Farhan Akhtar no longer in Aamir Khan’s Champions; film goes for recast
Farhan Akhtar no longer in Aamir Khan’s Champions; film goes for recast
Transiently, Aamir Khan planned for a film on the 2018 Spanish sports dramedy, Campeones, titled Champions.
Notedly, big names like Ranbir Kapoor and Salman Khan were to feature in the film. But, later filmmaker Farhan Akhtar was roped in. If that wasn’t enough, film was scheduled to kick-start shoot in October, and the Champion team were busy working on pre-production.
But, as of now with the announcement of Don 3, it is learnt that Champions has been impacted. If the rumour mill is to be believed, then Farhan Akhtar is no more in the project.
A well-known source reveals that Farhan Akhtar had once consented to work in the film and was to lead the cast.
Initially the film was to start shoot in October 2023, but, as of now, it has been pushed toJanuary 2024. The source
continues that the team is still to cast a few more members for which they require more time and hence determined to push the venture by three months. However, with the Don 3, announcement, Farhan finds himself rather busy from January 2024 onwards as he needs to work on the pre-production. Owing to clash of schedule, he decided to opt-out. In fact, he made a personal call to Aamir requesting to opt out of the project, which the latter magnanimously agreed to.
The original Spanish film Campeones, is inspired by Aderes team in Burjassot (Valencia), a team created with people with intellectual disabilities that won twelve Spanish championships between 1999 and 2014. Given this, Aamir Khan’s team feels they require the right individuals with physical or mental challenges to feature in the remake. They are currently casting for the same. Champions being a remake will need to pay close attention to the original and cannot deviate much, casting of these individuals are currently underway, which has added yet another layer to the delay in going on floors.
As for the film, Champions is an official remake of the Spanish film Campeones and is directed by RS Prasanna with AKP Aamir Khan Productions bankrolling the venture.
Expected to release in 2024, the makers are looking to mount the venture in January 2024.
News Edit K.V.Raman
