Is a Sequel to ‘Sarfarosh’ on the Way?

Filmmaker John Matthew Matthan opened up about the possibility of a sequel to his film Sarfarosh (1999).

The patriotic police drama starred Naseeruddin Shah, Aamir Khan, Sonali Bendre and Pradeep Rawat in lead roles.

It depicted the story of ACP Ajay Singh Rathod (played by Aamir) as he dealt with a case that involved terrorism across borders.

The film became firmly ingrained in the history of Indian cinema.

On April 30, 2024, Sarfarosh celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Delving into a possible extension of the film, John said:

“I met [Aamir] last week because of 25 years of Sarfarosh. We want to do some special screening for the cast and crew.

“We’ll have a small get-together. Aamir is keen [on a sequel].

“I am also planning to make it, but unless you get the freedom and choice to do it and if it is not pleasurable for you then, how are others going to enjoy your film?

“Also there are not many scripts that I have liked.

“When I made Sarfarosh, I had a yardstick that the rickshaw wallahs should understand and enjoy it as much as college professors, so I am yet to find something like that to make a film again.

“But today, the yardstick has changed.

“The rickshaw wallahs can’t afford to buy movie tickets anymore, so college professors and students should understand and enjoy the movies, so that’s something I am working towards.

“It is actually a very good moment to make good films — ones which are intelligent and appealing.

“We have to find the right story. Aamir is very keen on Sarfarosh 2.

“But unless I have the right story that suits him, I can’t. It is not that easy.

“It is quite difficult because his character ACP Ajay Singh Rathore would be Director General of Police and at that level, they don’t leave their office and get on to the field.

“So I have to consult the police and find a loophole on how to make him step out of his office and fight.

“Understand how much liberty I can take with his role.

“But when I make it, Aamir will be a part of it. He is very keen.”

John also revealed that when he was making the original film, people wanted him to cast Shah Rukh Khan instead of Aamir.

The director continued: “I met my friend Manmohan Shetty, who owned Adlabs, and told him that I want to make a film.

“Around this time, Shetty had started Entertainment One to produce feature films.

“He had funded two films of my friends, both of which starred Shah Rukh Khan.

“One was Vikram Mehrotra’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, directed by Kundan Shah, and the other was Praveen Nischol’s English Babu Desi Mem, both starring SRK.

“So at that time, all of them suggested I take Shah Rukh.

“I said, ‘Listen, I don’t think Shah Rukh suits my role. I don’t have him in my mind’.

“But they said that we would be able to save more money as the three of us could get a deal, but I didn’t want to.

“Then I met Aamir. He read the script and said yes.

“So then I started studying Aamir, what he had done and he had done only love stories.

“I felt that was good because he was unassuming.

“For example, if you see Spiderman, when you see that guy first, you know that he is not going to be able to do anything.

“But he becomes Spiderman and you start believing he can do it.

“So I needed a hero who transforms, then you are with him, rooting for him because you feel that this guy is too vulnerable.

“In a realistic movie like Sarfarosh, I needed the audience to feel for the guy.

“With all three considerations, I was sure I wanted Aamir.”

John added that he believed Sarfarosh was the film that strengthened Aamir’s relevance.

He explained: “After Sarfarosh was made and because he thought it was not commercial, he wanted it to come after a couple of commercial films due to which the film got delayed.

“But when Sarfarosh finally released, it ran more than the other commercial films. It came after Ghulam.

“He then realised that he needs to do films which have original stories. So he then did Lagaan.

“There was a visible shift in his attitude after Sarfarosh.”

“Post the film, he’s been doing movies that are ‘different’ from routine potboilers and that’s the reason he has stayed relevant all these years.”

It was previously rumoured that John Matthew Matthan was planning Sarfarosh 2 with John Abraham in the lead role.

However, nothing was officially confirmed.

With so much love and adulation amassed by Sarfarosh, a sequel is something that many fans are waiting for.