How shooting for Thugs of Hindostan became an adventure for Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan

By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Updated: October 30, 2018 11:09:48 am

Thugs of Hindostan releases on November 8.

Yash Raj Films Thugs of Hindostan is one of the biggest Bollywood films of the year. For one, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are going to share screen space for the first time. Thugs is also an epic adventure backed by a production house with the requisite budget for it.

Not only the movie itself, but the shooting was also a sort of adventure. Although the movie has lots of CGI, a considerable part of it was also shot in real locations like Thailand and Malta. In one particular location in Thailand, there was a huge cave that will serve as the hideout of Amitabhs character Khudabaksh.

The set of Thugs of Hindostan.

Amitabh Bachchan says, “I couldnt understand Viktors (director Vijay Krishna Acharya) philosophy of wanting to go to Thailand to shoot this sequence but he said we found a wonderful location and I want to explore that. I must admit that when I went there and saw the location, it was absolutely awe-inspiring. Its a massive cave. Its like almost 20 to 30 storeys high and its difficult to imagine how nature was able to create this. While we were shooting on two or three locations, we had visitors without a pass on our location. Huge snakes would suddenly appear out of the rocks. Many a time there were little pranks that everyone was playing by throwing rubber snakes.”

Thugs of Hindostan releases on November 8.

But reaching the set was a pain for 76-year-old Amitabh, since it was a cumbrous uphill climb. Exclusively for Big B, a palki (palanquin) was built. “I had a lot of problems for the final walk. It had a climb, as it was mountainous. I have breathing problems. I tried a couple of times but it was not happening. They generously made a Palki for me. I was lifted and taken to the location while looking very regal,” he says.

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Aamir also chimes in, “When I walked in there for the first time, I was taken aback with the beauty of Poda Nui Island. It also felt like a real hideout. It had a massive cave with a huge ceiling and a river flowing through it. Its a fantastic location.”

The cast and crew of Thugs of Hindostan had to fend off snakes while shooting in the caves.