“Aamir Khan: The Perfectionist’s Cinematic Odyssey of Excellence and Social Impact.”
Born Name : Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan
Born : 14 March 1965 (age 58)
Place : Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Education :
Narsee Monjee College
Occupations :
Actors : Producer : Director
Years active : 1973– Present
Organization :
Paani Foundation
Spouses
Reena Dutta (m. 1986; div. 2002)
Kiran Rao (m. 2005; div. 2021)
Children : 03
Parent :
Father : Tahir Hussain
Relatives :
Khan–Hussain family
Honours :
Padma Shri (2003)
Padma Bhushan (2010)
National Treasure of India,
Government of China (2017)
About
Meet Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan, born on March 14, 1965, the Bollywood legend known as “Mr. Perfectionist.” With a career spanning over 30 years, Khan has bagged nine Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, and an AACTA Award.
The Padma Shri (2003) and Padma Bhushan (2010) recipient, Khan even earned a nod from the Government of China in 2017.
Starting as a child actor in Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), he hit his adult stride with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and stole hearts in the ’90s with hits like Dil (1990) and Raja Hindustani (1996).
In ’99, he launched Aamir Khan Productions, gifting us gems like Lagaan (2001) and Dil Chahta Hai (2001). The man’s not just a star on-screen; he directed Taare Zameen Par (2007), winning Best Film and Best Director at the Filmfare Awards.
Hold your breath for commercial blockbusters: Ghajini (2008), 3 Idiots (2009), Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), and Dangal (2016). No biggie – they all held the record for highest-grossing Indian films. Globally admired, he even made the Time 100 list in 2013. Beyond the glitz, Khan’s a social reformer, as seen in his show Satyamev Jayate. No wonder he’s a force in both Bollywood and the world of change.
Early life and Background
Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan, born on 14 March 1965 in Bombay to film producer Tahir Hussain and Zeenat Hussain, is the eldest of four siblings. His family, with roots from Herat in Afghanistan, has a lineage tied to independence activist Maulana Azad and former president Zakir Husain.
Raised in a family deeply connected to the Hindi film industry, Khan’s paternal uncle was the late producer-director Nasir Hussain, and he is related to Abul Kalam Azad through his grandmother. His nephew, Imran Khan, is also a notable Hindi film actor.
Starting as a child actor at the age of eight in “Yaadon Ki Baaraat” (1973), Khan’s childhood was marked by appearances in minor roles and a love for sports, particularly tennis. Despite financial challenges during his upbringing due to his father’s unsuccessful film productions, Khan completed his education at Mumbai’s Narsee Monjee College.
At sixteen, Khan delved into filmmaking with the silent film “Paranoia,” despite his parents’ wishes for a more conventional career. This experience ignited his passion for cinema, leading him to join the theatre group Avantar. After assisting his uncle Nasir Hussain on films like “Manzil Manzil” and “Zabardast,” Khan decided to pursue his journey in the film industry.
Acting career
1984–1989: Debut and career challenges
While assisting Nasir Hussain, Aamir Khan also appeared in documentaries by students of the Film and Television Institute of India. Director Ketan Mehta noticed his talent and cast him in the low-budget experimental film “Holi,” addressing the issue of ragging in India.
Though the film had a melodramatic tone, Khan’s performance as a rowdy college student received praise for its exuberance.
Despite “Holi” not gaining widespread attention, Aamir Khan’s breakthrough came with Mansoor Khan’s directorial debut, “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” (1988). Paired with Juhi Chawla, Khan portrayed Raj in this tale of unrequited love and parental opposition. The film became a major commercial success, earning Khan the Best Male Debut trophy at the Filmfare Awards.
Prior to “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak,” Khan starred in the crime thriller “Raakh” (1989), which, despite a poor box office reception, garnered critical acclaim. For his performances in both films, Khan received a National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention. In the same year, his collaboration with Juhi Chawla in the romantic comedy “Love Love Love” faced commercial challenges.
1990–2001: Successful career and acting break
In 1990, Aamir Khan starred in five films, facing setbacks with “Awwal Number,” “Tum Mere Ho,” “Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin,” and “Jawani Zindabad.” However, the romantic drama “Dil,” opposite Madhuri Dixit, emerged as a major success, resonating with the youth and becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.
He continued the successful streak with “Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin,” a box office hit alongside Pooja Bhatt, a remake of the American film “It Happened One Night.”
Throughout the early 1990s, Khan featured in critically and commercially successful films such as “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar” (1992), “Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke” (1993), which he also wrote the screenplay for, and “Rangeela” (1995). Notable successes also included the cult favorite “Andaz Apna Apna” and the commercial blockbuster “Raja Hindustani” (1996), earning him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Despite a plateau in his career in the late 1990s, films like “Ishq” (1997) and “Ghulam” (1998) performed well at the box office. “Sarfarosh” (1999) and Deepa Mehta’s “Earth” (1998) garnered critical acclaim, showcasing Khan’s diverse roles. In 2001, he produced and starred in “Lagaan,” receiving an Academy Award nomination and winning several Indian awards, including a National Film Award.
