Kabir Khan Gets Nostalgic As Bajrangi Bhaijaan Completes 10 Years Since Its Release

As Bajrangi Bhaijaan clocks 10 years, director Kabir Khan is looking back at the film that not only changed the course of his career but also deeply moved audiences across the world. While the Salman Khan starrer is remembered for its heartwarming story and its message of love across borders, Kabir recalls how the journey wasn’t without its challenges. One particular scene featuring Om Puri as a Pakistani Maulvi sparked serious debate. “They felt it might hurt Muslim sentiments. But I fought hard for it. That moment wasn’t about religion, it was about unity, and it landed exactly like that with the audience,” Kabir told SCREEN.

That scene, in which Om Puri’s character blesses Salman Khan’s character with Jai Shri Ram, raised eyebrows at the time. But Kabir stood by it and a moment in a packed theatre proved him right. He remembered watching the film at Gaiety Galaxy in Mumbai, surrounded by an audience full of Muslim blue-collar workers. “They cheered loudly at that very moment,” he said. “It was the clearest sign that everyone who doubted it was wrong.”

While the film was always meant to be an entertainer, Kabir admits he hadn’t expected the emotional weight it eventually carried. “I thought it was going to be more of a fun, adventurous movie. But when I saw audiences just sitting in silence after the film, I realized it hit something deep,” he said. And even now, a decade later, it still affects him. “Even today, I get misty-eyed watching the final scene.”

Kabir also shared a lesser-known casting detail. The role of the Maulvi, ultimately played by Om Puri, was initially offered to someone else. “I had offered it to Naseeruddin Shah, who really liked the script. But it couldn’t work out,” he said. Still, he has no regrets. “Om Puri’s performance was unforgettable nonetheless.” Ten years on, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is not just a film it’s a feeling that continues to stay with its audience.

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