Ameesha recalls Aamir being nervous for Mangal Pandey shoot

Ameesha Patel has shared a candid anecdote about her Mangal Pandey: The Rising co-star Aamir Khan, revealing that the usually confident actor was once nervous to face the camera. The 2005 film, based on the life of freedom fighter Mangal Pandey, may not have set the box office on fire, but it remains memorable for its performances and subject.
In a recent interview with Filmy Mantra, Ameesha recalled how her co-star’s nervousness helped her realise that every actor, no matter how seasoned, goes through moments of self-doubt.
‘Aamir told me he was nervous to come in front of the camera’
“When

Lagaan

ke baad, 4 saal baad, Aamir was shooting for Mangal Pandey. I was shocked. Aamir came to me to say, ‘Ameesh, I’m actually nervous to come in front of the camera because I haven’t shot for 4 years and itni expectations hai Lagaan ke baad.’ And that was a wake-up call for me ki ye har ek ke sath hota hai,” she shared.

Ameesha

added that it was both surprising and comforting to know that even a perfectionist like Aamir Khan wasn’t immune to the pressure of expectations.
Blockbusters early in career created unrealistic expectations
The

Gadar 2

actress also opened up about the impact of starting her career with back-to-back hits, Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. According to her, this initial success created an impossible benchmark that audiences continued to expect from her.
She said, “I gave two of the biggest blockbusters at the beginning of my career, and after that, people thought every film would be that big. But no actor can give that kind of success every time.”
Directed by Ketan Mehta, Mangal Pandey: The Rising starred Aamir Khan, Ameesha Patel, and Rani Mukerji. The film narrated the story of the 1857 revolt and the role Mangal Pandey played in igniting the freedom movement, especially after the controversy surrounding the use of greased cartridges in British rifles.

Aamir gears up for Sitaare Zameen Par
On the work front, Aamir Khan is preparing for his upcoming release Sitaare Zameen Par, touted as a spiritual sequel to his 2007 classic Taare Zameen Par. The film will also star Genelia D’Souza in a pivotal role.

In addition, Aamir is celebrating the theatrical re-release of the cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna, which hit the screens again to mark its 30th anniversary. The iconic film, originally released in 1994, also featured Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karishma Kapoor, and Shakti Kapoor.