Following the success of “Lagaan,” Khan took a four-year hiatus from Bollywood after his divorce from Reena Dutta, returning with the critically acclaimed “Dil Chahta Hai” in 2001.
2005–2007: Acting comeback and directorial debut
Aamir Khan staged a comeback in 2005 with the lead role in Ketan Mehta’s “Mangal Pandey: The Rising,” showcased at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2006.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Rang De Basanti” marked his first film of the year, earning critical acclaim and a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. The movie, one of the highest-grossing films of 2006, was India’s official entry to the Oscars and garnered a BAFTA nomination for Best Film Not in the English Language.
Continuing his diverse roles, Khan portrayed a Kashmiri insurgent terrorist in “Fanaa” (2006), exploring creative possibilities in his second antagonistic role after “Earth.”
In 2007, Khan made his directorial debut with “Taare Zameen Par,” also produced by him. The film received positive responses for its sensitive portrayal of a child with dyslexia. Khan’s performance as both actor and director was well-received, earning him Filmfare Awards for Best Director and Best Film of 2007, along with the National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare. The movie, initially India’s official entry for the 2009 Academy Awards Best Foreign Film, received acclaim at various award ceremonies.
2008–2017: Resurgence and global success
In 2008, Aamir Khan starred in the commercially successful film “Ghajini,” which became the highest-grossing Bollywood movie of the year. His performance earned him several Best Actor nominations and marked his fifteenth Filmfare Best Actor nomination.
The following year, in 2009, Khan featured in “3 Idiots” as Ranchodas Chanchad. The film broke records to become the highest-grossing Bollywood film at the time, surpassing the success of “Ghajini.” “3 Idiots” achieved international acclaim. Particularly in East Asian markets like China and Japan, making it the highest-grossing Bollywood film overseas. It even became the first Indian film officially released on YouTube in May 2012.
Aamir Khan is credited with opening up the Chinese market for Indian films. Starting with “Lagaan,” which had a nationwide release in China, his films gained immense popularity, especially “3 Idiots,” making him a significant figure in the growing Chinese film market. This trend continued with subsequent releases like “Dhoom 3” (2013), “PK” (2014), and “Dangal” (2016).
In the years that followed, Khan starred in successful films like “Talaash: The Answer Lies Within” (2012), “Dhoom 3” (2013), “PK” (2014), and “Dangal” (2016). “PK” emerged as the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. His 2016 production and starring role in “Dangal” received critical acclaim and became the highest-grossing Bollywood film domestically and overseas.
Continuing his successful run, Khan starred in “Secret Superstar” (2017), a film he produced, which turned out to be one of the most profitable films of all time, featuring a female protagonist. His versatility and success have solidified Aamir Khan’s position as one of the most influential and highest-earning actors in the Indian film industry.
2018– Present: Hiatus and career setbacks
In November 2018, Aamir Khan starred alongside Amitabh Bachchan in the action-adventure film “Thugs of Hindostan.” Despite being produced with an estimated budget of ₹300 crore (US$46.07 million), making it one of the most expensive Bollywood films, it received negative reviews and was considered a box office failure, grossing ₹335 crore ($45 million) worldwide.
On his 54th birthday in March 2019, Aamir Khan confirmed his next project, “Laal Singh Chaddha,” an adaptation of Forrest Gump. Directed by Advait Chandan, who previously worked with Khan on “Secret Superstar,” the film marked Khan’s return after a four-year hiatus. However, upon its release on August 11, 2022, “Laal Singh Chaddha” received mixed reviews and proved to be a box office disaster, failing to meet expectations.
Personal life
Aamir Khan tied the knot with Reena Dutta on April 18, 1986, and they share two kids, Junaid and Ira. While Reena briefly worked on “Lagaan,” they parted ways in December 2002. Aamir married Kiran Rao on December 28, 2005. The couple welcomed their son, Azad Rao Khan, on December 5, 2011, via surrogacy. However, in July 2021, Aamir and Kiran announced their separation, committing to co-parenting Azad.
Aamir, a practicing Muslim, performed Hajj with his mother Zeenat in 2013. Despite religious differences, Aamir and Kiran maintained a harmonious relationship. In 2015, he embraced a vegan lifestyle, inspired by Kiran’s influence.
Before gracing the silver screen, Aamir Khan showcased his talent on the tennis court, even achieving the title of state-level tennis champion in the 1980s. In 2014, he shared the court with tennis legends Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match for the International Premier Tennis League.
Not just a Bollywood icon, Aamir’s children are making waves in the entertainment scene. In September 2019, Ira announced her directorial debut, a stage adaptation of Euripides’ “Medea.” The play was produced by veteran actress Sarika and her daughter Akshara Haasan, with promotional artwork crafted by Aamir Khan’s sister, Farhat Dutta.
