Kareena Kapoor Khan has broken her silence on the failure of Laal Singh Chaddha (2022).
The film was an official remake of the Hollywood blockbuster Forrest Gump (1994).
Laal Singh Chaddha starred Aamir Khan as the titular character. Laal is an intellectually challenged man who moves through Indian history while inspiring people around him.
Kareena played Rupa D’Souza in the film. She is Laal’s love interest who, contrary to Laal, lives a life of anguish and suffering.
Laal Singh Chaddha began brewing in 2008.
As a producer, Aamir had a tough time obtaining the rights to remake Forrest Gump. The Covid-19 pandemic also led to several delays in filming.
When the film was eventually released on August 11, 2022, it was a box office bomb in India. Many criticised the story, screenplay and Aamir’s performance.
Kareena Kapoor has now opened up about the debacle. She felt that people could not connect to the darkness of the film:
“Aamir was living that character. He had become Laal.
“Covid had just happened and everything was slowly opening up and people maybe wanted something more energetic and fun. It (the film) was slightly emotional.”
Kareena asserted that Laal Singh Chaddha was not an arthouse film. She also said that perhaps the film did not meet expectations.
The actress added that she could feel Aamir’s disappointment about the film’s performance:
“I wouldn’t say arthouse. Maybe there were these big names attached to the film like Aamir and me, they wanted something more coming out this time. I think it was slightly dark.
“After the film, I was busy. I gave birth and had another child during Covid-19. There was so much going on at that time.
“So, I never really met Aamir after the film. I bumped into him at an NMACC event and I saw it in his eyes that he was a bit apologetic. He was sad about the fact that ‘why did this happen?’
“Also we have done such great work together with a big blockbuster like 3 Idiots, Talaash, so somewhere there was that feeling.”
Kareena revealed that she reached out to Aamir and director Advait Chandan after the film flopped. She confirmed that Rupa will always be special to her:
“I wrote to Advait as well as Aamir that I don’t judge relationships, friendships, or our talent as actors with a film that didn’t work.
“I just told him on WhatsApp, ‘Don’t feel that we lost. We haven’t lost. We have made a beautiful film and our friendship and love is not measured by box-office success’.”
On the work front, Kareena was last seen in Jaane Jaan (2023). The film was released on Netflix and marked her first foray into online streaming.
Meanwhile, Aamir was last seen in a cameo appearance in Salaam Venky (2022). He played a figment of imagination. He was seen in the film along with Kajol (Kolavennu Sujata Krishnan).
Aamir confirmed that he will also be producing Lahore, 1947, starring Sunny Deol. He will also feature in the upcoming Sitaare Zameen Par.
The Laal Singh Chaddha actor will also be backing Lapaata Ladies, which is helmed by his ex-wife Kiran Rao.
