The Khan who did

With Satyamev Jayate, Aamir managed a dream debut on television, something Salman, Shah Rukh and Saif haven’t really been able to

In Bollywood, when one Khan does, the comparisons begin. But this time around, from the looks of it, Aamir Khan has managed to beat Salman, Shah Rukh, and Saif hollow thanks to his reality TV show SatyamevJayate. His new serious persona has the entire nation sitting up and watching as he brings burning issues to the fore week after week. From female foeticide, child sex abuse and domestic violence to the discrepancies in the world of pharmaceuticals, Aamir’s been talking every Sunday for the last couple of months. And while he’s talking, so is the rest of India.HB talks to the star about life on screen and off it.

Does your on screen confidence reflect in your real life too?

Even though every individual shows that he is confident there is always an inner voice which raises self doubts. The same thing happens to me too. Before doing anything, I ask myself a question, if I am doing the right thing. I only do a thing that I enjoy, that’s my first rule. I must be happy in what I am doing. If I am not happy doing an ad, I won’t do it. I don’t do it for commercial reasons. But for every decision that I take I want people’s reassurance that I have done the right thing. I want people to appreciate me and my films if they really liked it. It goes a long way in boosting my confidence.

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Do you agree you’re a control freak?

I’m not a control freak. I’m realistic about my limits. When I act in a film, it’s the director who is the boss. It’s not my responsibility to control the film. But I’m always there if the director wants any help or suggestion. I just go with the flow.

In the 20 years that you’ve been here, has there been any shift in your guiding principle of making movies?

Not at all. I’ve always done films I believe in. I’ve always had an emotional approach to my work. This is my life so I only want to do those films that I really want to be a part of. I’ve gone wrong quite a few times especially in the first six months of my career after Qayamat Se QayamatTak when I signed every film offered to me. But they were all my decisions. I’ve learnt quickly from my failures.
How badly does a flop affect you?

I’m very emotionally involved with my films. If ever I have to face a failure, I’d like to take full responsibility for it. Even the failure is mine, I like to value my flops and hold them close to me. I like to mourn my failure and try to learn from it.

What do you want your legacy to be?

I’m very ambitious. I’d like to do work of the level people haven’t seen before. I want to raise the bar as an actor, producer and director. I’d like to do films that would live on much after I’m no longer there. Even if someone sees Lagaan 200 years later, he should say, “Who’s that guy, yaar?”

Is there any role you haven’t done and are dying to attempt?

I really find Mahabharata fascinating. I would love to play Karan, who was 6 ’3 and a born warrior. So, I don’t think I fit the part physically but emotionally I do. I think the part I suit the best would be that of Krishna. When I was in kindergarten, I had these really chubby cheeks. Girls would find me cute and surround me. I also used to eat makhan all the time so my mom would call me Krishna and the girls my gopis.

Are you a result-oriented person?

For me process is more important, joyful. I like to have my entire concentration on the process right from step 1. It gives me pleasure.

Are you planning to continue with direction?

Yes obviously, I’ll continue with direction. Ideally if I am directing I won’t get into acting. I concentrate to put my efforts on one task at a time, I am not a man of multitasking, I enjoy the way I work and follow each step carefully after my past.

If not actor what you would love to have been?

If not actor then I would have loved to be a sportsperson, I was a topper in lawn tennis at state level (played for Maharashtra) and I also love teaching, I would love to have a film school with small number of students who wants to know everything about filmmaking.

What are the movies you are working on?

There’s Talaash and Dhoom 3: Back in Action. In the latter, I play a villain.
Will there be a second season of SatyamevJayate?I will decide about the second season of the show after I am done with Dhoom 3 and RajkumarHirani’s film PK. All I can say is that we have received a dream response.

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