17 June,2026 08:28 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist Team
Ashutosh Gowariker
No matter how many remakes are made, the original always comes out on top. So why bother remaking a classic in the first place? Filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Lagaan (2001), certainly agrees. He has made it clear that he has no intention of remaking his iconic film to suit modern sensibilities. At the celebration, he said, "I don't think you should try and remake a film. I think you should appreciate a film that is a classic, I mean, not Lagaan, I am saying any film that you see and you find it to be a classic, you appreciate it." And appreciation, according to him, can take many forms. "You don't have to emulate it. Try and create your own new idea for a film, because you are trying to create your own voice, your own story," he added.
Did you know?
Aamir Khan had refused to take up the 2001 blockbuster âLagaan' twice before finally giving his nod.
When a film revisits one of Bollywood's most talked-about controversies, drama is almost guaranteed. So when producer Amit Jani, under the banner Jani FireFox Films, announced Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy, based on the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, Salman Khan's legal team quietly served an initial notice to casting director Akshay Pandey and the makers in April. But Amit wasn't having any of it. He dramatically tore up the notice on social media. On June 12, lead actor Sonu Mishra exited the film, claiming that his contract required him to insult Salman during promotions. Sonu had reportedly shot for two days before reading the clause. Now that's quite a daring move for an actor still trying to find his footing in the industry. Then came another blow. On June 14, veteran actor Govind Namdev distanced himself from the film, claiming that the makers originally pitched Kala Hiran under the title Sambhal and presented it as a straightforward courtroom drama. The producer has now fired back, slapping Govind with a legal notice on X and demanding a public apology along with Rs 50 lakh in damages for defamation and breach of contract. Honestly, we're convinced the behind-the-scenes drama might turn out to be more entertaining than the film itself. Where's the popcorn?
Last weekend, all eyes were on the box office battle between Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga, Manoj Bajpayee-starrer Governor, and Kangana Ranaut's Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata. Several other films also released that weekend, but with little buzz around them, nobody expected much. And then came the plot twist. Vikram Bhatt's Haunted 2 quietly stole the show and emerged as the surprise winner, raking in R11.55 crore. Main Vaapas Aaunga followed with a net collection of R6.75 crore, while Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata earned R4.90 crore, and Governor collected R3.95 crore. Now, who would have thought that a Mimoh Chakraborty-starrer would outshine films of Diljit Dosanjh, Kangana, and Manoj? Bollywood loves an underdog story, and this one came with a spooky twist, no?
