Aamir Khan

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Aamir Khan

Khan at an event for NDTV in 2012

Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan
Born
14 March 1965 (age 54)
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Nationality Indian
Narsee Monjee College of Commerce
Education
and Economics[1]
 Actor
 director
 producer
Occupation  writer
 singer
 talk-show host

Years active 1973–present

Works Full list
  Reena Dutta
(m. 1986; div. 2002)
Spouse(s)
 Kiran Rao (m. 2005)

Children 3
Tahir Hussain (father)
Parent(s)
Zeenat Hussain (mother)
Relatives See Khan–Hussain family
Awards Full list
Padma Shri (2003)
Padma Bhushan (2010)
Honours
National Treasure of India, Government
of China (2017)
Website www.aamirkhan.com

Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (pronounced [ˈaːmɪr ˈxaːn]; born 14 March 1965) is an
Indian actor, director, filmmaker and television talk-show host. Through his career spanning
over thirty years in Hindi films, Khan has established himself as one of the most popular and
influential actors of Indian cinema.[2][3] He has a large global following, especially in
Southern Asia and Greater China, and has been described by Newsweek as "the biggest movie
star"[4][5] in the world.[6][7][8] Khan is the recipient of numerous awards, including nine
Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, and an AACTA Award, as well as an
Academy Award nomination. He was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma
Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010,[9] and received an honorary title from the
Government of China in 2017.[10]

Khan first appeared on screen as a child actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film Yaadon Ki
Baaraat (1973). As an adult, his first feature film role was in the experimental film Holi
(1984), and he began a full-time acting career with a leading role in the tragic romance
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988). His performance in the film and in the thriller Raakh
(1989) earned him a National Film Award in the Special Mention category. He established
himself as a leading actor of Hindi cinema in the 1990s by appearing in a number of
commercially successful films, including the romantic dramas Dil (1990) and Raja
Hindustani (1996), for which he won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor, and the thriller
Sarfarosh (1999).[11][12] He also played against type in the acclaimed Canadian-Indian co-
production 1947: Earth (1998).[13]

In 1999 he founded Aamir Khan Productions, whose first film, Lagaan (2001), was
nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and earned him a
National Film Award for Best Popular Film and two more Filmfare Awards (Best Actor and
Best Film). After a four-year absence from the screen, Khan returned to portray leading roles,
notably in the 2006 box-office hits Fanaa and Rang De Basanti. He made his directorial
debut with Taare Zameen Par (2007), a major success that garnered him the Filmfare Awards
for Best Film and Best Director. Khan's greatest global success came with the thriller Ghajini
(2008), the comedy-drama 3 Idiots (2009), the action film Dhoom 3 (2013), the satire PK
(2014), and the sports biopic Dangal (2016), each having held the record for being the
highest-grossing Indian film,[14] while Secret Superstar[15] (2017) held the record for being
highest-grossing Indian film featuring a female protagonist.[16] Khan won his third Best Actor
award at Filmfare for Dangal.[17] His films are known for dealing with social issues in Indian
society,[18] and they often combine the entertainment and production values of commercial
masala films with the believable narratives and strong messages of parallel cinema.[19]

Within and beyond the film industry, Khan is an activist[18] and humanitarian, and has
participated and spoken out for various social causes, some of which have sparked political
controversy. He has created and hosted the television talk show Satyamev Jayate, through
which he highlights sensitive social issues in India, occasionally influencing the Indian
parliament. His work as a social reformer, tackling issues ranging from poverty and education
to abuse and discrimination, earned him an appearance on the Time 100 list of most
influential people in the world.[18] Khan was married to his first wife, Reena Dutta, for fifteen
years, after which he married the film director Kiran Rao. He has three children—two with
Dutta, and one with Rao through surrogacy.

Contents
 1 Early life and background
 2 Acting career
o 2.1 1984–1989: Debut and career challenges
o 2.2 1990–2001: Successful career and acting break
o 2.3 2005–2007: Acting comeback and directorial debut
o 2.4 2008–present: Resurgence and global success
 3 Film production and direction
 4 Television career
 5 Brand endorsements
 6 In the media
o 6.1 Humanitarian, social and political causes
o 6.2 Political controversies
 7 Personal life
 8 Filmography
 9 Awards and honours
 10 See also
 11 Bibliography
 12 Footnotes
 13 References
 14 External links

