logo
Aamir Khan interview: No troll can stop a good film

Aamir Khan interview: No troll can stop a good film

The Hindu8 hours ago

Aamir Khan is finishing a run of interviews at his Santa Cruz office in Mumbai. He looks as animated as some of his characters. 'I'm going down?' he queries his associates, shuffling into an elevator. 'I'm coming up again? Um-hum.' Khan is 60, looks no more than 48, and is itchy with excitement for his newest release. This is not the man I encountered seven years ago, during the release of Thugs of Hindostan, clammy with unspoken nervousness about a shaky product. Or the man who disappeared behind a beard to play Tom Hanks, loudly and disappointingly, in Laal Singh Chaddha.
In interviews and podcasts, Khan has been open about the failure of these two films. His latest, Sitaare Zameen Par, finds him on a surer footing. Like a merry highlights reel, the trailer combines the best elements of Khan's filmography: sports, humour, team assembly, social uplift. Directed by R.S. Prasanna, the film is a remake of the Spanish drama Champions. It follows a mouthy, knuckleheaded basketball coach put in charge of a team of players with intellectual disabilities.
'This film entered my bloodstream,' Khan says. Here, he speaks about working with his co-stars, the miasma of trolling and negativity that befogs his recent releases, and his hopes for the theatrical business in India.
You had hinted at a break after 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. Yet, here you are with 'Sitaare Zameen Par', a film two years in development…
Aamir Khan: When a film or an idea inspires me, I just have to make it. My director, R.S. Prasanna, brought the Spanish film Champions (2018) to me. When I saw it, I was extremely moved by it. It left a deep impact on me. I also felt it was the ideal sequel to Taare Zameen Par. In that film, it's the teacher, Nikumbh, a supposedly neuro-typical person, who helps the child with dyslexia. In this film, ten neuro-atypical people are helping the coach, Gulshan. I feel Sitare takes the discourse of the first film ten steps ahead, especially in our country where people need to be sensitised to the topic of neurodivergence.
Like 'Laal Singh', this film has also been subjected to online trolling. Are you nervous about the release?
AK: I don't think trolling affects the box-office performance of a film. Not at all. When a film is good, no troll in the world can stop it. And if a film is bad, no producer in the world can make it work. You may assume that Laal Singh Chaddha did not work because of the trolling. That's not true. If, in place of that film, 3 Idiots or Dangal had released, and was trolled just as viciously, it would have still become a superhit. Laal Singh Chaddha did not turn out well as a film. It could not touch the audience's heart. That's why it failed.
...when I read comments on YouTube, I am always interested in what the real audience is saying. If someone is writing, 'boycott!' or 'go to Pakistan', I can instantly tell they are trolls. Their reactions don't affect me.
Much like your character, Gulshan, what did you learn from your ten co-stars?
AK: They are all between the age of 18-42. The oldest is Rishi Shahani, who won the gold and silver medals in swimming for India at the Special Olympics World Games in 1999. What I learned from them is the importance of being happy. If a person has a high IQ of 195, but they are always anxious and grouchy, what is the point? I have worked with neuro-typical people for the last 35 years. Usually, on a film set, there are ego clashes and tussles. That never happened on Sitare. When these ten people were on set, the whole energy brightened. They were always smiling, hugging and spreading good cheer. Their presence was so pure and innocent that no one raised their voice.
What is the streaming plan for 'Sitare Zameen Par'? You spoke out recently on short theatrical windows affecting the business adversely.
AK: I have received multiple offers and proposals and I have said no to all of them. I am a believer in cinema and the theatrical experience. Whatever I am today, it is because of cinemas. I am a loyalist of that format. Perhaps I am making a mistake by not selling the OTT rights upfront, as most Hindi film producers today are doing. In today's age, unless a film has sold to streaming, it cannot be green-lit. I am the only person who is holding out. Perhaps I will incur a huge financial loss as a result. But we'll see. My mission, at present, is to revive the theatrical business in India, which has been on a steady decline.
Exhibitors, especially multiplex owners, point to high real estate costs to justify steep pricing. How do you resolve this?
AK: I am actively working towards creating policies and coming up with ideas that can create theatres which are economical. Where ticket pricing can be moderated. In India, we have 9,000-10,000 screens for a population of 1.4 billion. By contrast, China has 90,000-95,000 screens while the US has 35,000 screens. There are so many districts in India that do not have a single theatre. In a city like Mumbai or New Delhi, the price of land is very high, so theatres have to pay huge rents. You cannot blame them. But what about the rest of the country? So we need to build more economical theatres across the country.
You are doing an action film with Lokesh Kanagaraj. But it won't start until next year. Why not strike a trend while it's hot?
AK: Yaar, I am not able to think like that. When I decided to do Sitaare Zameen Par, the people who are close to me told me not to do another remake after Laal Singh Chaddha. Everyone advised me to do an action film instead. It's the flavour of the season. But I wanted to tell this story. It's a humorous film with drama at its centre, like a Rajkumar Hirani movie.
Interestingly, when I did Ghajini, in 2008, the opposite had happened. I was told that action films hadn't worked for the last five years. That it was the wrong time to make action. So my films have always released at odd times, because I don't follow the industry's metrics. I follow my heart. And I have complete faith in my audience. If I have made a good film, they will come and watch.
Sitaare Zameen Par releases in theatres on June 20

