Paul Blackthorne on Lagaan's biggest culture shock: 'Where is the alcohol?'
Synopsis
Paul Blackthorne's sharpest memory from the sets of 'Lagaan' isn't the cricket or the heat — it's the British cast frantically sourcing alcohol in a dry state. As the film turns 25, his candid recollections offer a rare, unfiltered look at what it actually took to make one of Indian cinema's most iconic productions.
Key Takeaways
Paul Blackthorne played Captain Andrew Russell in 'Lagaan' (2001), the antagonist who challenges the villagers to a cricket match.
The biggest culture shock for the British cast was Gujarat's dry-state status , forcing them to source alcohol from outside Bhuj on weekends.
The cast boarded buses at 7:00 am daily for a one-hour drive to the shoot location, enduring cold mornings before facing extreme daytime heat.
Blackthorne said he did not recall Aamir Khan missing the bus, noting Khan was likely occupied with his dual role as producer. 'Lagaan' clashed with 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' at the box office in 2001 and both films performed strongly — a rare outcome in Indian cinema.
English actor Paul Blackthorne has opened up about his most vivid memories from the sets of the landmark film 'Lagaan', recalling the cultural adjustments that the international cast had to navigate while filming in Gujarat. Blackthorne spoke at the film's 25th anniversary celebrations in Mumbai, offering a candid look at life on set during one of Indian cinema's most celebrated productions.
The Dry State Dilemma
Blackthorne, who played the antagonist Captain Andrew Russell in the film, said the single biggest culture shock for the British members of the crew was the absence of alcohol in Bhuj. Since Gujarat is a dry state, the international cast had to make special arrangements to source drinks.
'I think the biggest cultural shock for British people on the sets was like, 'Where is the alcohol' given Gujarat is a dry state. We would line up to source alcohol from different places on Saturday night for the celebrations. The environment was very hostile in terms of heat, it was very dry,' Blackthorne recalled.
Early Mornings and Chai on Set
Beyond the dry-state challenge, Blackthorne painted a vivid picture of the daily grind on location. The cast and crew would board buses as early as 7:00 am, wrapping themselves in blankets to ward off the early morning chill during the roughly one-hour drive from their accommodation to the shoot location.
'We used to get on the bus at 7:00 a.m. and get under the blanket because it was too cold. It was about 1 hour of drive from our accommodation and once on the sets, we used to get good breakfast including the chai,' he added. The contrast between freezing mornings and the scorching daytime heat of Kutch was a recurring theme of the shoot.
On Aamir Khan Missing the Bus
When asked about a reported incident in which Aamir Khan missed the morning bus during the shoot, Blackthorne was diplomatic. 'I honestly don't remember Aamir missing the bus. I am sure he had a very good reason for the same because being the producer and not reporting for the shoot on time, I'm sure he must be occupied by something,' he said.
The remark underscores the dual responsibility Khan carried on the project — as both the lead actor and producer of the film.
Lagaan at 25: A Landmark Revisited
'Lagaan', released in 2001, went head-to-head at the box office with 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' — a rare clash of two major films that both registered strong collections, defying conventional box-office wisdom. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and remains one of the most celebrated productions in Indian cinema history.
As the film marks its 25th anniversary, cast members like Blackthorne continue to reflect on the shoot's unique challenges — offering a behind-the-scenes window into the making of a cinematic milestone.
Point of View
Navigating a dry state and a six-month shoot in Kutch. What mainstream anniversary coverage tends to miss is the lived texture of that production: the 7 am buses, the chai, the Saturday-night alcohol runs. These details humanise a film that has been mythologised to the point of abstraction. At 25, 'Lagaan' deserves both its legend and its honest behind-the-scenes accounting.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Paul Blackthorne's biggest culture shock while filming Lagaan?
Paul Blackthorne said the biggest culture shock for the British cast was the non-availability of alcohol in Bhuj, since Gujarat is a dry state. The crew had to make special arrangements to source drinks from elsewhere on Saturday nights.
Who did Paul Blackthorne play in Lagaan?
Paul Blackthorne played Captain Andrew Russell, the English officer who challenges the villagers to a cricket match, wagering a waiver of their taxes on the outcome.
What did Paul Blackthorne say about Aamir Khan missing the bus?
Blackthorne said he did not personally recall the incident. He suggested that Aamir Khan, serving as both lead actor and producer, likely had a valid reason if he did miss the bus.
When was Lagaan released and why is it significant?
'Lagaan' was released in 2001 and is considered one of Indian cinema's landmark films. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and performed strongly at the box office despite clashing with 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'.
Where was Lagaan filmed and what were the conditions like?
The film was shot primarily in and around Bhuj in Gujarat's Kutch region. Cast members have described extreme conditions — freezing early mornings during the one-hour bus commute to the set, followed by intense dry heat once filming began.
