Perfectionist, resourceful, inspiring, youthful, & alluring are just a few of the many adjectives associated with this Superstar. Considered a `thinking` hero, Aamir Khan has been in the industry since the 80s and is known for his versatility. Aamir is the founder and owner of Aamir Khan Productions. Not only an actor and producer, Aamir is a talented host, as proven by his conscientious project, Satyamev Jayate. Aamir`s first appearance on screen was in his uncle, Nasir Hussain`s film, Yaadon Ki Baraat, as a child artist while his first major role was in the film Holi. He has been the recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan civilian awards.
Early Life
Aamir Khan was born to Tahir & Zeenat Hussain, on 14th March 1965 in Mumbai. Bollywood runs in his blood, with his father being a film producer & his uncle, Nasir Hussain, being a producer-director. Aamir has four siblings, two brothers and two sisters.
Aamir completed his pre-primary education from J.B. Petit School. He attended St. Anne`s High School, Mumbai, from 1st - 8th std., completing his 9th & 10th year at Bombay Scottish School. Aamir was a state-level tennis champion, always interested in sports more than studies.
At the age of 16, Aamir Khan acted in a 40- minute silent film named Paranoia, alongside
Neena Gupta &
Victor Banerjee. Aamir believes that it was this experience of working on the film that propelled him to pursue a career in acting. Later, he became a part of a theatre group named `Avantar,` where he honed his perfectionistic skills. After almost a year of being behind the scenes, Aamir debuted on stage in a Gujarati play, Kesar Bina, at the Prithvi Theatre. He attended two years of college at Narsee Monjee, pursuing Commerce before he left to work as an Assistant Director for his uncle`s films, Manzil Manzil, and Zabardast.
Personal Life
Aamir married his first wife, Reena Dutta, on the 18th of April, 1986. He has a son, Junaid, and a daughter, Iraa, with Reena. Aamir divorced his first wife in December 2002, with Reena taking custody of both children.
Aamir married his second wife,
Kiran Rao who had been an Assistant Director on his film,
Lagaan, on 28th December, 2005. He has a son with her, Azad Rao Khan, born on 5th December, 2011, through surrogacy.
Movie Career
As an actor
Aamir`s first major role that catapulted him to fame was in the romantic film,
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, for which he won a Filmfare award for `Best Male Debut`, in 1989, as well as a National Film Award - Special Mention in the same year. The next seven years saw him give big hits like Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi,
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar,
Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, and
Rangeela, proving his mettle as a romantic hero and an action star.
In 1997, Aamir won his second Filmfare award for `Best Actor` for his intense role in
Raja Hindustani opposite
Karisma Kapoor. The film Ghulam saw him lend his voice to the song Aati Kya Khandala, earning him a Filmfare nomination for `Best Male Playback Singer.`
The new millennium saw Aamir Khan be nominated for yet another hard-hitting performance, this time in
Sarfarosh. The year 2002 saw Aamir reach new heights; his first home production, Lagaan, was well received by audiences and critics alike, even earning a nomination in the `Best Foreign Language Film` category at the Oscars. However, the
Ashutosh Gowariker directed film did not win the Oscar but did win the Filmfare award for `Best Film` while Aamir won the Filmfare for `Best Actor.` His second release of the year,
Dil Chahta Hai, a story about three friends and their different perspectives on love, garnered massive fan-following, with the youth running to the salon to get the Aamir Khan look, replete with a goatee.
The year 2006 saw Aamir Khan play the eponymous character of the Indian soldier,
Mangal Pandey, who started a mutiny against the British. In 2007, he starred in an ensemble cast in the revolutionary tearjerker film,
Rang De Basanti, directed by
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Aamir won the Filmfare `Critics Award Best Actor` for his stirring performance as "DJ", a man fighting corruption and the government for his deceased friend`s honour.
In the year 2008, Aamir Khan acted in the first-of-its-kind film,
Taare Zameen Par. A film creating awareness about the scarily relevant topic of Learning Disabilities and the growing pressure faced by children on the academic front, Aamir Khan was lauded for his performance as the immensely supportive and understanding arts teacher who encourages the protagonist, Ishan Awasthi, portrayed by
Darsheel Safary, to chase his dreams.
In 2009, Aamir starred in the romantic thriller,
Ghajini, playing a man diagnosed with anterograde amnesia looking for vengeance. The film became the highest grossing film of its time, grossing more than Rs. 200 crores, the highest revenue collected by a Bollywood film until it was surpassed by another of his movies,
3 Idiots - released in 2010.
One of Aamir`s most prolific roles came in the movie
PK, his 2015 release that saw him play an eccentric alien searching for his lost remote control. His performance earned him his sixteenth Filmfare nomination for `Best Actor.` In 2016, the actor was seen in the biographical drama
Dangal, which was based on the life and journey of Mahavir Phogat and his daughters Geeta and Babita Phogat. The movie went on to break various records, emerging as the 5th highest-grossing non-English film ever as of 2017. Apart from breaking box-office records, the movie went on to win several awards such as the Filmfare Award for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor. Reuniting with
Zaira Wasim, Aamir Khan`s 2017 porject includes
Secret Superstar, which also co-stars
Meher Vij, and is produced under his banner, Aamir Khan Productions. He then appeared in
Thugs of Hindostan (2018) which didn`t perform well at the box office. Later, he featured in
Laal Singh Chadda (2021), an official remake of Forrest Gump.
As a producer
Aamir Khan started his production house, Aamir Khan Productions, in the year 2001. His first production was the Oscar nominated,
Lagaan. His second undertaking was
Taare Zameen Par, and his third was his nephew,
Imran Khan`s debut film -
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. The art house film,
Dhobi Ghat, written and directed by his wife, Kiran Rao, was the production house`s fourth venture. The fifth film was
Peepli Live, released in 2010. The other production under the banner was the sleeper hit, Delhi Belly, a film appreciated for its realistic dialogue.
TV Career
Aamir Khan redefined the term `host` with his television debut on 6th May, 2012, in Satyamev Jayate, a talk show discussing social issues. He was reportedly paid INR 3 crore per episode, making him the highest paid host of Indian television.