Actor Aamir Khan, who shares a close bond with writer Anjum Rajabali and actor Shah Rukh Khan, has said he is really happy that Shah Rukh Khan is doing space film Saare Jahaan Se Accha being written by the same writer.  The actor was interacting with media at the grand finale of the 2nd edition of Cinestaan India's Storyteller Script Contest 2018 along with writers Juhi Chaturvedi and Anjum Rajabali in Mumbai. The actor had earlier collaborated with Rajabali in Ghulam. Shah Rukh Khan Finally Confirms Signing Rakesh Sharma Biopic, Saare Jahaan Se Achcha.

Aamir was the first choice to play the lead in Saare Jahaan Se Achcha - a biopic on Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma. But he backed out of the film.

Talking about it, Aamir said, "I think it's a great and wonderful script. I am a huge fan of Rakesh (Sharma) and it's a wonderful story." Going further he said, "I feel sad that I am not able to do it, which is why I actually called up Shah Rukh and said that it's a wonderful story and you should hear it. I am really happy that he liked it and he is doing it so, all my best wishes for their project."

"Saare Jahaan Se Achha will go on floor in February and I have been very excited about the film because like Aamir said, I have also been a big fan of Rakesh and now he is a good friend also," said Rajabali. "Frankly, I was very keen that Aamir should do the film. He liked the script, we discussed it a lot and we had a lot of hopes about it. Unfortunately, Aamir is consumed with a larger sort of project called Mahabharat."Akshay Kumar’s Space Film, Mission Mangal to Go on Floors Before Shah Rukh Khan’s Saare Jahaan Se Achcha.

Recently, Akshay Kumar announced Mission Mangal along with Fox Star Studios. It's a story of India's Mars Mission. But is Rajabali worried that his Saare Jahaan Se Achha and Akshay Kumar's Mission Mangal will be compared because both films are of space film genre? "No.. not at all. Our film is about the story of a person and that film will be different from whoever character they will conceive. So, that doesn't matter," the writer said.

Saare Jahaan Se Achcha will be directed by Mahesh Mathai and Ronnie Screwvala will produce the film, along with Siddharth Roy Kapur, under the RSVP films and Roy Kapur Films banners respectively. Aamir Khan Takes Full Responsibility for Thugs of Hindostan Failure.

There were reports that Bhumi Pednekar has been signed opposite Shah Rukh in the film, but Screwvala recently told media that an official announcement on casting will be made soon.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 11:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).