Aamir Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker’s Next Is a Period Sports Drama on Historic India-Pakistan Test Series (EXCLUSIVE)

Aamir Khan has locked his next project, and it's neither Rajkumar Hirani's “3 Idiots” sequel nor Rahul Mody's start-up drama. Variety India can exclusively confirm that Aamir is next teaming up with his “Lagaan” director, Ashutosh Gowariker, on an ambitious sports saga based on the historic 1952 India-Pakistan Test series. The film is written by Piyush Gupta (Dangal, Chhichhore) and Neeraj Singh (Nil Battey Sannata).

Contrary to several media reports, the film is not a biopic of legendary Indian cricketer Lala Amarnath. Instead, it's a broader historical sports drama centered on the first-ever Test series played between India and Pakistan following the Partition. This was a landmark cricketing event that marked what would become the fiercest rivalries in the sporting world. The film will explore themes of friendship, intense rivalry, and national pride against the backdrop of cricket, bringing to the screen an iconic chapter in Indo-Pak sporting history that has never been depicted on the big screen before.

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Aamir will play the role of cricketing legend Lala Amarnath, independent India's first cricket captain who led the Indian team during the 1952 series. The actor is believed to have already started preparing for the role and will undergo an intense physical transformation to portray Amarnath onscreen. Envisioned as a lavish period drama, the film is expected to feature a large ensemble cast, though the details are currently kept under wraps.

The yet-untitled project will be produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under their Excel Entertainment banner, marking their third collaboration with Aamir following “Dil Chahta Hai” (2001) and “Talaash” (2012). The film’s script is said to have been locked, and Aamir has already given a formal go-ahead to start pre-production. The team will soon begin the recce, with plans underway to commence shooting around November-December 2026.

Aamir and Ashutosh haven't yet confirmed their reunion, but it's learned that they might announce their new film officially on June 15, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of “Lagaan” (2001), widely regarded as one of the most iconic Indian films of all time. Although their latest project also unfolds against the backdrop of cricket, insiders suggest it will be markedly different from “Lagaan” in both tone and storytelling, delving more deeply into the emotional core of the sport and the complex dynamics surrounding the historic series.

For those unversed, the first-ever India-Pakistan Test series, held between October and December 1952, comprised five test matches and ended with India winning by 2-1, with the remaining two tests resulting in a draw. This marked the beginning of a longstanding cricketing rivalry, which continues to command extraordinary attention and emotional investment from fans across both nations even today. Until today, India and Pakistan have played 59 Test matches against each other. Of which Pakistan has won 12, while India has trumped 9, with 38 matches being drawn.