As Ashutosh Gowariker’s blockbuster Lagaan celebrated its 25th anniversary recently, actor Amin Haji took a nostalgic trip back in time and recalled how the film changed not only his career but also his personal life.The actor, who played Bagga, a temple drummer in the 2001 sports drama, attended the film’s anniversary celebrations hosted by Aamir Khan’s production house in Mumbai along with his wife Charlotte Whitby Coles and their daughters. Reflecting on the milestone, Amin revealed that he first met Charlotte on the sets of Lagaan, where an unexpected connection developed into a lifelong partnership.
How did Amin Haji meet his wife while filming Lagaan?
Speaking recently, Amin said his brother-in-law, Jimmy Whitby Coles, played a key role in bringing Charlotte to the film set.“My brother-in-law today, Jimmy, was playing county cricket at the time. They tested him and liked him. He’s 6’5” tall. “They said, ‘You’re about there,'” Amin recalls.The makers of Lagaan were also looking for British extras to portray the spectators during the climactic cricket match. Jimmy was asked to bring the women in his family to appear in the crowd scenes.“They said: ‘We will pay for their tickets, and we will even give them a stipend.
We want them to sit during these two weeks in the pavilion with their umbrellas and old costumes, like the wives and family members of English actors.Charlotte, who was 23 at the time and had recently completed her studies in anthropology, was fascinated by the experience of visiting Bhuj, Gujarat, where the film was shot.“She saw me and thought: ‘Oh gharib hai,’” Amin said, recalling their first meeting with his trademark humour.
You are a sample of research ko mujhe karna hai thoda. Aur ispe jo search ho raha hai, 26 saal ho gaye aur aaj wo abhi tak bechari 3 guna lagaan bhar rahi hai. (“This is weird. I need to do some research on this sample. This research has been going on for 26 years now, and the poor guy is still paying three times the lagan.
“)
Charlotte played a key role during a difficult phase in his career
After dating and eventually marrying, Charlotte moved to India. The couple now lives in the hills with their two daughters, Summer and Skye, whom they homeschool.Amin also credited his wife with helping him get through a difficult period in his career after the tremendous success of Lagaan. Surprisingly, the actor revealed that the success of the film made it difficult for him to accept subsequent acting offers.“I didn’t even want to act. I was getting offers, but neither the script nor my character came even a mile near Lagaan. At one point, Ashutosh and my wife Charlotte asked me, ‘So what are you going to do from now on?’ I said, ‘You tell me,’ because I didn’t want to do it.”The actor explained that he was reluctant to accept projects that did not match the quality of the film for which he received acclaim.“Basically I didn’t want to spoil the respect I had earned. Plus, I’m not a great actor. I was able to give a good performance thanks to Lagaan’s script, the director, and the team. They all helped me,” he added.
How Ashutosh Gowariker helped Amin Haji rediscover himself
After seeing Amin struggling to find direction after Lagaan, director Ashutosh Gowariker stepped in and encouraged him to explore writing.Concerned about his future and family responsibilities, Gowariker offered him the opportunity to co-write his 2004 film Swades.“If you want to build a family, you will have to earn something,” Gowariker reportedly told him.The opportunity proved to be a turning point in Amin’s career. He co-wrote Vikram Bhatt’s horror films Haunted 3D (2011) and Dangerous Ishq (2012) before making his directorial debut with the psychological thriller Koi Jaane Na in 2021, starring Kunal Kapoor and Amira Dastur.
