WHY AAMIR DECIDED TO CAST HIMSELF IN LAL SINGH CHADDHA AND NOT HIS SON JUNAID

Aamir Khan is currently gearing up for the release of Laal Singh Chaddha. The actor will be seen playing the role of Laal in the Advait Chandan directorial, which also stars Kareena Kapoor - Jyothi Vekatesh

Ahead of the film's release, according to the portal Indiatoday.in, Aamir wanted his son Junaid Khan to play the titular character after seeing his performance in the film's test.

Aamir has revealed that his son Junaid Khan did a test for his film Laal Singh Chaddha. Aamir mentioned when Junaid came back from Los Angeles (after studying theatre), he was prepping for the film and wanted Advait Chandan to do a test before the film's shoot started in full swing.

"I had already told Advait that this is a difficult film and while you have done a great job with Secret Superstar, this is a very tricky film and I am not sure if I can hand it to you as a director until you show me a test.

So, I said you shoot 6-7 scenes, which I am going to pick - the tough ones. I told him to make your own small crew, usko shoot, edit karke usme tempo aur music lagake mujhe dikhao how you are able to handle this material. He said, 'ya I will do that'. And at that time, Junaid had returned," said Aamir.

The actor further added, "I told him (Advait) don't take me in Laal's role because I want you to do this test without me, not with me. So, you take Junaid and do it. Do hafte baithke unhone rehearse kiya aur test shoot kia.

First, I and Kiran (Rao) saw the test. And when we saw it, we were blown. We were blown because Junaid's performance was too good. He was Laal. After seeing it, I felt Laal ko hi toh dekh raha hu main (I felt I was seeing Laal).

My chance is gone because I can't play Laal if I am seeing somebody play Laal, then mere saamne vo zinda aadmi hogaya, toh mere liye dharam sankat hogaya tha vo time pe."

As he continued to share this interesting anecdote, the actor revealed that he had grown a beard for his character for 6 months by then. After watching Junaid's test, Aamir, who found his son's performance good, wanted to get feedback from his near and dear ones.

"I showed it to Raju Hirani, Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Karan (Johar). I wanted feedback. Out of the 100 people who saw it (which was a 20-minute test), 98 percent said you should be taking Junaid.

So, I shaved my beard. Because even I felt we should take Junaid. Because he was Laal. Laal's main quality is innocence and, that he is, he is innocent. He doesn't have to play it, whereas I have to play innocent. There's a difference," said Aamir.

The actor went on to add, "We decided that we will make the film with him. Atul (Kulkarni) and Adi kept saying no. They kept fighting. Humara lamba argument chalta tha.

Finally, one day, Adi said that the reason why you should not take him is, Adi's point was that it is not a very plot-heavy film, it is a very episodic film. Don't take a newcomer into an episodic film.

He won't be able to carry it and it doesn't matter who it is. Which is why they even took a star. So they said you said take a star, be it you or some other star. Not a newcomer. That argument I bought but by that time, I had shaved my beard. So I came back on to the project and then again I started growing my beard."