Jio MAMI 2016: 10 Facts About Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar That The Cast Revealed At the Reunion

Movie buffs all over the city had a gala time at the Movie Mela on Day 2 of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The team of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar reunited on stage after 24 years of its release and shared their memories and film secrets with the fans. The event was attended by almost all the cast member of the film, from Aamir Khan to Mamik Singh, Deven Bhojani, Ayesha Jhulka and even ‘little Aamir’ in the film, Imran Khan. Film’s director Mansoor Khan, music composer Lalit Pandit and choreographer Farah Khan shared the off-camera scenes and happenings from the film.

Kulbhushan Kharbanda, who played Sanju and Ratan’s father in the film couldn’t make it to the reunion but sent a good luck video for the entire team. Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, a classic that cuts through different ages is still considered a classic among those who grew up in the 90s. Both Aamir and Mansoor were amused to find that even after so long, the film is one of the favourites amongst the millennials.

While many stories were shared and Aamir’s search of his ‘favourite scene’ didn’t end throughout the session, here are 10 revelations made by the cast and crew of the film at the reunion.

1) Akshay Kumar was tested for the role of Deepak Tijori but was rejected due to him ‘weirdly playing with a ball’, revealed choreographer of the film Farah Khan. Nagma was offered the role of Pooja Bedi but her mother declined it saying that the word ‘gold-digger’ doesn’t go well with her image.

2) Farah Khan was originally an Assitant Director on the film but because of lack of resources, she turned into a choreographer for Pehla Nasha and her career as one of the best choreographers in Bollywood kickstarted.

3) 30 per cent of the shoot was done when Aamir Khan asked director Mansoor Khan to remove Milind Soman from the film. Soman was earlier playing the part of Deepak Tijori but things didn’t work out between them. The film was reshot with Deepak as Shekhar Malhotra, in it.

4)Girija, who was originally playing the role of Anjali left the film midway as the reshoot was taking more time than she actually signed for. The film was again reshot with Ayesha Jhulka in it. Mansoor Khan takes it upon himself as he says, “I saw her in Mani Ratnam’s film and offered her the role immediately. However, Ratnam is a brilliant director who knows how to make his actors work. I did not."

5) Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar was supposed to be Mansoor Khan’s debut directorial venture. However, before he could finish working on the script, his father and ace filmmaker Nassir Khan asked him to direct Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak because he wanted to launch Aamir Khan.

6) Jatin Pandit from the duo Jatin-Lalit wrote different lyrics for what later was turned into Pehla Naha by legendary lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.

7) When the actors weren’t working out and Mansoor had to shoot 80% of the film again, it was Aamir who stood through it all and said, "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar will be a cult film for ages. Doesn’t matter how much time it takes to complete". His prediction definitely proved right.

8) The slow motion in the song Pehla Nasha was a tricky one. The song was played and rolled at 2X speed with the actors enacting it at the original speed while lip syncing to the fast-forwarded speed. Lalit Pandit revealed that when they heard the 2X speed version of Pehla Song, they were horrified and asked Mansoor Khan to not use it to which the director assured them a good end result.

9) A nail pierced Ayesha Jhulka forehead while shooting the final nail scene. She was immediately rushed to the hospital and treated, but the injury left an ugly mark on her head. It was then, Mansoor Khan gave her a red cap to hide the injury. This is the reason why she is seen wearing a cap in few scenes of the climax.

10) Imran Khan revealed that the pants-down scene in the film was spontaneous as he was dared to stand on the cycle pedal when the other child, pulled his pants down. Little Imran cried the whole day on sets. The entire scene was Aamir Khan’s idea which Imran got to know on stage after 24 years.