On June 1, 2025, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan revealed on Raj Shamani’s podcast in Mumbai that his long-cherished dream project, a film adaptation of the Mahabharata, might be his last. The 60-year-old actor-producer, set to release Sitaare Zameen Par on June 20, 2025, described the epic as a deeply personal endeavor that could mark the culmination of his career.
In This Article:
Khan’s ambition to bring the Mahabharata to the big screen, potentially as a multi-film saga, stems from its emotional depth and grandeur, aiming to create a cinematic milestone akin to The Lord of the Rings. This announcement, has sparked buzz among fans and industry insiders.
A Dream Project of Epic Proportions
Khan called the Mahabharata a story that “has everything—emotion, scale, grandeur,” encapsulating all human experiences. “Maybe after doing this, I will feel that I have nothing left to do,” he told Shamani, hinting that the project’s vast scope might leave him creatively fulfilled. He envisions a multi-part series, noting to The Hollywood Reporter that a single film couldn’t contain the epic’s complexity, potentially requiring multiple directors to execute it within a reasonable timeline, similar to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. The project, in development since 2018 with a rumored ₹1,000 crore budget, is now in early pre-production, with Khan assembling a writing team post-Sitaare Zameen Par.
Lord Krishna and Casting Ambitions
Khan expressed a personal affinity for Lord Krishna, a role he aspires to play, inspired by his mother calling him “Krishna” in childhood due to his charm. However, he remains open on casting, telling ABP Live, “We’ll cast based on who’s appropriate for each part,” prioritizing talent over his own involvement. Earlier, he considered playing Karna but felt his physique better suited Krishna.
Challenges and Industry Context
Khan admitted to Galatta Plus in 2022 that adapting the Mahabharata feels like performing a “yagya,” fearing he might “let it down” due to its cultural weight. The project’s scale, requiring years for scripting alone, led him to shelve it in 2021 for a web series, only to revive it in 2025.
A Potential Swan Song
Khan’s hint that Mahabharata could be his final film, as reported by Outlook India, reflects his desire to “die with my shoes on”. With Sitaare Zameen Par and a cameo in Coolie upcoming, he’s balancing acting and producing, but Mahabharata remains his “biggest ambition”.
-By Manoj H
