Aamir Khan’s last release Dangal set the box office on storm by collecting record crowds as well as rave reviews from the media and also proved to be the biggest grosser at the box office in China too. I remember the first time when I had come across Aamir Khan. He was assisting his uncle Nasir Hussain on the sets of one of his films. He was a very lean and lanky boy whose mischievous eyes spoke a lot. He diligently ran errands for his uncle and literally doted on him. This was long before Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak happened to him. Nothing about Aamir has changed since then though stature-wise he has risen and become the numero uno star of the country, especially after Dangal broke the box office records till date and besides Lagaan, Peepli Live also was nominated for the Oscars. In this freewheeling interview with JYOTHI VENKATESH, Aamir Khan tells that he is happy that he has been able to do his mite towards women empowerment by making not only Dangal earlier but also Secret Superstar which is dear to his heart.

 

Tell me about your film Secret Superstar!
I have produced the film Secret Super Star directed by Advait Chandan with a bunch of talented newcomers, like Meher Vij, Zaira Wasim and Raj Arjun. It is about a girl from Vadodara who wishes to take up singing but her strict and conservative father is against the idea.There have been many super stars among women in our country including Nargis, Madhubala, Sridevi, Juhi Chawla, Deepika Padukone, Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Waheeda Rehman and Priyanka Chopra.

Is your role in Secret Super Star similar or in contrast to the one in Dangal?
It is in stark contrast to what Dangal set out to show. Dangal was about woman empowerment in our country, which is the need of the hour, as well as very close to my heart because we tend to neglect the girl child. I play the role of an alcoholic musician in the film, which revolves around a teenager who saves her mother from her abusive father with the help of a musician who is a divorcee. It is a different role of an interesting character which is like dal in tadka.

My strength as an actor is that I try to be honest with the script and the character I do.

What exactly does your film set out to unravel?
In my family, we are two brothers and two sisters but my dad and ammijaan did not distinguish between the sons and daughters and gave equal treatment to all four of us but it is sad that not everyone is like us.

How do you feel when people refer to you as a superstar?
I feel amused because I know for a fact that I am not a superstar at all. I know when I enter a room, people will not notice me at all the way they will when Salman Khan or Shah Rukh Khan enters a room and I will look like a waiter and not a superstar as I do not have that quality. Sorry I apologize to waiters and want to clarify that I do not mean to belittle them, so please substitute the term waiter with ‘very ordinary’. I am not a superstar at all like Salman Khan or Shah Rukh Khan or for that matter Amitji. Also there are big stars like Ajay Devgn and Hrithik Roshan amongst us and you just cannot say who is a bigger star.

I play the role of an alcoholic divorcee musician who saves a teenager’s mother from her abusive father in Secret Superstar.

Do you think a film can have a far reaching impact on the viewers than any other medium in society today?
Every one of us making a film should try to convey some pertinent message to the audience. My film Taare Zameen Par impacted on the education that kids are imparted in the society today and goaded people to let their wards pursue their own passion. 3 Idiots also dwelt at length about the system of education in our country.

What goads you to say yes to a film, either as an actor or producer?
I do not look at any film of mine from the point of view of its commercial value but try to find out what it sets out to tell the audiences, whether it was Lagaan or for that matter Taare Zameen Par. I have always gone by my own gut instinct, whether as a producer or for that matter as an actor. It is always the subject that lures me to say yes to any film that is offered to me as an actor. Anyone who is sane would have not agreed to act in a film like Rang De Basanti because already four films had been made on the legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh but my gut instinct told me to go ahead and act in the film, when Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra approached me with the offer.

It was my dream to act in at least one film with Amitabh Bachchan, who I have admired all my life .

Is it true that you had asked Rajnikant to dub your lines in the Tamil version of Dangal?
Yes. I had actually gone to Chennai to meet Rajnikant and discuss with him the possibility of him dubbing my voice for the Tamil version but when he explained to me that since his voice is very recognizable all over Tamil Nadu, it would not gel with the voice of my character and I too agreed with him and dropped the idea.

You haven’t acted with Rajnikant for a long time!
Yes. We had acted in the film Aatank Hi Aatank. That was way back in 1995. Whether he does a Tamil film or a Hindi film, we all watch it. I’d like to collaborate with Rajnikant in a Hindi film as I am a great fan of his.

Which are your favorite films till date?
Besides Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai and Peepli Live, my favourite films are Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Dil, Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Andaz Apna Apna, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Rangeela, Akele Hum Akaley Tum, Raja Hindustani,Sarfarosh, Taare Zameen Par, 3 Idiots and Dangal.

What do you have to say about your journey from Holi till Secret Super star?
My journey as an actor from Holi till Secret Superstar and Thugs of Hindostan has been enjoyable as an actor. I have seen improvement from film to film and developed a lot more control over my work. I have even learnt to mouth my dialogues slower. Earlier I confess that I used to rattle off my dialogues very fast.

What is your strength as an actor?
If you ask me what my strength as an actor is, all that I can say honestly is that I try to be honest with the script and the character, which I am asked to portray as an actor. My perseverance, passion, intensity etc which I drive into my work has stood by me so far as an actor. We have just one life on this earth. As such we have no other alternative but to do what we believe in. We should believe in ourselves, follow our dreams fearlessly with perseverance, courage and conviction, whatever difficulties we may have to face in the process of achieving what we set out to do.

To what extent did Prime Minister Modi’s move to demonetize Rs 500 and Rs 1000 affect you as a person?
Demonetization affected mostly those who hoard black money. Though I felt sad for those who were affected in their day to day life due to demonetization, It did not affect me personally for the simple reason that I deal with cheques and do all my transactions through credit or debit cards.

I do not look at any film of mine from the point of view of its commercial value but try to find out what it sets out to tell the audiences.

You are acting in The Thugs of Hindostan for YRF with Amitabh Bachchan for the first time!
Yes. It was my dream to act with Amitabh Bachchan in at least one film. I am indeed thrilled to be working with the actor whom I have admired all my life. Vijay Krishna Acharya alias Victor who had directed Dhoom 3 is directing the film The Thugs of Hindostan, which is being produced by YRF. It’s for that film that I grew a thick beard which I did not shave till my portions were completed. The film is slated for release in Diwali 2018.

You paid a rich tribute to the late photographer Raju Upadhyay at the first look event of your film Secret Superstar at PVR Juhu before the commencement of the said event!
It is really very sad that Raju is not amidst us today. I was on a foreign trip when I got the news of his death in an accident in his native place. He was very close to me. Had he been alive today, he would have covered the first look event of my film Secret Superstar. I pray for his departed soul.