Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan is basking in praise for the success of his debut movie Maharaj. However, he was initially set to make his debut with his father’s film Laal Singh Chaddha. The film starred Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Naga Chaitanya in lead roles. Junaid was supposed to play his father’s character in the Hindi adaptation of The Forest Gump. He also auditioned for the same unfortunately, things didn’t materialize but that audition helped him back Netflix film Maharaj. 

In an interview with the Times of India, Junaid confirmed that he was considered for Laal Singh Chaddha also his father was excited for him to do the film. He said, “I had actually auditioned for Laal Singh Chaddha, which Papa has talked about publicly, but it didn’t work out. Papa (Aamir Khan) was very keen that I do the film.”

Siddharth P Malhotra who directed Maharaj revealed that Junaid had auditioned for Aamir Khan’s part in Laal Singh Chaddha. He also mentioned that the audition tape that landed him the role in Maharaj was the exact same. He was quoted saying, “It was this audition that Adi (Aditya Chopra) and I saw, and what an audition that was! It was outstanding and if that clip can be released at some point in time… it would be great.”

Laal Singh Chaddha's release in August 2022 was a disaster. The film was a remake of The Forest Gump and didn’t perform well among Indian audiences despite an amazing star cast including Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Naga Chaitanya. The film produced under Aamir Khan Productions faced boycott calls.

Talking about Maharaj, the film is a biographical period drama based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862. The film directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Yash Raj Films stars Junaid Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Sharvari Wagh. Junaid stars in the film as the reformer and journalist Karsandas Mulji, while Jaideep Ahlawat plays the role of Jadunath Maharaj, a godman.