Laal Singh Chaddha

Kundan Shah, who is known for the cult classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), decided to script and helm the Hindi adaptation of the 1994 American drama Forrest Gump, which itself based on Winston Groom's 1986 novel of the same name, with Anil Kapoor reprising Tom Hanks' role in the film.[15] However, due to production troubles, Kapoor quit the project,[16][17] and was replaced by Shah Rukh Khan who previously collaborated with Kundan in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994). Initially Shah Rukh approached for this film, before Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995).[18] However, after the success of the film, which established his stardom, there were no reports about the remake to materialise, despite being announced in 1998.[19]

On August 2018, Aamir Khan had announced that he had purchased the remake rights of the 1994 American drama Forrest Gump, from Paramount Pictures,[20] which produced the film, and also suggested he will play the lead role in this film.[21][22] On 14 March 2019, coincieding with his 54th birthday,[23] Khan officially announced the project which has been named Laal Singh Chaddha,[24][25] with his wife Kiran Rao co-producing the film. Advait Chandan, who previously directed Khan's Secret Superstar (2017), was signed in to helm the remake.[26] The film was made on a budget of ₹105 crore (US$15 million) that includes promotion costs, advertising charges, VFX investment and salary of other starcast.[27]

Atul Kulkarni, who also worked with Khan in Rang De Basanti (2006), wrote the Hindi adaptation for the original. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Kulkarni stated "I wrote the script ten years ago, but Aamir took a couple of years because he did not believe that I must have written a good script. So he did not want to hurt me. After a few years, he heard the script and within 30 seconds he said I am going to do the film."[5] Kulkarni also told that "It took another 7-8 years toget the remake rights from the makers of the original (Paramount), as the movie is solely based on the original and Aamir made several trips to the LA to meet the studio heads and get the rights of the film. He says that it was after seven or eight years that all formalities were completed and the film could be made."[28]

With Khan playing the titular character, Kareena Kapoor was confirmed to play the female lead role in June 2019,[11] thus pairing up with Khan for the third time after 3 Idiots (2009) and Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012).[29] In August 2019, Vijay Sethupathi was signed alongside Khan, thus making his debut in Hindi cinema.[30][31] In September 2019, Yogi Babu was also roped in pivotal role.[32][33] In November 2019, Mona SIngh who also starred in Khan's 3 Idiots, was also cast in the pivotal role.[34] It was also rumoured that, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan will make a special appearance alongside Aamir Khan.[35][36] Kapoor plays Khan's wife while Sethupathi portrays Khan's friend Bubba.[37] Aamir Khan lost 20 kilograms for the younger version of his role in the film.[38][39]

While the film's principal photography was expected to commence in October 2019, Khan and his team went on scouting location on April 2019, across Dharmasala for five days.[40]

Laal Singh Chaddha is reportedly filmed in more than 100 Indian locations.[41][42][43] The principal photography of the film was commenced on 31 October 2019, with a muhurat shot given by Khan's mother Zeenat Hussain.[44][45] The first schedule took place at Chandigarh, Punjab, on 1 November and was completed within 21 days. Stills featuring Khan and Kapoor from the sets were leaked onto the internet,[46] with Khan's look featuring him with a thick beard and turban went viral.[47][48] A romantic track featuring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor was shot at Chandigarh on 28 November 2019.[49]

The second schedule was kickstarted in Kolkata on 5 December 2019.[50][51] Aamir Khan and his team flew to Kerala in the second week of December, where Khan's photos of shooting from Thekkumbhagam, Changanassery and Kappil went viral.[52] Khan completed the second schedule on 19 December 2019,[53] and kickstarted the third schedule on 21 December 2019, with shooting took place in Jaisalmer, Goa and Himachal Pradesh. The third schedule was completed on 12 February 2020,[54] and Khan headed to Chandigarh for their next schedule. The team wrapped up the last leg of shoot on 6 March 2020.[55][56] The cast and crew flew back to shoot in Punjab in 16 March 2020, before production of the film got halted owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.[57]

Aamir Khan cancelled the Ladakh schedule on 6 July,[58] owing to the India-China standoff along the Galwan Valley.[59] Later due to difficulties in shooting the film across India, Aamir decided to resume the film's shoot in Turkey, for the recce of new shoot.[60][61] On 7 September 2020, Aamir Khan resumed the shooting of the film in Mumbai, with safety measures and guidelines instructed by the government.[62][63] On 27 September 2020, Aamir and his team flew to Delhi to shoot some portions, with pictures featuring his younger version went viral.[64][65] Some scenes were shot at the Hotel Centaur in Delhi on 7 October 2020.[66][67] Kareena Kapoor wrapped up her portions on 15 October 2020.[68]

Khan suffered a rib injury while shooting an action sequence, but ensuring that there is no delay in the shoot, the actor took a few pain killers to and tried to subside his injury for the time being and continued working as he knew that there were special arrangements made for the shooting schedule. Earlier, while shooting for an important running sequence, Aamir Khan had suffered extreme physical exertion due to constant running.[69] The actor shot few sequences at a sports complex located at Noida on 28 October 2020.[70]