Early life and background

Khan was born on 14 March 1965 in Bombay to Tahir Hussain, a film producer, and Zeenat
Hussain.[20][21] Several of his relatives were members of the Hindi film industry, including his
late paternal uncle, the producer-director Nasir Hussain.[21] He has a relation to the cinema of
Pakistan as well, being a relative of movie director Syed Sibtain Fazli (Allahabad, 1916–
Lahore, 1985),[22] and who's grandson, Umair Fazli,[23] also a movie director, made the 2016
box-office success Saya e Khuda e Zuljalal, himself being the brother of Ayesha Fazli, the
wife of singer-actor Ali Zafar of Pakistan.[24] Outside the movie industry, he is also related to
the Indian Islamic scholar, philosopher and politician Abul Kalam Azad through his
grandmother.[25][26] Khan is the eldest of four siblings; he has a brother, the actor Faisal Khan,
and two sisters, Farhat and Nikhat Khan (married to Santosh Hegde).[27][28][29] His nephew,
Imran Khan, is a contemporary Hindi film actor.[30]

As a child actor, Khan appeared on screen in two minor roles. At the age of eight, he
appeared in a highly popular song in the Nasir Hussain-directed film Yaadon Ki Baaraat
(1973),[31][32] which was the first Bollywood masala film.[33] The following year, he portrayed
the younger version of Mahendra Sandhu's character in his father's production Madhosh.[31]
Khan attended J.B. Petit School for his pre-primary education, later switching to St. Anne's
High School, Bandra until the eighth grade, and completed his ninth and tenth grade at the
Bombay Scottish School, Mahim.[34] He played tennis in state level championships, and
became a state-level champion. He has professed he was "much more into sports than
studies".[34][35] He completed his twelfth grade from Mumbai's Narsee Monjee College.[36]
Khan described his childhood as "tough" due to the financial problems faced by his father,
whose film productions were mostly unsuccessful. He said, "There would be at least 30 calls
a day from creditors calling for their money." He was always at risk of being expelled from
school for non-payment of fees.[37]

At the age of sixteen, Khan was involved in the experimental process of making a 40-minute
silent film, Paranoia, which was directed by his school friend Aditya Bhattacharya.[38] The
film was funded by the filmmaker Shriram Lagoo, an acquaintance of Bhattacharya, who
provided them with a few thousand rupees.[39] Khan's parents did not want him to make films,
wishing that he would instead pursue a "steady" career as an engineer or doctor.[38] For that
reason, the shooting schedule of Paranoia was a clandestine one.[40] In the film, he played the
lead role alongside actors Neena Gupta and Victor Banerjee, while simultaneously assisting
Bhattacharya.[39] He said that the experience of working on it encouraged him to pursue a
career in film.[41]

Khan subsequently joined a theatre group called Avantar, where he performed backstage
activities for over a year. He made his stage debut with a small role in the company's Gujarati
play, Kesar Bina, at Prithvi Theatre.[39][42] He went on to two of their Hindi plays, and one
English play, which was titled Clearing House.[43] After completing high school, Khan
decided to discontinue studying, choosing instead to work as an assistant director to Nasir
Hussain on the Hindi films Manzil Manzil (1984) and Zabardast (1985).[38][44]

Acting career
1984–1989: Debut and career challenges

In addition to assisting Hussain, Khan acted in documentaries directed by the students of

FTII, Pune.[45] The director Ketan Mehta noticed Khan in those films, and he offered him a
role in the low-budget experimental film Holi (1984).[45][46] Featuring an ensemble cast of
newcomers, Holi was based on a play by Mahesh Elkunchwar, and dealt with the practice of
ragging in India.[47] The New York Times said that the film was "melodramatic" but "very
decently and exuberantly performed by the nonprofessional actors".[48] Khan's role was that
of a rowdy college student, an "insignificant" role[47] that was described by CNN-IBN as
"lack[ing] in finesse".[49]
Holi failed to garner a broad audience, but Nasir Hussain and his son Mansoor signed him as
the leading man in Mansoor's directorial debut Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) alongside
Juhi Chawla.[47] The film was a tale of unrequited love and parental opposition, with Khan
portraying Raj, a "clean-cut, wholesome boy-next-door".[50] The plot was a modern-day take
on classic tragic romance stories such as Layla and Majnun, Heer Ranjha,[51] and Romeo and
Juliet.[50] Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak proved to be a major commercial success, catapulting
both Khan and Chawla to stardom.[52] It received seven Filmfare Awards including a Best
Male Debut trophy for Khan.[53] The film has since attained cult status,[49] with Bollywood
Hungama crediting it as a "path-breaking and trend setting film" for Indian cinema.[54]
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was a milestone in the history of Hindi cinema, setting the
template for Bollywood musical romance films that defined Hindi cinema in the 1990s.[55][56]

