“If the Khans were Beatles, Aamir would be George Harrison”
A friend of mine once remarked. I couldn’t deny that, he was right. Like George Harrison he never makes a lot of noise, like George he is never in the news for reasons good or bad, like George he works wonders in the shadows and like George he is always there, always successful.
Picture a typical Bollywood actor and the last person you would think of is Aamir Khan, he simply isn’t cut out for Bollywood, he is probably the only actor in the history of Indian cinema who is very much like his Hollywood counterparts, dedicated, dashing and professional.
Papa kehte hai
A lanky young man, handsome, yet looks still like a teenager picks up a Guitar in his hands, swings around and sings “Papa kehte hai”, a song that probably someone wrote for him, a song that instantly became the anthem of all those young men and women who want to be someone big, who have the talents but quite simply do not want to follow the conventional path. The song, the film, the pair, the director all became a big hit, Aamir though gained the most from Qayamat Se Qayamat tak, he became a nations heartthrob, a “Hritik Roshan of his times”, my elder cousins tell me.
Coming from a film background, Aamir is no Shah Rukh, he cannot claim to be a self made actor. Like many actors in the cinema today, he too had a father, an uncle and a cousin to back him, he too was ‘launched’ in a home production of sorts. But does that matter ! Alexander was son of a king, he naturally inherited the throne, does that make him less great, does being the grandson of Chandragupta make Ashoka less of an icon, no they don’t ! I said he is no SRK, but he is no Tusharr either. Aamir Khan grabbed an opportunity to catapult himself to glory, and carved a niche from himself and in the process people still remember Nasir Hussain, a great writer director of his time as Aamir’s uncle and not the other way round.
Aamir’s life with films started very early. He was a child actor in Yaadon Ki Baarat, then a tennis champ and then he discovered love for cinema with QSQT, a star was born to stay….
Rangeela
Arguably the most versatile actor in India cinema today, one thing no one can accuse Aamir is being typecast. Aamir has played the romantic lead as well as he carries of a drama, but without doubt Aamir is best remembered for his comic and ‘tapori’ roles. Here are some of his best 7 roles:
7 Inspector courageous in Sarfarosh
Comic timing at it’s best in Andaz aapna Aapna
A person with conflicts in his life and thinking in Ghulam
A bindas Ice Candy man in Earth
An inspiration as Bhuvan in lagan
A think skinned Casanova in DCH
The most lovable tapori of Indian cinema, Munna in Rangeela
Akele Hum Akele tum
He has a huge list of huge blockbusters, his film got nominated at the Oscars and he is one of the highest paid actors in Bollywood, yet Aamir is the most enigmatic personalities around. No one claims to know much about him , he does less than a film a year and his life (except recently) has never been in the news. He is very much like his idol Marlon Brando, dark and mysterious ! He has never been associated with one particular banner or Production house. If Chopras of Johars are making a movie, SRK is sure to be there, but no so for Aamir. Infact the very fact that he is choosy and that he has long incubation period is what has made him so successful. He waits for the perfect prey, the perfect script and once he gets that, he makes sure it is a hit. That’s what makes great cinema, that’s what makes a great actor !
The Raising
Let’s hope that the next few movies makes Aamir Khan even a bigger star in Bollwyood. It’s only the matter of time before he overtakes the other so called greats in the minds and hearts of the people. Jo jeeta Wahi Sikander, kudos to my favorite actor of Bollywood.