“Shah Rukh is a friend. I told him that ’I needed someone who can represent what Elvis Presley represented in America,” Aamir said in an interview with journalist Alexandra. “I need the biggest iconic star of India, which is why I am coming to you. He was really sweet and he said, Yes.”

Laal Singh Chaddha is an official remake of Hollywood’s Forest Gump. The 1994 movie Forest Gump was directed by Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks and Robin Wright were the leading roles. The film earned three Oscar awards – including best actor in a leading role, best writing (adapted), and best directing – in 1995.

The movie, which took 14 years to complete, also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Naga Chaitanya and Mona Singh. Aamir’s Laal Singh Chaddha would be up against Akshay Kumar’s Raksha Bandhan. The pre-booking has already started.

But, Indian movie critic Taran Adarsh has said the advance bookings of both movies were way “below expectations”. Both dependent on spot bookings/walk-in audience and word of mouth to put up strong totals on day 1, he said in a tweet.

Aamir had earlier said it was Yash Raj Films producer Aditya Chopra who convinced him to do the lead part in the film. The Taare Zameen Par actor was not willing to the movie initially and wanted to cast his son after watching the latter in test shoots.