The year 1989 saw the release of Raakh, a crime thriller from Aditya Bhattacharya that was
filmed before the production of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.[57] The film tells the story of a
young man avenging the rape of his ex-girlfriend (played by Supriya Pathak). Despite a poor
reception at the box office, the film was critically acclaimed.[58] Khan was awarded a
National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention for his performances in both
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Raakh.[59] Later that year, he reunited with Chawla for the
romantic comedy Love Love Love, a commercial failure.[60]

1990–2001: Successful career and acting break

Khan had five film releases in 1990. He found no success in the sport film Awwal Number
with Aditya Pancholi and Dev Anand, the mythological thriller Tum Mere Ho, the romance
Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin and the social drama Jawani Zindabad.[61] However, the Indra
Kumar-directed romantic drama Dil (opposite Madhuri Dixit) was a major success.[62] A tale
of parental opposition to teenage love, Dil was highly popular among the youth,[61] and
emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[63][64] He followed this success with a
leading role alongside Pooja Bhatt in the romantic comedy Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), a
remake of the American film It Happened One Night (1934), which proved to be a box office
hit.[65]

Khan appeared in several other films in the early 1990s, including Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
(1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) (for which he also wrote the screenplay), and
Rangeela (1995). Most of these films were successful critically and commercially.[66][67][68]
Other successes include Andaz Apna Apna, a comedy film co-starring Salman Khan. At the
time of its release, the movie was reviewed unfavorably by critics, but over the years has
gained cult status.[69] Less successful films included Isi Ka Naam Zindagi (1992) and Daulat
Ki Jung (1992). In 1993, Khan also appeared in Yash Chopra's Parampara. Despite having
an ensemble cast which also included Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna, Raveena Tandon and Saif
Ali Khan, the film failed to find a wide audience and became a critical and commercial
failure.[70] Khan was also due to appear in Time Machine, a science-fiction film also starring
Rekha, Raveena Tandon, Naseeruddin Shah and Amrish Puri. The movie was directed by
Shekhar Kapur. However, due to financial constraints, the film was shelved and remained
unreleased.[71]

Khan continued to act in just one or two films a year, then an unusual trait for a mainstream
Hindi cinema actor. His only release in 1996 was the Dharmesh Darshan-directed
commercial blockbuster Raja Hindustani, in which he was paired opposite Karisma Kapoor.
The film earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor, after seven previous
nominations, and went on to become the biggest hit of the year, as well as the third-highest
grossing Indian film of the 1990s.[72] It was the biggest hit of his career up until that point.
Adjusted for inflation, Raja Hindustani is the fourth highest-grossing film in India since the
1990s.[73] Khan's career seemed to hit a plateau at this point of time, and most of the films to
follow for the next few years were only partially successful. In 1997, he co-starred alongside
Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Juhi Chawla in Ishq, which performed well at the box office. The
following year, Khan appeared in the moderately successful Ghulam, for which he also did
playback singing.[74]

John Mathew Matthan's Sarfarosh, Khan's first release in 1999, was also moderately
successful, gaining an above average box office verdict.[75] The film and Khan's role in it
were highly appreciated by movie critics, as was his role in Deepa Mehta's Canadian-Indian
art house film Earth (1998).[13] Set during the 1947 partition of India, Earth was
internationally acclaimed,[76] by critics such as Roger Ebert,[77] with Khan's negative portrayal
of Dil Nawaz ("Ice Candy Man") considered his best performance up until then.[13] His first
release for the new millennium, Mela, in which he acted alongside his real-life brother Faisal
Khan, was both a box office and critical bomb.[78]

He produced and starred in Lagaan (2001), which was a major critical and commercial
success,[79] and received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy
Awards. Additionally, the film gathered critical acclaim at several international film festivals,
in addition to winning numerous Indian awards, including a National Film Award. Khan also
won his second Filmare Award for Best Actor.[80]

The success of Lagaan was followed by Dil Chahta Hai later that year, in which Khan co-
starred with Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna, with Preity Zinta playing his love interest. It
also starred Sonali Kulkarni and Dimple Kapadia. The film was written and directed by the
then-debutant Farhan Akhtar. The film won the 2001 Filmare Critics Award for Best Film.[81]
Khan then took a four-year break from Bollywood after divorce from his wife Reena
Dutta.[82][83]

2005–2007: Acting comeback and directorial debut

Khan made a comeback in 2005 with Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey: The Rising playing the
title role of the real-life sepoy and martyr who helped spark the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.[84]

