Lagaan at 25: Rachel Shelley shares rare BTS photos from Aamir Khan's Oscar-nominated classic
Synopsis
Twenty-five years after Lagaan's release, British actress Rachel Shelley has surfaced two never-before-seen photographs from the shoot — one in traditional Indian attire, another beside a decorated elephant. The posts, tagged #LagaanLovers, are a reminder of how the Oscar-nominated classic built an unlikely bridge between a British actress and a devoted global audience that still hasn't let go.
Key Takeaways
Rachel Shelley posted two unseen behind-the-scenes photographs from Lagaan on 1 August 2025 , marking the film's 25th anniversary .
One image shows her in traditional Indian attire with colourful bangles; the other captures her beside a decorated elephant in her Victorian costume.
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India released on 15 June 2001 , directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan .
The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
The cast and crew had already reunited in June 2025 for a special script-reading session to celebrate the silver jubilee.
Music for the film was composed by A.R.
Rahman , with lyrics by Javed Akhtar .
British actress Rachel Shelley, who played the compassionate Elizabeth Russell in Aamir Khan's landmark film Lagaan, marked the film's 25th anniversary on 1 August by posting two previously unseen behind-the-scenes photographs from the shoot on her social media account.
What the Pictures Show
The first image captures Shelley dressed in traditional Indian attire, her wrists adorned with colourful bangles — a striking contrast to her character's usual Victorian wardrobe. The second photograph shows her posing joyfully beside a decorated elephant while wearing her signature period costume from the film.
Captioning the post, Shelley wrote: 'Hey #LagaanLovers - did I ever share these with you..? #lagaan #25yearslagaan' — a message clearly directed at the film's enduring global fanbase.
Rachel Shelley's Role in Lagaan
In Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, Shelley portrayed Elizabeth Russell, the empathetic sister of the villainous British officer Captain Andrew Russell, played by Paul Blackthorne. Unlike her brother, Elizabeth sympathises with the villagers of Champaner and covertly teaches them cricket to help them mount their historic challenge against the British colonisers.
Over the course of the narrative, Elizabeth develops feelings for Bhuvan, portrayed by Aamir Khan, before realising he is deeply in love with Gauri, played by Gracy Singh — a subplot that gave the film much of its emotional texture.
About the Film
Lagaan was written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan under his banner Aamir Khan Productions. It released on 15 June 2001 and went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film — one of the most celebrated achievements in Hindi cinema's history.
The film featured an ensemble cast including Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Suhasini Mulay, Raghubir Yadav, Rajesh Vivek, Yashpal Sharma, Raj Zutshi, Akhilendra Mishra, and Daya Shankar Pandey, among others. Its iconic score was composed by A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar.
25th Anniversary Celebrations
Shelley's nostalgic post comes weeks after the cast and crew of Lagaan reunited in June 2025 for a special script-reading session to mark the film's silver jubilee. The reunion drew widespread attention, underscoring how deeply the film continues to resonate with audiences a quarter-century after its release.
With the anniversary celebrations still generating conversation, Shelley's rare photographs are likely to reignite affection for a film that remains a benchmark in Indian cinema.
Point of View
A universal underdog story, and A.R. Rahman's score — was not accidental. The real question for contemporary Bollywood is whether it is building films with that kind of shelf life, or simply chasing opening-weekend numbers.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rachel Shelley post for Lagaan's 25th anniversary?
Rachel Shelley shared two previously unseen behind-the-scenes photographs from the Lagaan shoot on 1 August 2025. One shows her in traditional Indian attire with colourful bangles, and the other captures her posing beside a decorated elephant in her Victorian-era costume from the film.
Who did Rachel Shelley play in Lagaan?
Rachel Shelley played Elizabeth Russell, the compassionate sister of the antagonist Captain Andrew Russell (played by Paul Blackthorne). Her character secretly teaches cricket to the villagers of Champaner and develops feelings for Bhuvan, played by Aamir Khan.
When was Lagaan released and what awards did it receive?
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India released on 15 June 2001. It earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, making it one of the most acclaimed achievements in Hindi cinema.
Who directed and produced Lagaan?
Lagaan was written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan under his production banner Aamir Khan Productions. The music was composed by A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar.
How did the Lagaan team celebrate the film's 25th anniversary?
The cast and crew held a special script-reading session in June 2025 to mark the silver jubilee. Rachel Shelley further commemorated the milestone by sharing rare BTS photographs on social media in August 2025.
