Paul Blackthorne has revealed that he knew little about cricket when he played Captain Andrew Russell in Aamir Khan’s ‘Lagaan’. Looking back at the film 25 years after its release, the British actor said clever editing and a patient crew helped him appear convincing at the crease.He also recalled suffering heat stroke after falling asleep for nearly three hours inside an overheated costume area during filming.
Paul Blackthorne admits he struggled with cricket
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Blackthorne laughed when asked whether his cricket skills matched those of his character.“No, I am absolutely terrible,” he admitted.The production team adjusted the way his batting scenes were filmed. While the final footage showed a fast bowler charging towards him, a crew member gently threw the ball to Blackthorne while shooting his close-up portions.He recalled being asked to “try and hit this one” as the crew patiently worked around his limited cricketing ability. Blackthorne joked that he would never have secured the role on the strength of his sporting skills.Blackthorne played Captain Russell, the arrogant British officer who challenges the drought-hit villagers of Champaner to a cricket match. If the villagers won, they would not have to pay the oppressive agricultural tax, or lagaan, for three years.Aamir Khan starred as Bhuvan, who accepts the challenge and assembles a team of villagers unfamiliar with the game. Gracy Singh played Gauri, while Rachel Shelley appeared as Elizabeth Russell. Ashutosh Gowariker directed the film.
‘Lagaan’ actor recalls suffering heat stroke on set
Blackthorne also spoke about a frightening incident caused by the intense heat during the shoot.The cricket pavilion seen in the film also housed the costume and wardrobe departments. During a break, Blackthorne hid beneath some clothing rails and fell asleep there for around three hours.Shortly after waking up, he was called for a horseback photo shoot. Although he initially insisted he was fine, the photographer noticed him beginning to slide from the saddle.“I got heat stroke,” Blackthorne recalled, adding that his face had turned bright red and he became seriously unwell.The actor said he poured water over himself to cool down after spending the afternoon in the sweltering costume space. Looking back with humour, he remarked, “Andrew Russell deserved to be cooked.”
More about ‘Lagaan’
Released on June 15, 2001, ‘Lagaan’ combined sport, drama and India’s colonial history. The film became a major critical and commercial success and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards.Its final cricket match, in which the villagers face the British officers, remains one of the most memorable sequences in Hindi cinema. The film completed 25 years on June 15, 2026.