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's award-winning Rang De Basanti was Khan's first release in
2006. His performance was critically acclaimed,[85] earning him a Filmfare Critics Award for
Best Actor and various nominations for Best Actor. The film went on to become one of the
highest-grossing films of the year,[86] and was selected as India's official entry to the Oscars.
Although the film was not shortlisted as a nominee for the Oscar, it received a nomination for
BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language at the BAFTA Awards in
England. In his next movie, Fanaa (2006), Khan co-starred with Kajol.[87] Playing a Kashmiri
insurgent terrorist, his second negative role after Earth, the role offered him creative
possibilities to try something different.[88] Fanaa became one of the highest-grossing Indian
films of 2006.[86]

His 2007 film, Taare Zameen Par, was also produced by him and marked his directorial
debut.[89] The film, which was the second offering from Aamir Khan Productions, starred
Khan in a supporting role as a teacher who befriends and helps a dyslexic child. It opened to
excellent responses from critics and audiences. Khan's performance was well-received,
although he was particularly applauded for his directing.[90] Khan received the Filmfare
Awards for Best Director and Best Film of 2007,[91] as well as the National Film Award for
Best Film on Family Welfare.[92] The film won other awards, including the 2008 Zee Cine
Awards[93] and 4th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards.[94] The film was
initially acclaimed as India's official entry for the 2009 Academy Awards Best Foreign
Film.[95][96][97]

2008–present: Resurgence and global success

In 2008, Khan appeared in the movie Ghajini. The film was a major commercial success[98]
and became the highest-grossing Bollywood movie of that year. For his performance in the
film, Khan received several Best Actor nominations at various award ceremonies as well as
his fifteenth Filmfare Best Actor nomination.[99]

In 2009, Khan appeared in the commercially and critically acclaimed film 3 Idiots as
Ranchodas Chanchad. 3 Idiots became the highest-grossing Bollywood film ever at the
time,[100][101] breaking the previous record set by Ghajini, which also starred Khan.[102] 3
Idiots was one of the few Indian films to become a success in East Asian markets such as
China[103] and Japan,[104] at the time making it the highest-grossing Bollywood film ever in
overseas markets.[105][106] It was expected to be the first Indian film to be officially released
on YouTube, within 12 weeks of releasing in theatres on 25 March 2010, but finally got
officially released on YouTube in May 2012.[107] The film won six Filmfare Awards
(including Best Film and Best Director), ten Star Screen Awards, eight IIFA Awards,[108] and
three National Film Awards.[109] Overseas, it won the Grand Prize at Japan's Videoyasan
Awards,[110][111][112] and was nominated for Best Outstanding Foreign Language Film at the
Japan Academy Awards[113][114] and Best Foreign Film at China's Beijing International Film
Festival.[115]

Khan has been credited with opening up the Chinese markets for Indian films. His father
Tahir Hussain previously had success in China with Caravan (1971),[116][117][118] but Indian
films declined in the country afterwards, before Aamir Khan opened up the Chinese market
for Indian films in the early 21st century.[116][117][119] His Academy Award nominated Lagaan
(2001) became the first Indian film to have a nationwide release there.[120][121] When 3 Idiots
released in China, the country was only the 15th largest film market, partly due to China's
widespread pirate DVD distribution at the time. However, it was the pirate market that
introduced 3 Idiots to most Chinese audiences, becoming a cult hit in the country. It became
China's 12th favourite film of all time, according to ratings on Chinese film review site
Douban, with only one domestic Chinese film (Farewell My Concubine) ranked higher.
Aamir Khan gained a large growing Chinese fanbase as a result.[119] After 3 Idiots went viral,
several of his other films, such as Taare Zameen Par (2007) and Ghajini (2008), also gained
a cult following.[122] By 2013, China grew to become the world's second largest film market
(after the United States), paving the way for Aamir Khan's Chinese box office success, with
Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014) and especially Dangal (2016).[119]

It was reported that Khan had disagreements with director Reema Kagti over the issue of his
2012 film Talaash, causing significant delays in the film's release.[123] However, Khan said
that the claims were baseless.[124] The film was a hit in India and overseas markets.[125]
Khan's next venture was Dhoom 3 with Yash Raj Films. He has considered this to be the
most difficult role of his career.[126][127] The film was released worldwide on 20 December
2013.[128][129] Box Office India declared Dhoom 3 "the biggest hit of 2013" after two days of
release,[130] with the film grossing ₹2 billion (US$29 million) worldwide in three days[131] and
₹4 billion (US$58 million) worldwide in ten days, making it the highest-grossing Bollywood
film of all time.[131][132][133]

