Kathmandu. Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is known for some popular films in India including ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Three Idiots’. His appeal as a star is so magnificent that even when he walks on the road, he cannot walk without a crowd of fans.
What is less discussed about him is that he secretly left the film industry during the covid epidemic to spend time with his loved ones.
He told BBC News, ‘I have told my family that I have done a lot of work in films and acting. I didn’t want to produce, direct and act. I just wanted to be with my family.’
You can only imagine the shocking message a big star like Khan’s decision to quit the film industry will send in a film-obsessed society like India.
His decision was ignored at the time because only a small number of films were being made due to the epidemic.
“No one knew about this,” he said. However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
Khan did not leave films for long. He is back to work and is busy promoting his self-produced film ‘Lapata Ladies’. This film is a recommended film from India in the international feature category of Oscar.
Khan says it was his children who convinced him to return to work.
‘We cannot spend 24 hours with you. So be real and come back to life, they said. They gently brought me back to the film,’ he said.
At the age of 59, Khan has worked as an actor, director and producer for three decades.
He is known as one of the three ‘Khans’ of Bollywood – the others being megastars Shahrukh and Salman.
Known for addressing social issues, Aamir’s films are widely acclaimed. It has also broken box office records. He is known for Oscar.
Lagaan, a film set in the 19th century during the British colonial era, was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 2002.
Khan is now trying to make history with ‘Lapata Ladies’. If it succeeds, it will be the first Indian film to win the prestigious international award. On Tuesday, the Oscars will announce the shortlist.
Khan said he was not sure how seriously he would take the award. ‘Cinema is also objective’, he says. But he admits that the win means a lot for India.
‘I think Indians are crazy about films. We are aiming to win an Academy Award for an Indian film, which has not happened yet. So the country is eager to see it. If we win, they will be mad,” he said. “So for the people of our country and for our country, I will be really happy if we win the award,” he says.
Set in rural India, the film ‘Lapata Ladies’ tells the story of a situation that arises when two newlyweds are exchanged on a train. This film also tells the story of women’s status and thinking in rural India.
The film also satirizes the sensitive issue of domestic violence and the treatment of women.
Khan describes its story as ‘a little Shakespearean’ in style, with its focus on humor and misinterpreted identities.
But, he adds, it says ‘very important things about women’s issues, their freedom, their right to decide what they want to do’.
He says that it was these subjects that attracted him to the film for the first time.
He says, ‘As a creative person, you also get an opportunity to make people aware of certain problems we face in society’, he says.
Bollywood produces hundreds of films every year and Indian films have a huge following worldwide. But Indian filmmakers must first start making films for the global market, he says.
“I have never really looked at the international audience,” he says, “We have such a large audience of our own that it doesn’t cross our minds. This will happen only when Indians start watching films for a global audience. I don’t think we have the immediate bandwidth for that,” he said.
For now, Khan is focusing on more films besides ‘Lapata Ladies’, including his next film ‘Sitare Zameen Par’, slated for release in 2025.
He is hoping for one film a year. He also dreams of making a film on the traditional Indian epic ‘Mahabharat’. After retreating again, he is determined to do things differently. Again this is also influenced by his children.
“My son said – Dad, you are a man of extreme nature,” he said.
He said, Dad, you are like a pendulum. You’ve just done films, films, films and now you want to dive into the other side. He wants to do no film and live as family, family, family. There is also a place in between. You can think.’
Khan says his son advised him to ‘try to bring some balance’ to his life.
‘Then I thought he was right. Since then I have been trying to find a balance in my life. In fact, I am working more than I have ever done. Now I won’t work after 6 pm.’
Khan says that in recent years, he has also started therapy after being inspired by his daughter Ira, who works in mental health.
‘I think it has really helped me. It has helped me understand myself better.’
‘I am actually looking for a balance between work and personal life. So I think I have reached that place now.’
From BBC News.
