Aamir Khan: The Perfectionist of Bollywood Cinema
Affectionately known as “Mr Perfectionist”, Bollywood acting royalty Aamir Khan earned this title thanks to his meticulous and immersive approach to making movies.
While Bollywood may be famous for churning out high numbers of formulaic movies, Khan became a Hindi cinema legend through carefully selected movie projects. Over a prestigious 35-year acting career, he has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to every role, perfecting each character emotionally and physically.
Learn more about the Bollywood perfectionist and his most popular films to date.
Script selectiveness
Unlike some top Bollywood actors, Khan often takes on only one filming project at a time, completing one film every two to three years. This may make Aamir Khan’s filmography notably streamlined, but it has also earned him a spotless reputation as a star of critically acclaimed movies.
Mr Perfectionist has long been bold in his script choices, eschewing the tried-and-tested career path for Bollywood leads by taking on meatier roles that explore pressing social issues and delve into the modern male psyche. His involvement in unconventional Bollywood movies like 3 Idiots, PK, and Taare Zameen Par paid off, with each becoming one of Aamir Khan’s box office hits. His willingness to take risks with scripts has been influential in the changing landscape of Bollywood, enriching genres by showing the industry that there is an appetite for emotive storytelling and exploration of societal grey areas.
Powerful preparation
When you watch an Aamir Khan movie, his character portrayal is always compellingly authentic. To achieve this level of realism, Khan undertakes intensive preparation for each role – often completely transforming his appearance or learning and perfecting a new skill.
For his role in Ghajini, Khan underwent intensive training for an entire year under the tutelage of Satyajit Chaurasia, working out for up to three hours a day and following a strict, high-protein diet.
Professional cricketers coached the star for his role in Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, and he and his fellow actors lived and breathed the sport to ensure the movies’ final cricket game felt like watching a real match. Lagaan, arguably one of the best Aamir Khan films, is also (according to the actor) the movie where he felt least prepared. He was unable to spend months embodying the character before filming, as he prefers to do, and the perfectionist in him felt that lack of preparation acutely.
In Dangal, Khan played both the older and younger versions of Mahavir Phogat, and to do this, he gained 25kg and then lost it through a gruelling program of cardio workouts and a calorie deficit diet.
Involvement in all aspects of filming
Aamir Khan has many strings to his bow. In addition to acting, he has become a respected producer and in a number of movies, he has done both. Producing and script supervision give him the creative control and artistic precision he craves. Critics agree that some of his finest movies are those where he has both acted and produced, such as Dangal, Lagaan, Secret Superstar, and Taare Zameen Par.
Must-watch Aamir Khan movies
To watch Mr Perfectionist’s greatest work, check our top three must-watch Aamir Khan movies, just right for a cosy weekend movie marathon.
3 Idiots – 2009
In 3 Idiots, Aamir Khan plays the role of Rancho, a free-thinking engineering student who pushes against the rigidity and traditions of the Indian educational establishment. Rancho’s spirited and passionate nature is the driving force behind the movie’s social commentary, and Khan brought enough nuance to the performance to address the issue rather than force it.
Dangal – 2016
Aamir Khan delivers a compelling performance as the complex character, Mahavir Singh Phogat, in the wrestling movie Dangal. In his quest to break societal norms and train his daughters to wrestle, Phogat displays both uncomfortably exploitative and deeply loving traits, which Khan balances with aplomb.
Taare Zameen Par – 2007
Khan excels as art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh in Taare Zameen Par, who takes dyslexic student Ishaan under his wing. The actor consulted experts in dyslexia and prepared Ishaan’s notebooks for use on set by writing in them with his left hand. Determined to create an authentic portrait of childhood dyslexia, Khan took over as director when he felt the first round of dailies failed to do justice to the subject.
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