In 2014, Khan appeared as the eponymous alien in Rajkumar Hirani's comedy-drama PK. It
also starred Anushka Sharma, Sushant Singh Rajput, Boman Irani and Sanjay Dutt in pivotal
roles.[134][135] The film received critical acclaim and emerged as the highest-grossing
Bollywood film of all time (the fourth time Khan achieved this feat).[136][137][138] Khan's
performance was unanimously praised by critics including Tamil leading actor Vijay was
impressed by Aamir's perfection and dedication and reportedly enjoyed the film with his
family on Christmas Eve.[139] Raja Sen called the film a "triumph" and said: "Aamir Khan is
exceptional in PK, creating an irresistibly goofy character and playing him with absolute
conviction."[140] The film won two Filmfare Awards,[141] and in Japan received a top award at
the 9th Tokyo Newspaper Film Awards event held by Tokyo Shimbun newspaper.[142][143]

Khan produced and starred in Dangal (2016), directed by Nitesh Tiwari, with Khan
portraying wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat.[144] He played him at several different ages, from
20 to 60 years old, gaining 30 kg and weighing 98 kg to play the older Phogat, then losing the
weight to play the younger version.[145][146] The film received positive reviews from critics
and emerged as the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time domestically, surpassing PK,
making it the fifth time Khan had achieved this feat.[147] Dangal also became an overseas
blockbuster success in China, where it was the 16th highest-grossing film of all time,[148] the
8th highest-grossing foreign film,[149] and the highest-grossing non-Hollywood foreign
film.[150] Worldwide, it became the fifth highest-grossing non-English language film of all
time,[151] earning Khan one of the highest salaries for a non-Hollywood actor, at $42
million.[152] Dangal has also been watched over 350 million times on Chinese streaming
platforms.[153][154][155] Dangal won him two more Filmfare Awards (Best Film and his third
Best Actor award)[156]

According to Hong Kong filmmaker Stanley Tong, Khan was initially offered a major role in
the Jackie Chan blockbuster Kung Fu Yoga (2017). However, Khan could not take up the
offer due to scheduling conflicts, as he was busy shooting for Dangal.[157]

In October 2017, Khan starred in a supporting role in his production Secret Superstar, with
his Dangal co-star Zaira Wasim playing the lead role.[158] See Film production and direction
section below for further details on the film

In November 2018, he starred alongside veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan in the action
adventure film Thugs of Hindostan. The film reunited him with Dhoom 3's director Vijay
Krishna Acharya.[159] and also starred Fatima Sana Shaikh[160] and Katrina Kaif.[161] Shaikh
also appeared in Dangal while Kaif appeared alongside Khan in Dhoom 3.

In March 2019, on his 54th birthday, Khan confirmed that he will next be seen in Laal Singh
Chaddha,[162] an adaptation of the 1994 Hollywood classic, Forrest Gump. The film will
feature Khan in the lead and will be directed by Advait Chandan, who previously directed
Khan in Secret Superstar.[163] The film will go on floors in October 2019 and is expected to
release some time in 2020.[164]
Film production and direction
See also: Aamir Khan Productions

Khan at a promotional event for Taare Zameen Par

Khan co-wrote the screenplay and script for the 1993 hit romantic comedy film Hum Hain
Rahi Pyar Ke, where he also starred in the lead role.[165] Khan began working as a producer
after he set up his own production company, Aamir Khan Productions, in 1999. Its first film
was Lagaan, which was released in 2001, starring Khan as the lead actor. The film was
selected as India's official entry to the 74th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language
Film category, for which it became India's third nominee ever; it eventually lost the award to
Bosnian film No Man's Land. Lagaan won numerous awards at several Indian award
functions such as Filmfare and IIFA, and won the National Film Award for Most Popular
Film, an award shared between Khan and the film's director, Ashutosh Gowariker.[166] For
producing the documentary Madness in the Desert on the making of Lagaan, Khan and
director Satyajit Bhatkal were awarded the National Film Award for Best
Exploration/Adventure Film at the 51st National Film Awards ceremony.[167] Khan wrote the
climax of Rang De Basanti (2006), which he starred in.[168]

