23 Years of Ghulam: When Aamir Khan suggested dropping out of this memorable film over Mahesh Bhatt’

Superstar Aamir Khan on this day in 1998 came up with a slick action-drama flick, Ghulam. And it immediately won the hearts of the viewers. The film also starred Rani Mukerji, Deepak Tijori, Sharat Saxena and others and is today fondly remembered for two path-breaking aspects. One was the stunt scene of Aamir on the railway track, done by the star himself without the use of body double. The other was the song ‘Aati Kya Khandala’ which was sung by Aamir to perfection.

Nevertheless, Ghulam was a hit at the box office, earning Rs. 13.35 crore. It also was a turning point in the career of Sharat Saxena, who played the scary antagonist. In an interview a few years back, he had admitted that if Ghulam had not come, he would have been nowhere. He also mentioned that writer Anjum Rajabali and producer Mukesh Bhatt didn’t want him in the film and that it was Aamir Khan who insisted that he should be cast.