On January 26, 2006, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Rang De Basanti premiered globally, and twenty years later, on January 26, 2026, the film is still remembered as a landmark film that sparked nationwide conversations and brought social narratives to the forefront of mainstream storytelling. Featuring an ensemble cast including Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, Siddharth, and Soha Ali Khan, the film resonated deeply with audiences, cementing its place as one of the most iconic films of its era. However, the journey to its release was fraught with challenges, including initial controversies and a ban.
Rang De Basanti tells the story of carefree Indian youths who, while portraying freedom fighters in a documentary, awaken to political corruption and take a stand for justice. The film depicts young students transitioning into passionate advocates against corruption and injustice. According to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the film serves as a relevant message even today.
Before its release, Rang De Basanti faced several hurdles. The Film Certification Board of India sought the views of the Indian Defence Ministry due to scenes depicting the use of MiG-21 fighter aircraft. The Indian Air Force had a long history of fatal accidents involving the MiG-21s, making their depiction controversial. The Defence Ministry raised concerns, leading the censor board to request the filmmakers to seek clearance from the ministry.
A special screening was arranged for the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and top officials from the armed forces. One Air Force official reportedly called it "not a review, but a preview". After the screening, the ministry did not demand any cuts but recommended adding more names to the slide dedicating the film to deceased MiG pilots.
Following clearance from the Defence Ministry, the Animal Welfare Board of India raised objections to the use of animals in the film. Maneka Gandhi, a well-known animal rights activist and member of the welfare board, found flaws in the No Objection Certificate obtained by the filmmakers. According to reports, the Animal Welfare Board's protest led to a week's delay in the film's release.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra recounted the struggles the team faced to release the film, sharing that the project was in development for almost two years due to difficulty finding funding. After development, the film was banned, but the team fought it out. Eventually, the "establishment saw the intention of the film".
Despite the initial obstacles, Rang De Basanti broke opening box office records in India and became the country's highest-grossing film in its opening weekend. It eventually became the seventh-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2006. The film also received critical acclaim, winning the National Film Award for Best Popular Film. It was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2007 BAFTA Awards and was chosen as India's official entry for the Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
Looking back on the film's journey, Mehra stated that one should not think about whether the story will get permission while telling it, as only then do true and honest stories come forward. According to Atul Kulkarni, Rang De Basanti is a cult film that holds its message not only about social points but also about filmmaking and script writing.