In 2007, he directed and produced the drama Taare Zameen Par, which marked his
directorial debut. Khan also played a supporting role in the film, sharing the screen with new
child actor Darsheel Safary. The film was conceived of and developed by the husband and
wife team of Amole Gupte and Deepa Bhatia. It is the story of a young child who suffers in
school until a teacher identifies him as dyslexic. The movie was critically acclaimed,[169] as
well as a box office success. Taare Zameen Par won the 2008 Filmfare Best Movie Award as
well as a number of other Filmfare and Star Screen Awards. Khan's work also won him the
Best Director. In 2008, Khan launched his nephew Imran Khan's debut in the film Jaane Tu...
Ya Jaane Na under his production house. The film was a big hit in India, and earned Khan
another nomination for Best Film at Filmfare.[170] He also co-wrote the blockbuster film
Ghajini (2008), which he starred in; Khan made alterations to the original 2005 Tamil film
and rewrote the climax.[171] In 2010, he released his production Peepli Live, which was
selected as India's official entry for the 83rd Academy Awards' Best Foreign Film
category.[172][173]

In 2011, Khan released his home production Dhobi Ghat,[174] an art house film directed by his
wife Kiran Rao. In the same year, Khan co-produced the English language black comedy film
Delhi Belly with UTV Motion Pictures, starring Imran Khan, Kunaal Roy Kapur and Vir
Das.[175] The film opened to critical acclaim and was a commercial success, with a domestic
revenue of over ₹550 million (US$8.0 million).[176] In 2012, Khan starred in Reema Kagti's
neo-noir mystery film Talaash, which was a joint production of Excel Entertainment and
Aamir Khan Productions. The film was declared a semi-hit in India and accumulated a
worldwide gross of ₹1.74 billion (US$25 million).[177]

Khan, who debuted as a child actor in the first masala film, his uncle Nasir Hussain's Yaadon
Ki Baaraat (1973),[178] has been credited with redefining and modernising the masala film
with his own distinct brand of cinema in the early 21st century, earning both commercial
success and critical acclaim.[179] His films blur the distinction between commercial masala
films and realistic parallel cinema, combining the entertainment and production values of the
former with the believable narratives and strong messages of the latter, earning both
commercial success and critical acclaim, in India and overseas.[19]

His most successful production has been Dangal (2016), where he stars in the lead role,
which became the highest-grossing Indian film of all time. See 2008–present: Resurgence
and global success section above for further details on the film.

His next production was Secret Superstar (2017), where he stars in a supporting role, with
Dangal go-star Zaira Wasim in the lead role. It became one of the most profitable films ever,
compared to its limited budget.[180] In China, Secret Superstar broke Dangal's record for the
highest-grossing opening weekend by an Indian film,[16] cementing Aamir Khan's status as a
superstar in China,[181] and as "a king of the Chinese box office".[16][182] Secret Superstar is
the third highest-grossing Indian film of all time,[183][184] and the second highest-grossing
Indian film ever overseas,[185] behind only his own Dangal.[186] With his films giving serious
competition to Hollywood in the Chinese market,[187] the success of films such as Dangal and
Secret Superstar has drove up the buyout prices of Indian film imports for Chinese
distributors.[188] With Secret Superstar, Aamir Khan has become the only Indian actor with
four films in the ₹500 crore club, after Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), and Dangal,[189] as well
as the only Indian actor with three $100 million grossers, after PK and Dangal.[184] Secret
Superstar grossed more than ₹900 crore (US$130 million) worldwide on a budget of ₹15
crore (US$2.2 million), over 6,000% return on investment (ROI).[190] Aamir Khan's earnings
for Secret Superstar from the China box office is estimated to be ₹190 crore
(US$27 million),[191] higher than what any other Indian actor-producer has ever earned from a
film.[192] The film has increased Aamir Khan's China box office total to $346.5 million
(₹2,231 crore).[191]

Television career
Further information: Satyamev Jayate (TV series)

Around August 2011, Khan started talks with Siddhartha Basu's BIG Synergy to host a talk
show similar to The Oprah Winfrey Show.[193]

Khan made his television debut with his talk show, Satyamev Jayate. The show dealt with
social issues. It started airing on 6 May 2012. Aamir was paid Rs. 30 million rupees per
episode to host the Satyamev Jayate, and it made him the highest paid host in Indian
television industry as of June 2012.[194] Aamir, speaking on a radio channel, said that in view
of phenomenal public response, he may come up with a second season of the show.[195] The
show went live simultaneously on StarPlus, Star World and national broadcaster Doordarshan
on the 11 am Sunday slot in eight languages, being the first to do so in India.[196]
Satyamev Jayate opened to positive reviews and feedback from social activists, media
houses, doctors, and film and television personalities. Khan was also praised for his
effort.[197] In her review, Ritu Singh of IBN Live stated: "Aamir Khan deserves an applause
for bringing up such a sensitive issue and presenting it in a hard hitting way. The amount of
research Aamir and his team has put into the show was clearly visible with the facts and
figures presented. Every aspect of the issue was covered with great diligence."[198] Parmita
Uniyal from Hindustan Times praised the content and Khan for "step[ing] in to do what
journalists are supposed to do – make a difference. The show is a classic example of that."[199]
Despite the initial hype and being labelled as the channel's most ambitious project to date, the
initial viewership figures were not very encouraging; the show received an average television
rating of 2.9 (with a reach of 14.4 million, it was watched by only 20% of TV viewers) in the
six metros in its debut episode on 6 May. The rating was far lower than those of most other
celebrity-hosted shows at the time.[200][201]