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Not Amitabh Bachchan Or Aamir Khan, But This Actor Gave 25 Hits In A Year
Not Amitabh Bachchan Or Aamir Khan, But This Actor Gave 25 Hits In A Year

News18

time4 hours ago

  • News18

Not Amitabh Bachchan Or Aamir Khan, But This Actor Gave 25 Hits In A Year

Last Updated: In 2025, Mohanlal has had two blockbuster releases so far — L2: Empuraan When it comes to Hindi cinema, names like Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shah Rukh Khan often dominate the conversation as the most bankable superstars. They have starred in some of the biggest Bollywood hits over the last three decades. But let's burst the bubble. In the vast landscape of the Indian film industry, one superstar from Kerala has set a benchmark that few can even dream of. With a career spanning over 400 films, Mohanlal has not only proved his acting prowess in the Malayalam film industry but also in Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada film industries. He has time and again proved why he is one of the most successful actors in Indian cinema. The first proof of his talent as a bankable star was in 1986. At a time when Malayalam cinema was facing tough challenges, Mohanlal starred in 34 projects as the lead actor. And guess what? Out of the 34 films, 25 were box office hits. At just 26 years old, Mohanlal established himself as the undisputed superstar in Malayalam cinema. To put this into perspective, Aamir Khan has delivered 21 hits to date, fewer than Mohanlal's successes in a single year. It is worth noting that Mohanlal was consistently ranked among the most bankable stars in Malayalam cinema between 1986 and 2016. In the late 2010s, the veteran superstar faced a few setbacks. He roared back to box office glory with Lucifer in 2019. The Malayalam film became the first movie to cross the Rs 200 crore mark. He also tasted success with Drishyam, further cementing his legacy. In 2025, Mohanlal has had two blockbuster releases so far — L2: Empuraan and Thudarum. Each film grossed over Rs 200 crore. The actor's unmatched consistency and box office dominance continue to give younger actors a run for their money. Looking ahead, Mohanlal has a jam-packed schedule. He will be seen in the Telugu fantasy drama Kannappa, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh. The actor has also been roped in for Sathyam Anthikad's Hridayapoorvam and Nanda Kishore's Vrusshabha. Fans will also see him in the Malayalam film AJFC_MMMN, directed by Mahesh Narayanan. First Published: June 04, 2025, 18:33 IST

