Aamir Khan, the Bollywood superstar known for his transformative roles in films like 3 Idiots, PK, and Rang De Basanti, recently shared a deeply personal reflection on his journey into film production during a candid conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival.
Known for his remarkable acting and producing track record, Aamir Khan admitted that his career in cinema has often been shaped by “luck" and “accidents," rather than a sense of confidence or ease.
“I don’t find anything easy,” Khan said, expressing the constant uncertainty he feels with each new project. “Each film I pick, I’m nervous whether I’ll be able to pull it off. I approach every project with a mix of excitement and anxiety.” His vulnerability as an actor carries over to his role as a producer, where the stakes are far higher. “As a producer, one small slip and the entire film can come crashing down,” he remarked, underscoring the immense pressure that comes with the responsibility of guiding a film to success.
However, Aamir’s reluctance to enter the world of production stemmed from witnessing his father, the late Tahir Hussain, endure tremendous struggles as a Bollywood producer.
“I’d seen my father go through hell. It’s a thankless job,” he confessed. This firsthand experience of the difficulties of film production led Khan to initially shy away from taking on the role himself. The challenges his father faced made Aamir apprehensive about stepping into the industry in a more hands-on way.
It wasn’t until Khan came across the script for Lagaan, a period sports drama directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, that his perspective began to shift. Though captivated by the story, Khan hesitated at first, fearing that no producer would be able to fully understand or do justice to such an ambitious project. “I was afraid the producer would start arm-twisting the director,” Khan admitted. He worried that the integrity of the film could be compromised in the pursuit of commercial success.
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Despite his initial reservations, Khan’s connection to the script grew over time, and he eventually took the leap, deciding to make Lagaan his debut production. The decision proved to be a monumental success. The cricket-centered epic became India’s entry for the 2001 Oscars and garnered widespread international acclaim. “Everything happened organically,” Khan said, reflecting on the film’s unexpected rise to global prominence. “The film took off on its own, releasing across Europe and beyond,” he continued, emphasizing how the film’s success transcended all expectations.
The unexpected success of Lagaan gave Khan the confidence to embrace his role as a producer more fully. He credits his transformation to the boldness and courage of filmmakers he admires. “I thought about the directors I look up to—they followed their hearts and took bold steps,” Khan explained. “If you want to create great work, you have to take risks.” These sentiments not only reflect his growth as a producer but also his evolving philosophy on filmmaking and creativity.
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