Aamir Khan Reveals Why Dangal Didn’t Release in Pakistan
Aamir Khan, during his recent appearance on Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma, opened up about a bold decision he made regarding his blockbuster film Dangal. While the film achieved massive global success, raking in over Rs.2,000 crore at the worldwide box office—thanks in large part to its impressive performance in China—it never saw the light of day in Pakistan. Aamir revealed that he personally chose not to release Dangal in the country after its censor board demanded cuts that involved removing patriotic elements like the Indian flag and national anthem.
Reflecting on the experience, Aamir shared, “Geeta Phogat ke jeetne par jo tiranga upar jaata hai aur humara rashtra gaan bajta hai, toh aap yeh dono nikal dijiye or we’ll not pass the film,” quoting what the Pakistani censor board had asked. He recounted how Disney, the co-producer of Dangal, approached him with this condition, concerned about the potential financial loss. But Aamir responded firmly and immediately: “So I told Disney in just one second that our film will not release in Pakistan.” When they warned of business losses, he stood his ground, saying, “Jo humse kahega humara Indian flag nikal do aur humara national anthem nikal do, unse mujhe matlab hi nahi hai. I don’t want that business.”
The actor also recalled past experiences dealing with censorship, especially with his 1999 film Sarfarosh. He noted that it was one of the first Indian films to mention both Pakistan and ISIS directly, which was typically discouraged. “Earlier, the censor board used to say don’t name the country, just say ‘neighbouring country’,” he said. Aamir credited Sarfarosh for breaking that pattern despite concerns from director John Mathew Matthan, who feared the board might object. Aamir remained confident they could justify the content.
Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is based on the life of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler who trained his daughters Geeta and Babita to become world-class athletes. The film starred Aamir alongside Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Sakshi Tanwar, Zaira Wasim, and Suhani Bhatnagar. Domestically, it earned Rs.387 crore. Now, Aamir is all set to return to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par, a spiritual successor to Taare Zameen Par, co-starring Genelia D’Souza and scheduled to release on June 21.
Also Read: Aamir Khan Stands Firm As CBFC Suggests Cuts in Sitaare Zameen Par
