As Ashutosh Gowariker’s iconic film Lagaan celebrated 25 years recently, actor Amin Hajee took a nostalgic trip down memory lane and recalled how the film changed not only his career but also his personal life.The actor, who played Bagga, the temple drummer in the 2001 period sports drama, attended the film’s anniversary celebrations hosted by Aamir Khan Productions in Mumbai alongside 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 blossomed into a lifelong partnership.
How Amin Hajee met his wife on the sets of Lagaan
Speaking recently, Amin shared that his wife’s brother, Jamie Whitby-Coles, played a key role in bringing Charlotte to the film’s set.“My brother-in-law today, Jamie, at that time was playing county cricket. They tested him and they liked him. He is 6’5” tall. So they told him, ‘You are on,’” Amin recalled.The makers of Lagaan were also looking for British extras to portray spectators during the climactic cricket match. Jamie was asked to bring along the women in his family to appear in the crowd scenes.“They said, ‘We will pay for their tickets, we will even give them a stipend. We want them to sit for those two weeks in the pavilion with the parasols and those period costumes, like the wives and family members of the English cast,’” Amin told PTI.Charlotte, who was 23 at the time and had recently completed her studies in anthropology, was intrigued by the experience of visiting Bhuj, Gujarat, where the film was being shot.Recalling their first meeting with his trademark humour, Amin said, “She saw me and she thought, ‘Ye odd hai. Ye specimen ko mujhe research karna hai thoda.’ Aur ispe jo research ho raha hai, 26 saal ho gaye aur aaj wo abhi tak bechari 3 guna Lagaan bhar rahi hai.” (“This is odd. I need to do some research on this specimen. And that research has been going on for 26 years now, and the poor thing is still paying three times the Lagaan.” )
Charlotte played a key role during a difficult phase in his career
After dating and eventually getting married, Charlotte moved to India. The couple now live in the hills with their daughters, Summer and Sky, whom they homeschool.Amin also credited his wife with helping him navigate a challenging period in his career following the massive success of Lagaan. Surprisingly, the actor revealed that the film’s success 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 arrived even a mile near Lagaan. At one point, Ashutosh and my wife Charlotte asked me, ‘Then what will you do from now on?’ So I said, ‘You tell me,’ because I didn’t want to do this,” he confessed.The actor explained that he was reluctant to accept projects that did not match the quality of the acclaimed film.“I basically didn’t want to spoil the respect I had earned. Plus, I’m not a great actor. I managed to give a good performance thanks to Lagaan’s script, director, and the team. They all helped me,” he added.
How Ashutosh Gowariker helped Amin Hajee reinvent himself
Seeing Amin struggle to find direction after Lagaan, filmmaker 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’ll have to earn something,” Gowariker reportedly told him.The opportunity proved to be a turning point in Amin’s career. He went on to co-write 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 Amyra Dastur.
