Villain in Aamir Khan film became a hero in real life: How Paul Blackthorne helped fund relief for victims of 2001 Gujarat Earthquake

While he was the villain in the 2001 blockbuster Lagaan, British actor Paul Blackthorne became a hero in real life. The movie released in 2001. Just five months before the film hit the big screens, on January 26, 2001, a devastating earthquake struck the state, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The impact was particularly severe in several areas of Bhuj, situated near Kunaria village, the location where Aamir Khan and the film's crew had carried out a significant portion of the shooting.

The earthquake, which registered 7.6 on the Richter Scale, brought widespread devastation across Gujarat, resulting in significant loss of lives and extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and property. In the aftermath of the disaster, Aamir Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker, and members of their production team revisited Kanuria around the time of the film’s release. Having spent months filming there, they wanted to witness firsthand how dramatically the region had been transformed by the catastrophe.

Along with the rest of the cast, Blackthorne also contributed to relief efforts for the victims. As per an India Today report, he went back to Kanuria with Aamir and Ashutosh and took several photos in the scorching heat. He organised a photo exhibition named Bollywood Backpack in London. Proceeds were donated for relief efforts for the victims.

In an interview with India Today, Blackthorne reminisced about his experience shooting for the film and mastering the Hindi language. “As preliminary preparation, I was asked to learn Hindi and horse-riding. For three months I did nothing but rehearse my lines in Hindi. They were so tough that at one point I thought of giving up..” he admitted.


Following the success of Lagaan, the actor shifted to Los Angeles and enjoyed a career in Hollywood. Blackthorne achieved considerable recognition through his work on television. He built a strong reputation with recurring performances in the acclaimed medical series ER, created by Michael Crichton, as well as the widely watched espionage thriller 24 in 2004.

His most significant television role, however, came when he portrayed Quentin Lance in the DC Comics-inspired series Arrow. The character became one of the show's most recognizable figures, and Blackthorne remained a key part of the cast for seven seasons, appearing regularly from 2012 through 2018.