Aamir Khan reveals reasons behind his temporary hiatus from filmmaking

Aamir Khan, a prominent Bollywood superstar, is recognized for his roles in highly acclaimed Indian films such as Lagaan and 3 Idiots. His widespread popularity is such that public appearances often lead to him being surrounded by admirers. However, it is less widely known that Khan discreetly stepped away from the film industry during the Covid pandemic. His motivation was to dedicate more time to his family. He informed BBC News, stating, “I told my family I’m done with acting and films.” He further elaborated, “I [didn’t] want to produce or direct or act. I just wanted to be with the family.” One might anticipate that a decision by a star of Khan’s stature to leave the industry would cause significant impact across India, a country deeply engrossed in cinema. Nevertheless, Khan clarified that his departure went largely unnoticed at the time, as film production was significantly reduced due to the pandemic. He remarked, “No-one knew about it.” Fans can, however, be reassured. Khan’s hiatus from filmmaking was brief. He has since returned and is currently promoting Laapataa Ladies, also known as Lost Ladies, a film he produced. This movie has been officially selected by India for the Oscars in the best international feature film category. Khan revealed that his children were instrumental in persuading him to resume his career. He quoted them as saying, “‘But we can’t spend 24 hours with you. So get real and get a life.’ So they gently nudged me back into the films.” Now 59 years old, Khan has accumulated three decades of experience as an actor, director, and producer. He is recognized as one of the three “Khans of Bollywood,” alongside fellow megastars Shah Rukh and Salman. Aamir’s films, often addressing social issues, have garnered widespread critical acclaim and achieved significant box office success. His association with the Oscars is not new; his 2002 film Lagaan, a cricket-themed narrative set in the 19th Century during the British Empire, received a nomination for best foreign language film. Khan is currently aiming to achieve a historic milestone with Laapataa Ladies. Should it win, it would mark the first time an Indian film secures the prestigious international award. The announcement regarding its inclusion on the shortlist is scheduled for Tuesday. Khan expressed that he is “not quite sure how seriously” to regard awards, stating, “Cinema is so subjective.” However, he acknowledged that a victory would hold significant meaning for India. He elaborated, “I think Indians are so film crazy and we’ve been dying to win the Academy Award for an Indian film, which hasn’t happened till now. So the country will go ballistic. They’ll just go mad if we win.” He concluded, “So just for the people of our country and for our country, I would be really happy if we win the award.” Laapataa Ladies, set in rural India, narrates the tale of a young man who mistakenly brings home the wrong bride, while his actual wife becomes lost and must navigate her circumstances independently. The film functions as a satire, examining the societal treatment of women and addressing the sensitive subject of domestic violence. Khan characterized the plot as “a bit Shakespearean,” highlighting its emphasis on humor and instances of mistaken identity. He further noted that the film conveys “a lot of important things about women’s issues, their independence, their right to decide for themselves what they want to do.” He clarified that these particular issues were what initially attracted him to the project. He stated, “Every now and then you get an opportunity as a creative person to actually also sensitise people about certain issues that we face in society.” He continued, “Women all over the world have been subjected to a lot of challenges in their lives. Women have a raw deal in life. So I felt that here is a story which really brings that out well in such a nice way, which is why I wanted to produce it.” Additionally, Khan was “very keen” for his ex-wife, Kiran Rao, to take on the directorial role for the film. The couple, who married in 2005, announced their separation in 2021 but have maintained a close relationship both professionally and personally. He explained, “I think the reason I chose Kiran was because I knew that she would be very honest with it and that’s what I wanted.” He added, “We get along really well. We really love each other, we respect each other.” He concluded, “Our relationship may have changed slightly – but that doesn’t mean what we feel for each other has gone down or something.” Despite their close bond, Khan acknowledged that the production process was not entirely without disagreements. He admitted to arguments occurring on set, stating, “We can’t make a film without an argument. So we argue every point and we have strong opinions.” He clarified, “But our sensibilities are very similar. We are not talking about fundamental things. We are just trying to sometimes convince the other person a better way of conveying something.” Bollywood annually produces hundreds of films, enjoying a massive following among Indians worldwide. The profound influence that these films and their stars exert on the public imagination is undeniable. Bollywood has recently achieved success at the Academy Awards, with “Naatu Naatu” from RRR securing the award for best original song and The Elephant Whisperers being recognized as best documentary short film. However, a win in the international film category has remained elusive, a situation Khan attributes to the intense competition. He stated, “India has made really great films over the years. Occasionally it’s a matter of the right film not getting sent or the best film not getting sent.” He further explained, “But otherwise we have to understand that the films you’re competing against – you’re not competing against five or six films, you’re competing against almost 80 or 90 films, which are the best in the world.” Regarding the prospect of a Bollywood film eventually winning the best overall film award, Khan believes it is “possible.” However, he emphasized that Indian filmmakers would first need to begin creating movies targeted at a global audience. He commented, “I’ve never really looked at an international audience.” He continued, “We have such a large audience of our own that it doesn’t come in to our mind.” He concluded, “That will only happen when Indians start making films for a world audience. I don’t think we have the bandwidth for it right now.” Currently, Khan is engaged in several projects in addition to Laapataa Ladies, including his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, scheduled for release in 2025. His long-term aspirations include producing one film annually, with his “dream project” being an adaptation of Mahabharat, the ancient Indian epic. However, since his return to filmmaking, he is committed to adopting a different approach, a decision again influenced by his children. He recounted his son’s words: “‘You’re an extreme person’,” and “‘You’re like a pendulum. You only did films, films, films. And now you want to swing to the other side and do no films and be with family, family, family. There is a middle place also you can think about’.” Khan stated that his son advised him to “try and bring some balance” into his life. He reflected, “And I thought he was right. So since then, that’s what I’ve been trying to do – living a balanced life where I’m working really hard, in fact I’m doing much more work that I ever did, but I don’t work after 6 o’clock any more.” Khan also mentioned that he has begun therapy in recent years, motivated by his daughter Ira, who is involved in mental health. He remarked, “I think that’s something that’s really helped me. That’s really helped me understand myself better.” He added, “I’m actually finding that balance between work and a personal life. So I feel that I’ve reached that space now.” Viewers can watch Aamir Khan: The Interview on the BBC News Channel and BBC iPlayer. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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