Filmmaker Mansoor Khan, whose career in Hindi films rose alongside that of his cousin, actor Aamir Khan, now lives a reclusive life in Tamil Nadu. In a rare interview, he spoke about the breakout success of his first film, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and its follow up, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. He said that he’s glad his original draft for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar wasn’t produced, because it would’ve destroyed Aamir’s career before it even began.
Appearing on the India Now and How YouTube channel, Mansoor said that he came up with the idea for the sports drama before he made Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, which was conceptualised by his father, Nasir Husain. “I began writing a story, which eventually became Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar… Daddy was writing Qayamat, to launch Aamir. We started in 1986, and the film was released in 1988; I’m a slow filmmaker. But the point is, even I had Aamir in mind for Jo Jeeta; he would’ve been 19-20 at the time. Thankfully, I didn’t make that film. I would’ve destroyed Aamir’s career.”
Mansoor explained that he wasn’t happy with the script, which is why he agreed when his father asked if he’d be interested in directing QSQT. “I asked him, ‘What is this film about?’ And he said, ‘It’s a love story’. I said, ‘But every Hindi film is a love story’,” Mansoor continued. He said that he remained displeased with how the film had turned out to this day, and made his opinion known at the trial show.
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak left an indelible mark on the careers of many involved, including actors Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla and director Mansoor Khan, who made their debuts with this film. (Express Archive photo)
“I was so upset after the first trial, I was telling my father, ‘We need to reshoot the scenes, they’re so bad’. And my father was walking confidently, and I’m running after him saying ‘This is bad, that is bad’. He’s not even listening to me, because he sensed that it’s good. But even today, I feel that I should have shot those scenes differently, a very small part,” he said.
After gaining experience with QSQT, he realised that he was going ‘in the wrong direction’ with Jo Jeeta, which prompted him to rewrite the film. “My dad understood the audience’s pulse, but I had no idea. I wasn’t a film person, I wouldn’t go to Gaiety Galaxy… I realised that people had even enjoyed the scenes I disliked. So I rethought and rewrote Jo Jeeta.”
Mansoor now lives in Tamil Nadu, where he works as a farmer. He occasionally works on films as well, if and when Aamir asks him to. For instance, he was involved in his nephew Junaid Khan’s upcoming romantic movie as well.
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