Aamir Khan reveals why Imran Khan does not fit in the industry: 'He's not comfortable with herogiri'
Aamir Khan reveals why Imran Khan does not fit in the industry: 'He's not comfortable with herogiri'

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Aamir Khan reveals why Imran Khan does not fit in the industry: 'He's not comfortable with herogiri'

Imran Khan made his debut with 'Jaane Jaane Na' and Aamir Khan was one of the producers on the film. While Imran was loved in his first film and went on to do movies like 'Break Ke Baad', 'Delhi Belly' and many others, he took a long break from the industry and hasn't done a movie in a while. In a recent interview, while Aamir was promoting his upcoming film 'Sitaare Zameen Par', he spoke about why Imran doesn't fit in the industry. He said in an interview with Screen, "Imran has a certain creative instinct. He finds it difficult to fit into the mainstream construct we have. That's not his natural space. Which is why he'd do really well in a film like Jaane Tu and Delhi Belly. He's in his element there." He added further, 'But the moment you put him into a regular Hindi film, he won't fit. He's not comfortable with herogiri. He wants to play a real person. Everybody was offering him mainstream films because he's good-looking. But he wants to be an actor, and not a star." Imran was away from the limelight for a while, but recently, his Instagram posts created a lot of buzz. He started expressing himself on social media. In an interview with Vogue, he also opened up on the reason for his break from the industry. He said, "I hit a low in 2016 where I felt broken inside. At that point, it wasn't my career because I wasn't excited by it enough to want to work hard for it. I had recently become a father and thought, 'This is valuable. This is something I take seriously.' I wanted to be the best version of myself for Imara. I decided it was no longer my job to be an actor. Now, I had to fix myself; be at my healthiest and strongest for my daughter." Imran was married to Avantika and got divorced in 2019. They have a daughter, Imara. Imran is now in a relationship with Lekha Washington.

Housefull 5 To Materialists: Must Watch Films To Catch In Theatres This June
Housefull 5 To Materialists: Must Watch Films To Catch In Theatres This June

News18

time4 hours ago

  • News18

Housefull 5 To Materialists: Must Watch Films To Catch In Theatres This June

Last Updated: Dakota Johnson's upcoming film Materialists has created waves on social media. The month of June brings a wave of cinematic releases. From laugh-out-loud comedies and heartfelt dramas to high-octane action, this month has something for everyone. Whether you're a die-hard movie buff or just looking for a fun weekend escape, you're sure to find a film that matches your vibe. Here are five movies you should catch in theatres this June: 1. Housefull 5 — June 6 Akshay Kumar is back on the big screen with the fifth instalment of the Housefull franchise. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, this one promises a twist with its dual ending – leaving audiences more curious than ever. The film features a star-studded cast including Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Jacqueline Fernandez and Nargis Fakhri, among others. 2. Materialists — June 13 Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson, has already made waves online thanks to its viral trailer. Set in New York City, the story follows a matchmaker torn between her perfect new match and a complicated ex. Written and directed by Celine Song, the film also stars Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. 3. 28 Years Later — June 20 This post-apocalyptic thriller is the third film in the 28 Days Later series. It follows a group of survivors navigating a world still haunted by the rage virus. One of them returns to the mainland, only to uncover shocking secrets and terrifying truths. Cillian Murphy, who starred in the original, returns this time as an executive producer. 4. Sitaare Zameen Par — June 20 Aamir Khan returns to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par, considered a spiritual sequel to his 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par. This official remake of the Spanish sports comedy Champions features Aamir in a coach's role, with Genelia D'Souza and ten debutants playing his students. 5. Maa — June 27 Directed by Vishal Furia, Maa is a chilling horror-thriller about a mother's fight to save her daughter from a terrifying demonic curse. Backed by Devgn Films, the movie stars Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta and Kherin Sharma in key roles. Grab your popcorn – June is packed with blockbusters you would not want to miss. First Published: June 09, 2025, 19:10 IST

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store