par, which released last year, further cementing the legacy of the original film.