<P> Rang De Basanti suffered a significant setback when one of the initial producers ultimately failed to contribute any funds towards it; the shortfall left production looking uncertain just two months away from the beginning of principal photography . However, after Aamir Khan agreed to act in the film, Mehra approached Ronnie Screwvala of UTV Motion Pictures with the script . Screwvala, who supported Mehra from the beginning of the production, had faith in the film, reasoning that in historical films, "the treatment and execution is very different from regular masala fare", and that such films "find favour with the audience owing to their elaborate sets and period costumes". The budget was reported as Rs. 250 million (approximately US $5.5 million), and, despite going a little over the initially planned budget, Mehra did not have any serious disagreements with UTV . </P> <P> The film's script originally had a different climax, originally showing the protagonists on the run . The climax was rewritten, as the idea of them running away wasn't liked mutually, as they should have a last stand resembling that of Bhagat Singh . Years earlier, Khan had written his own story with the climax in a radio station, which he adapted for the climax of Rang De Basanti . </P> <P> Aamir Khan agreed to act in Rang De Basanti immediately after reading Mehra's script . Mehra described his character as a simple man with a strong sense of integrity and dignity . Khan, who would turn 40 during the shoot, lost about 10 kilograms (22 lb) with a strict diet and exercise regime to more convincingly depict a man in his late twenties . Atul Kulkarni and Kunal Kapoor were publicly attached to the film by the time it was officially announced; Kapoor had been the assistant director to Mehra during the filming of Aks and was already familiar with the material Mehra had been developing . Mehra gave Kulkarni biographies of Ram Prasad Bismil as preparation, including Bismil's autobiography . Early rumours indicated that actors Arjun Rampal and Arjan Bajwa would be amongst the male leads, but these roles ultimately were filled by Sharman Joshi, Siddharth Narayan and R. Madhavan . </P> <P> Rang De Basanti marked Siddharth's Bollywood debut, following on the success of his Telugu film Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana . Having previously worked as an assistant director, Siddharth praised Mehra as being "by far the most ambitious technical filmmaker in Indian cinema". Madhavan, despite being a well - known Tamil cinema actor, took the smaller role of a fighter aircraft pilot because he was convinced of the film's potential and wanted to be a part of it . Om Puri appears in a two - scene cameo as Aslam's staunch Muslim father . </P>

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