20 Years of Swades EXCLUSIVE: Would Mohan Bhargav leave USA for India in 2024? Rahul Vohra explains why he has his doubts: “People are trying to escape to other shores”

By Fenil Seta -

December 17, 2024 - 3:23 PM IST

The iconic film Swades (2004), directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, completed 20 years on December 17. The film starred Shah Rukh Khan in the unforgettable role of Mohan Bhargav, a NASA scientist who returns to his homeland for a short trip. But this trip turns out to be an unforgettable one for him. He returns to the USA only to realize that his calling is in India. The climax shows Mohan permanently shifting his base to India. The ending was incredibly loved by viewers unanimously.

20 Years of Swades EXCLUSIVE: Would Mohan Bhargav leave USA for India in 2024? Rahul Vohra explains why he has his doubts: “People are trying to escape to other shores”

On the 20th anniversary of Swades, Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to Rahul Vohra, who played Mohan Bhargav’s friend and NASA colleague, Vinod about his memories of shooting the film. We asked him whether a similar ending would work if Swades was remade today. Nowadays, it's common to read about a record number of people giving up Indian citizenship and moving abroad. Also, the air pollution menace has added to the woes of the people, especially in North India, where Swades was based. Hence, will it seem convincing if Mohan Bhargav leaves the USA permanently and relocates to India in the present day, the way he did in 2004?

Rahul Vohra replied, “I am not so sure. I think people are trying to escape to other shores. Somebody wrote on social media, ‘The average Indian today wants to emigrate to a foreign land, or he wants to live in a gated community, where he can’t see the real India’. In a gated community, you have a continuous water supply, electricity, security, etc. In Delhi, you can’t drive through certain colonies. They shut all the gates. It’s illegal to do so because technically, the road is for the public and doesn’t belong to the colonies. The bigger developers have brought tracts of land and even built private roads.”

Rahul Vohra continued, “In this kind of a scenario, would I see Mohan Bhargav returning to India? I am not so sure. I think I would see him as a global CEO who looks into space matters and who keeps visiting India at regular intervals. He’ll be somewhat like Sundar Pichai, people who are connected to India but are not Indians.”

Was a sequel to Swades ever planned? It’d be interesting to know what happened to Mohan Bhargav once he was back in India. Also, does Vinod also get inspired by him and shift base? Rahul Vohra revealed, “There was never a plan. But who knows (what happens in future)? However, Swades doesn’t really lend itself to a sequel. The makers will have to write a whole new script of him being in India and what happens thereafter. Hence, my personal feeling is that I don’t see a sequel happening. But if Ashutosh Gowariker sees one, then why not? I’ll do it (smiles).”

Has Rahul Vohra ever met anyone who left a foreign country and permanently settled in India, like Mohan Bhargav? Rahul Vohra gave an interesting answer, “Well, I did! Swades is my story. I studied abroad and came back to India. That’s what I told Ashu when I met him, ‘Yeh toh meri kahaani hai’.”

Also Read: 20 Years of Swades EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Vohra reveals how NASA treated them like VIPs: “Shah Rukh Khan and I were gifted a RARE astronaut’s hat; Not even NASA director is allowed at the launch site but we had clearances from White House, CIA, US military, FBI”