As part of the ongoing Aamir Khan: Cinema Ka Jadugar festival, which honors Aamir Khan's significant contribution to Indian cinema, the actor shared a thought-provoking perspective during his conversation with Javed Akhtar. The festival, which kicks off on March 14—Aamir's birthday—and runs through March 27, will feature a selection of his most iconic films across theaters nationwide.
In the discussion, Aamir spoke candidly about his journey into filmmaking, revealing that his training began unknowingly at the age of five. Reflecting on his approach to acting and filmmaking, Aamir said: “I am essentially an actor. I've directed one film and produced several, but I’m essentially an actor. However, my mindset is not that of an actor. When actors hear a script, they think about what their role is, what makes them stand out, and how their moments shine in the film. But for me, as an actor, I don’t think that way. When I like a script, I think about what’s right for the story. Whether the role is in my favor or against me, it doesn’t matter. What’s right for the film is what matters.”
Aamir credited his film-centric upbringing, which played a crucial role in shaping his understanding of cinema. Growing up in a family that was deeply immersed in the world of films, he recalled listening to stories at a very young age: "I come from a film family, Nasir Hussain and Aba Jaan were not actors; they were always focused on the film itself. At home, whenever someone came to narrate a story, I would sit in the corner and listen to the plot, the idea, and the dialogues. I’ve been listening to these stories since I was 5 or 6 years old."
Aamir went on to share how this early exposure to storytelling led to his own understanding of filmmaking, saying: "Later, my father started involving me in the discussions. He would ask me what I thought about a story. I remember sitting in the hall and listening to these conversations with writers, filmmakers, and directors. I would often agree with what they were saying, but sometimes, I didn’t. Back then, I didn’t have the courage to voice my opinion, but it was a way of absorbing filmmaking."
From the age of 5 to 16, Aamir was actively involved in hearing these stories and discussions, many of which he believes unknowingly became his training period. He realized that it was not just a passive experience, but rather a vital part of his cinematic education.
Reflecting on his film approach, Aamir concluded: "I don’t look at films from an actor’s point of view. I look at it from a writer’s or filmmaker’s perspective. What’s right for the script, what’s best for the story, is what drives my choices."