Ratings for the show eventually picked up, and it became very successful. The first season of
Satyamev Jayate garnered over a billion digital impressions from 165 countries.[202] The
second season of Satyamev Jayate drew an audience of 600 million viewers in India.[203] The
issues discussed on the show garnered national attention, with several being discussed in
parliament and influencing politicians and lawmakers to take action. After the first episode,
for example, Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, urged public representatives and non-
governmental organisations to take actions to stop the illegal practice of female foeticide.[204]
Khan met Gehlot over the issue, and Gehlot accepted the request to set up fast track court to
deal the case of the sting operation featured on the show.[205][206] Following the second
episode, the helpline for children received an increased number of calls from across the
country, reporting child abuse.[207] The legislation to protect children below 18 years from
sexual abuse became a reality with the Lok Sabha passing the bill.[208] After exposing medical
malpractice in another episode, Aamir Khan became the first non-MP to be invited to the
Indian parliament, where he and his creative team presented research on the subject and
discussed core issues related to the medical fraternity.[209][210]

Khan has made a number of appearances on other TV shows. In October 2013, Khan
appeared as a guest celebrity contestant in the show Kaun Banega Crorepati for the
promotion of his film Dhoom 3.[211][212] In early 2016, following the intolerance controversy,
he made an appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, where he clarified his remarks and views.[213] In
2017, he was the subject of an episode of the Al Jazeera documentary series Witness entitled
"The Snake Charmer", focusing on his work on Satyamev Jayate as well as Dangal.[214]

Brand endorsements
Aamir has also done many brand endorsements like Titan watches, Snapdeal, Coca-Cola,
Tata Sky, Samsung, Godrej, etc. He is currently endorsing Vivo. Aamir is said to be one of
the costliest when it comes to brand endorsements, but companies agree to his demand
because of his huge fan following.

In the media
Khan at Satyamev Jayate press conference

In a 2009 interview, Khan stated that he tends to take an independent approach to the world
of filmmaking, noting that he does not "do different things; I try to do it in a different
manner. I think every person should follow his/her dream and try and make it possible to
create an ability to achieve it backed by its practicality." He has also indicated that he is more
interested in the process of filmmaking than in the end result: "For me, the process is more
important, more joyful. I would like to have my entire concentration on the process right
from the first step."

Khan has a reputation for avoiding award ceremonies and not accepting any popular Indian
film awards. Though nominated many times, Khan has not attended any Indian film award
ceremonies and has stated that "Indian film awards lack credibility".[215] When asked about
the selection procedure and authenticity of popular Indian film awards, Aamir Khan said,
"Fact is that I have no objections to film awards. I just feel that if I don't value a particular
film award, then I won't attend it either. Apart from the National Film Awards, I don't see any
other award ceremony that I should give value to. My personal experience about these award
ceremonies is that I don't trust them. I have no faith in them so I would prefer to stay
away."[216][217][218]

In 2007, Khan was invited to have a wax imitation of himself put on display at Madame
Tussauds in London.[219] Khan declined, saying, "It's not important to me ... people will see
my films if they want to. Also, I cannot deal with so many things, I have bandwidth only for
that much."[220] Khan also endorsed brands including Coca-Cola,[221] Godrej,[222] Titan
Watches,[223] Tata Sky,[224] Toyota Innova,[225] Samsung,[226] Monaco Biscuits[227] and
Snapdeal.[228]

In April 2013, he was among Time magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People in the
World.[229][230] Khan was featured on the cover of Time magazine Asia edition in the
September 2012 issue with title "Khan's Quest" – "He is breaking the Bollywood mold by
tackling India's social evils. Can an actor change a nation?"[231] In addition to being highly
popular in India, he is also highly popular overseas, particularly in China,[232][233] the second
largest movie market.[234] He is the most followed Indian national on Chinese social media
site Sina Weibo, above Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.[235] Khan is also popular in
Turkey,[236] Hong Kong,[237] and Singapore,[238] among many other countries.

