‘Aamir Khan hated ‘Josh’ when he first watched it,’ reveals director Mansoor Khan

Filmmaker Mansoor Khan revealed that actor Aamir Khan once “hated” his 2000 film 'Josh,' which eventually starred Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Initially written with both Aamir and Shah Rukh in mind, Josh underwent an interesting casting process that involved miscommunication and unexpected decisions, ultimately leading to SRK’s memorable portrayal of Max.Aamir Was Initially Interested in Playing MaxAs reported by News 18, after the success of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Mansoor Khan began developing Josh with both Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan in mind, Aamir for the romantic lead and Shah Rukh as Max. However, when Mansoor narrated the story to Aamir without specifying roles, Aamir assumed he would play Max, the fiery gang leader. Realizing the confusion, Mansoor decided to speak to Shah Rukh first before committing.SRK was eager but thought Aamir would get the role.When Mansoor met Shah Rukh Khan, the actor enthusiastically discussed ideas for Max’s character, showing keen interest. But SRK hesitated to confirm his participation, assuming Aamir would be cast in the lead role. Meanwhile, Aamir later rejected the part himself, saying he wanted to move away from romantic or tapori-style roles like those in Rangeela. He opted out, allowing Shah Rukh to step in as Max.

Aamir disliked the film, but Mansoor’s view changed.Years later, Mansoor Khan recalled how Aamir reacted after seeing Josh: “He saw it at that time and said he hated it.” Disillusioned, Mansoor avoided revisiting the film for nearly 15 years. “I finally saw it again eight years ago, and honestly, it’s not a bad film,” he added. “I told Aamir, ‘See, back then, the wounds were still fresh.’”Despite the initial hiccups, Mansoor believes Shah Rukh was always the right choice for Max: “He has the humor, charisma, and an underlying threat—exactly what Max needed.”The film, though not a major box office hit, enjoys a cult following today, especially for its music, sibling dynamic, and Shah Rukh’s intense performance. On the other hand, Aamir Khan's recent outing, 'Sitaare Zameen Par,' is doing good box office business.