20 Years of Iqbal! Nagesh Kukunoor: 'People draw lessons and connect the dots, I never do' | Exclusive

Nagesh Kukunoor reflects on 20 years of Iqbal sharing his filmmaking approach, audience connection, and the film’s enduring impact through its story, cast, and iconic music.

Nagesh Kukunoor; Iqbal

Summary:

• Nagesh Kukunoor reflects on Iqbal’s 20-year milestone, emphasizing his approach of moving on after making films.

• He shares how audiences continue to connect with the film, citing full-circle moments like NGO performances of Aashayein.

• Iqbal (2005), starring Shreyas Talpade, Naseeruddin Shah, and Shweta Basu Prasad, remains acclaimed for its inspiring story and iconic music.

August 26, 2025, marks two decades since the release of Nagesh Kukunoor's acclaimed film, Iqbal. The filmmaker shared his thoughts on the milestone during an exclusive interaction with OTTplay, reflecting on the journey of the film and its lasting impact.

Nagesh Kukunoor on his filmmaking approach and legacy

“When things age well, you know that you did something relatively well,” Kukunoor said. “Iqbal aged well, right? I've never seen it since I made it. I never see films once I make them. Anyways, that's just a random comment aside. It just tells me that, 'Oh, I did that. 'Well, okay, good.' But the heart and soul that I pour into everything is the same. Some come up aces, some come up duds. But it doesn't ever change the fact that I pour everything of myself into everything I do, and I leave it there. Some of them just shine, and some do really well, and others kind of wither away. People draw lessons and connect the dots and everything. I've never been one of those filmmakers. I make it and move on. Never look back. No lessons to be learnt from the past. None whatsoever.”

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Audience connection and full-circle moments

Kukunoor, who recently directed the Sony LIV series, The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case also reflected on how audiences continue to connect with Iqbal years after its release. “No, no, they do. I'm very happy for it, but what I'm saying is, for me, there's no – so for example – this spokesperson for the Spastic Society of India. I do the Mumbai Marathon run with them. Okay, I was on this about six years ago, perhaps. I was on one of the – we do the wheelchair run, which is only about two kilometres or so. So, when we were doing it, there was a stage set aside, and it was one of the NGOs that had all their kids dancing to Aashayein from Iqbal. And it was just so, boom, I stood there and I watched it, and I was like, 'Oh, wow. This is something you create, and it comes full circle and blah, blah, blah, all those lovely moments.' So what I'm trying to say is I enjoy it, and I'm grateful for all of those things, but it's not something that I dwell on, like, 'Ah, I just nailed it, and I need to repeat it,' or something like that. It was a film and it landed well, so that's good.”

Iqbal is a 2005 film that follows the inspirational journey of a deaf and mute youngster from a rural community who aspires to represent India in cricket. The film touches upon issues of perseverance, family relationships, and breaking free from society's constraints. Shreyas Talpade played the lead role, and Naseeruddin Shah and Shweta Basu Prasad provided supporting parts.

The score by Salim-Sulaiman, particularly the song Aashayein became an anthem of hope for many and is still widely played today. One of Kukunoor's most appreciated works, the film received critical acclaim for its moving storytelling and realistic depiction of ambition and endurance.

FAQs:

Q: When was the film Iqbal released?

A: Iqbal was released on August 26, 2005, and completes 20 years in 2025.

Q: Who directed the film Iqbal?

A: The film was directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.

Q: Who played the lead role in Iqbal?

A: Shreyas Talpade played the titular role of Iqbal a deaf and mute boy aspiring to play cricket for India.

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