Long before methodical acting became a buzzword, Aamir Khan quietly transformed himself for his most loved 1990s roles. One such transformation happened in ‘Rangeela’, where he played the street-smart Munna alongside Urmila Matondkar and Jackie Shroff. The film, directed by Ram Gopal Varma with music by A. R. Rahman, went on to become a cult classic. Years later, Aamir revealed just how far he pushed himself physically to make Munna look and feel real.
The no-shower routine that changed everything
During a reunion panel discussion with Radio Nasha in 2020, the cast and crew revisited behind-the-scenes moments from the film. That is when Aamir shared that he stayed away from bathing for almost a week to make Munna look “a little gruffly.” He also recalled how the costumes were never designer-led. Instead, he would notice outfits on the street and collect similar pieces to build Munna’s look. According to him, the only costume that was specially stitched was the now-iconic yellow outfit, while the rest came together from real-life references rather than a stylist’s sketchbook.
Why ‘Rangeela’ still feels fresh
At its heart, the film follows Mili’s dream of becoming an actor, her growing closeness with star Raj Kamal, and Munna’s quiet, selfless love that asks for nothing in return. The emotional triangle, set against Mumbai’s energy and Rahman’s unforgettable music, turned Munna, Mili and Kamaljeet into household names. Decades on, the film still resonates for its honesty, color and a performance that felt lived-in rather than performed.
Work front
Most recently, Aamir was seen in ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’. He is also busy backing new stories as a producer with ‘Lahore 1947’ and ‘Happy Patel’ in the pipeline.
