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Aamir Khan turns 61 today. He has broken his own tradition of celebrating with the media, and we miss that! It’s therefore time to recall the priceless quotes he has made to me over multiple meetings down the years.
On unusual films, like his Taare Zameen Par and Peepli [Live], versus masala movies:
“Unusual films have been made all the time, but they will succeed only if they are good films, and not because they are small or unusual. Big or small, it is about how well a film connects, and whether we are able to tell a good story in a good way. There is nothing that says that this is the time for big films, or small films, or different films.”
On his super-stardom:
“In 1978, there were at least seven films of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan running simultaneously and successfully! So, he was even clashing with himself when today we are making so much of one hero clashing with another! That is the kind of stardom we will never get to see!
“It’s a different concept of stardom now. The fabric is changing. Earlier, the access to a star was very limited, and till the ‘70s even television was not there. The only way to personally see or hope to see and then meet a star was by being physically present outside his studio, his house, at a premiere or on location. The only other access was the print media, where we could read about a Dilip Kumar or Amitabh Bachchan. Then Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan began on television, and we could watch and hear the star talk. Today, a star is much more accessible, communicative, right in your pocket, so to speak, when he can be accessed or watched on your phone.”
On his long innings:
“I recall Tabassum-ji asking me on her famous television show, Phool Khile Hain… when I started out, ‘Do you think that you will last as long as Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor?’ and I had said, ‘No! No!’ and laughed. Today I am touched that I have come this far and touched so many lives.” (This remark was made in 2014 after 26 years of stardom!)
On how much he keeps the international audiences in mind:
“I have never kept any other audience in mind besides Indian – till date! Which does not mean that I am not happy that the international audiences like my films, for Lagaan was the first wild horse that flew, so to speak. It was released even in Korea, Japan and China. If a film is well-made and good, it travels. Cinema is never restricted by languages or physical boundaries. A Life is Beautiful may be made in Italy, but as a human being I connect with it. The same was the case with Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Taare Zameen Par and 3 Idiots also traveled a lot.”
On why Hollywood’s influence might grow but will never be a threat to Indian cinema:
“ I do not think that Hollywood will ever be a threat to our cinema, unlike in other countries, even if our viewership of Hollywood films has grown! The cinema in all our languages offers much more than they possibly can. I think that at the core our emotional key is different. We therefore react differently. I may want to try a steak or Chinese food once in a way, but what I really enjoy is Indian food and I want to keep coming back to it. Within that is the preference for our actors. Like, there would be no emotional connect with a Huge Jackman, but we would love our actors, from a Rajnikanth to a belt-shaking Salman Khan, who are Indian and more larger-than-life compared to, say, a Spider-Man!
“I remember this scene of Dustin Hoffman in Kramer Vs. Kramer, in which he comes to know on the ‘phone that he cannot get custody of his child. He leaves the room eating popcorn! Now, that’s alright for Americans! But in India, any father would be shattered, and my character did not eat popcorn after doing a similar scene in our version, Akele Hum Akele Tum!”
On how much he is different from the earlier Aamir Khan:
“I have loosened up because of certain humbling experiences. I cannot tell you what they are because it’s not nice to know these things! At one time I was quite unforgiving, strict and judgmental about both others and myself. I had very high standards, until I did things I did not like about myself! Then the second big change was Kiran (Rao) coming into my life. She has so much positive energy that I learnt to relax. I used to be a bit uptight!”
