New Delhi: Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has shared that Aamir Khan was also interested in playing Langda Tyagi in the 2006 film 'Omkara'. Aamir Khan had shared his interest with the filmmaker while they were working ona different projects. He also shared that Saif Ali Khan was cast in the role because he was willing to put in the hard work but unwilling to cut his hair.
Speaking about casting Saif Ali Khan as Langda Tyagi in 'Omkara', Vishal Bhardwaj said in an interview with mid-day, "For Saif, I think, Aamir is responsible for that.” When asked how, he responded by saying, “We were doing that film together, so I spent a lot of time with Aamir. He is lovely company, and it’s fun to hang around with him. Aamir would share what he had in his mind and ask me what I had in my mind to plan for the future. So, I told him that I have this Othello, and this Langda Tyagi character with me.”
Vishal shared that the 'Laal Singh Chadda' actor was fascinated by Langda Tyagi's character. He told me, "Whenever you make this film, I’d love to be considered for Langda Tyagi.’ So that remained with me, but the film didn’t happen, I wasn’t working for one and a half years. I wanted to make a film desperately, so I thought if this character can excite Aamir so much, then I can excite some another star with this. At the time, I had seen Saif’s work.”
When asked why 'Omkara' did not happen with Aamir Khan, Vishal Bhardwaj said, "He was busy, he did Rang De Basanti, and I didn’t want to get stuck for another one and a half years. I wanted to (make the film), with whoever I get.”
About Saif Ali Khan, the 'Haider' filmmaker said that before 'Dil Chahta Hai', Saif' voice was a little feminine and his performance would be 'ajeeb'( weird) but then the actor worked on himself.
Are you ready to work hard? Because nobody would be able to imagine that you can do that role. Nobody could imagine.” He continued, “But he was ready to do that. He really (worked hard), except for cutting his hair. With great effort, we convinced him to cut his hair because he was not ready to cut it. Other than that he was more than I asked for.”
Saif Ali Khan’s performance as Langda Tyagi shot him to fame and earned him a status of an actor who was willing to experiment and take on challenges as an actor.