Aamir Khan is not someone to rest on his laurels. Even as Dangal breaks all box-office records to become the highest grossing Hindi film ever, Aamir is holed up in an undisclosed location prepping for his next. “I am in a boot camp. All I do the whole day is exercise. I do weight training, boxing and spinning. I also go on treks and I cycle,” the actor told t2 during a video conference.
In Week Three of its release, the biopic that tells the story of Olympian wrestling sisters Geeta and Babita and their father Mahavir Phogat has minted over Rs 356 crore and continues to go from strength to strength. During the conversation, hosted at Aamir’s spartan office in Bandra, Mumbai, the superstar spoke about setting new benchmarks, being a team player and what he has in store for 2017.
Congratulations!
Thank you so much.
Have you had a chance to celebrate Dangal’s success?
Not really. Once I am back in Mumbai, I am hoping to meet the team again. I want to celebrate with them. These are the people who have spent months, or in Nitesh (Tiwari, director) Sir’s case four years, on this film. This film has been a wonderful journey for all of us. I’d want to share the success with the entire team.
Before a release you are known to be so nervous that you start smoking and then quit after the release. Has that happened this time as well?
Yes, but I haven’t been able to quit as yet. I am hoping it happens soon.
Dangal seems to have brought the demonetisation drought to an end at the box office.
Well… I do feel that demonetisation would have definitely affected the film, specially in the smaller centres. I am sure there was some effect but it can’t be calculated. But I have to say that I am overwhelmed with the kind of response the film has got and the amount of love and affection the audience has given this film. It’s very rarely that the audience has embraced a film like they have this film. I’ve had tears in my eyes while reading people’s responses on social media.
Is there any one reaction from someone in the industry or the audience that’s stayed with you?
Ya… the one response that I remember the most clearly is Rishi (Kapoor) Sir’s. He gave me the highest compliment that I could have imagined — he said I was the Raj Kapoor of today! I was over the moon when I read that. There’s no way that I can compare myself to Raj Kapoor but the fact that this thought came to Raj Kapoor’s son meant a lot to me.
Talking about reactions on social media on Dangal, Salman Khan had tweeted ‘love you personally but hate you professionally’...
(Laughs) It’s actually a very loving tweet. The fact that he is saying this publicly is a huge compliment from a colleague. I don’t think there’s even an iota of hate in his ‘hate’!
Dangal, PK, Dhoom 3, Talaash… you set new benchmarks for your colleagues with every release...
I am not trying to set any benchmarks. When we sign a film, we don’t know if a film is going to work; if it would touch people’s heart and minds. When I get a film, I only pick a film based on my gut reaction to it. No one can predict its fate. I just make films that make me happy.
With every film, the box office numbers also keep going up. Does that play on your mind every time you are making a new movie?
Honestly, numbers is not a game I am interested in. When I think of all the films I love like Pyaasa, Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Teesri Manzil, Mother India or Mughal-e-Azam, it doesn’t matter how much money they made or if they didn’t make any money. We love films and not how they perform at the box office.
But the expectation that the audience has from you keeps increasing. That must scare you...
No it doesn’t. I believe in living in the moment. I am enjoying the love we are getting right now. I am not thinking about the next film. I was told that I shouldn’t make Dangal because Salman is making Sultan. Then there is no romance in the film. I was told that no one would want to see me being old and fat. This film doesn’t have any romantic songs. I was given so many reasons for not making this film. But I had only one reason for making it. I loved the script. For me, it’s just as simple as that.
Salman, Shah Rukh Khan and you are all nominated in the Best Actor category at the Filmfare Awards. Is there any chance that you’ll change your mind about popular film awards and attend one this year?
No. The biggest award for me is the love that we’ve received from the audience. Popular awards are not of any value to me.
In the film, Mahavir pushed his daughters to realise his dream of winning for the country. In 3 Idiots, the message that the audience walked away with was that one shouldn’t push their children into careers that they don’t love. As a parent, which end of the spectrum do you fall in?
Personally, I’ve given my kids the freedom to choose whatever they are interested in. As parents, we support them completely. But that doesn’t mean that parents should not guide or suggest things to their children. Only, don’t force them.
In Dangal, Mahavir does push his daughters towards realising his dream but you have to remember that Geeta and Babita have the passion and the drive to make his dreams come true. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have succeeded like they did. You can’t force someone to excel at something. That passion has to come from that individual. It can’t be taught or forced. This was a true-life story so I had to follow Mahavir’s story.
One thing heard most often about Dangal was how Aamir Khan took a step back and allowed the girls (Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Zaira Wasim and Suhani Bhatnagar) to shine... That was not my magnanimity. That’s what the script and the film demanded. I didn’t take any step back. I did what Mahavir was supposed to do. I don’t believe that one actor is bigger than another. All actors have a part to play to make the film to the best of our abilities. Working with good actors will help my performance. I remember these questions used to come up during Rang De Basanti. People were like ‘you are not there in the climax, only Sidharth is here’. These things don’t even occur to me.
Babita and Geeta’s real-life coach didn’t appreciate how their coach in the film was made the villain...
There’s a disclaimer right in the beginning of the film that states that Dangal is the story of Babita, Geeta and Mahavir Phogat. All other characters are fictitious. The coach in the film has a fictitious name. Even the cousin in the film Omkar is fictitious. The girls have three-four cousins who they could wrestle with. Nitesh Sir thought it would have more impact if there was one cousin. We had to take cinematic liberties for drama and conflict. All biopics mention that some liberties have been taken to dramatise and that’s what we’ve done.
The last few years have seen an increase in films that could be described as feminist. What is it that you think the audience connected with in Dangal?
It is wonderful to see that films that are progressive are being lapped up by audiences, and not just in multiplexes in cities. These films are universal hits. It reinforces our belief in ourselves as a society. I want to add that just because a film is talking about feminism it’s not going to work with the audience. The film has to be entertaining and good.
Both Kiran and your mother weren’t very happy with your physical transformations for the film as it harms your health. Would you ever do it again?
Don’t tell them but if the role and the film is exciting enough, I will do it. (Laughs)
Earlier this week, Meryl Streep took on Donald Trump in a blistering speech at the Golden Globes, which automatically sparked debates about the social responsibility of Bollywood actors. Your thoughts?
All of us have a responsibility to the society, it shouldn’t matter whether you are a celebrity or not. Each one of us has to do our own bit. We can’t expect only celebrities to take up causes.
Any plans for another season of Satyamev Jayate soon?
Not for some time. The whole team is working for the Paani Foundation. We are working towards making Maharashtra drought-free.
What does 2017 have in store for you?
I am looking forward to this year because we’ve made a very special film called Secret Superstar. I am waiting to see people’s reaction to it. It’s a very different film and my role is going to shock people (laughs). It’s quite chatpata.
Karishma Upadhyay
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