Keralite filmmaker John Matthew Matthan started working on the script of Sarfarosh in 1992. Seven years were spent on the research, pre-production and production till it finally released in 1999.
The film was released just before the Kargil conflict when tensions between India and Pakistan were high.
Naseeruddin Shah was specially praised for his role of a Muhajir(Muslim Indians who migrated to Pakistan after the Partition of India).
Sarfarosh is Aamir Khan and Naseerudin Shah's 2nd film together. Many think it was their first movie together, but they have previously worked together in the art house film Holi (1984).
Mukesh Rishi, for the first time, did not play a villain. He was quite appreciated for his performance and also nominated for the Best Supporting Actor category at the 2000 Filmfare Awards.
Sonali was brilliant in portraying the role of Seema the supportive other half to Aamir. Starring opposite two acting stalwarts Aamir and Naseeruddin Shah, Sonali gave a noteworthy performance.
The trademark dialogue Sonali kept repeating in the film “Don’t Mind” was not only charming but also added a sense of comedy to the otherwise intense storyline.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who was then a very small time actor, got the small role of a prisoner because the actor who was supposed to do the role did not show up on the day of shooting.
This was the first time Aamir Khan played the role of a Police Officer. Previously he played the role of a commando in the film Baazi (1995). His second movie as a cop was Talaash (2012).
Aamir Khan was the director's one and only choice for the lead role.
The film was shot mostly in Mumbai and Rajasthan.
The song “Jo haal dil ka” epitomised Bollywood’s formula of romancing in the rain.
Hoshwalo Ko Kya Khabar is considered as one of the best classical songs of Jagjit Singh.
Sarfarosh was the debut film of director John Matthew Matthan.
Mukesh Rishi later said the most difficult part during the shoot was he didn't know how to pray.
Director John Matthew Matthan and Aamir Khan had issues working with each other during the shooting and decided never to work again.
Manmohan Desai announced a film titled Sarfarosh with Amitabh Bachchan which got shelved . This was in 1979.
Years later Rajkumar Sanoshi started a film titled Sarfarosh with Bobby Deol and Pooja Bhatt. That was in 1994. The film was shelved and restarted as Vinashak with Sunil Shetty.
John Matthew Matthan later revealed that he had kept the India-Pakistan terrorism angle of the film a secret from everyone except Aamir Khan and Naseeruddin Shah.
The director also said that the leading lady of the film, Sonali Bendre, also did not know the plot details.
Asked what makes the film relevant even today, John said, 'The issue that I spoke about is still alive. That's why people relate to it.'
Aamir used to dub in the morning to get a rough voice.
The film had a theatrical release in Canada.
The film got some basic inspiration from another Aamir Khan film, Baazi (1995).
Jeete Mandal, the former assistant editor of Raj Kapoor for years, who also worked in Raj Kapoor's Henna, was the editor of Sarfarosh.
Aamir who is a muslim played a Hindu while Mukesh Rishi who is a Hindu plays a muslim.
On release, the film was both, critically and commercially, successful. The film, made on a budget of 8 crore, made 34 crores at the box office.
The film was distributed by Eros Entertainment.
John Matthew co-wrote the screenplay along with Hriday Lani and Pathik Vats
Sarfarosh won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film.
In 1998, a right-wing political party had prevented famous Pakistani Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali from performing in Mumbai. Ghulam is much loved on both sides of the border.
In a twisted echo of this incident, Naseeruddin Shah plays a Pakistani Ghazal singer who turns out to be a terrorist in this movie.
Sarfarosh was screened at the International Film Festival of India.
It was remade in Telugu as Astram (2006) with Vishnu Manchu and Anushka Shetty.
Also, got a Kannada remake in the name of Sathyameva Jayathe (2001) starring Devaraj.
Shri Vallabh Vyas, Govind Namdeo, and Pradeep Rawat play supporting roles in the movie.
While the film's songs were done by Jatin-Lalit, the background score was composed by Sanjoy Chowdhury.
The film's cinematographer was Vikas Sivaraman, who recently shot Malang (2020).
Here are a few more memorable snapshots and rare posters from the movie...