In February 2015, Khan stated his views at a popular online comedy group All India Bakchod
for its celebrity Roast episode. He said, "I completely believe in freedom of speech, no issues.
But we have to understand that we all have a certain responsibility. When I heard what was
being described to me I felt it was a violent event." He further said violence is not just
physical but it has verbal aspects to it. Calling the roast a shameless act, Khan did not spare
even his friends from the film industry Karan, Ranveer and Arjun.[239]

In Indian media, he is often referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" for his passionate dedication to
his work.[240][241] In Chinese media, he is often referred to as a "national treasure of India" or
"conscience of India", due to much of his work tackling various social issues that are
pervasive in Indian society, some of which are also relevant to Chinese society, in a way that
domestic Chinese films often don't. His work is highly regarded in China, with films such as
Taare Zameen Par (2007), 3 Idiots (2009) and Dangal (2016) as well as his television show
Satyamev Jayate (2012–2014) being some of the highest-rated productions on popular
Chinese site Douban.[242][243] In China, Khan is known for being associated with quality
cinema and committed to social causes,[244] and is often seen as an activist-actor.[245] In the
past, Chinese media used to refer to him as "India's Andy Lau" (referencing similarities to the
famous Hong Kong film star), but as Khan gained more familiarity with mainstream Chinese
audiences, younger fans have often referred to him by the moniker "Uncle Aamir",[246] or
"Mishu"[245] or "Mi Shu" in Chinese, meaning "Uncle Mi", an affectionate translation of
Aamir.[247] He has become a household name in China,[248] where he is currently the most
famous Indian.[249] His book I'll Do it My Way commonly found in bookstores across China,
while Chinese retailers sell merchandise ranging from "Uncle Aamir" smartphone cases to
Dhoom 3 style black hats.[181] His effect in China has drawn comparisons with previous
Indian cultural icons in the country, including the Buddha, Bengali writer Rabindranath
Tagore, and actors Raj Kapoor and Nargis.[250]

Humanitarian, social and political causes

Khan with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2009

In April 2006, Khan participated in the demonstrations put up by the Narmada Bachao
Andolan committee with their leader Medha Patkar after the Gujarat government's decision to
raise the height of the Narmada dam. He quoted to support adivasis (tribes), who might be
displaced from their homes.[251] Later he faced protests and a partial ban on his film Fanaa,
but the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, supported him by saying, "Everyone has
the freedom of expression. If someone says something on a particular subject, that doesn't
mean you should start protesting."[252] Aamir also lent his support to the Janlokpal Bill
Movement led by Anna Hazare in August 2011.[253]
He has been supporting common causes; when asked about views on the entertainment tax in
the 2012 budget, Khan said, "I don't want any reduction in that, all I expect is focus on
education and nutrition."[254] He quit the GOI's copyrights panels in February 2010 after
facing sharp differences with other members.[255] During the promotion of 3 Idiots, he
journeyed to diverse parts of India, mostly to small towns, noting that "film makers from
Mumbai don't understand small-town India."[256] This experience of reaching out to "regional
India" was extended in his debut TV show, Satyamev Jayate. On 16 July 2012, Khan met the
prime minister and the minister for social justice and empowerment and discussed the plight
of manual scavengers and sought eradication of manual scavenging in the country.[257]

On 30 November 2011, Khan was appointed national brand ambassador of UNICEF to

promote child nutrition.[258] He is part of the government-organised IEC campaign to raise
awareness about malnutrition.[259] He is also known for supporting causes such as feminism[6]
and improved education in India, which are themes in several of his films.[260] His crossover
success in China has been described as a form of Indian soft power,[192][249][261] helping to
improve China–India relations, despite political tensions between the two nations (such as
Doklam and the Maldives), with Khan stating he wants to help "improve India-China
ties".[181][192][247][250] Due to Aamir Khan being a household name in China, he is being
considered as India's brand ambassador to China by the Indian commerce ministry, which
may contribute to reducing the trade deficit with China.[262]

In 2016, Aamir khan came up with Maharashtra government to make Maharashtra drought
free in next five years. He has been doing shramdaan from last 3 years. He even asks people
to come join him in this cause and become a jalmitra by doing shramdaan. While explaining
to journalists, Aamir said, "the reason why popular TV show Satyamev Jayate did not go on
air was not because of Court's verdict, but because all the producers, directors and talents
working on this show were busy in this water project. For us, the water conservation project
in the State is the most important initiative. Khan is a co-founder of Paani Foundation with
his wife Kiran Rao. It's a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which is active in the
area of drought prevention and watershed management in the state of Maharashtra, India.[263]

Political controversies

Gujarat controversy (2006)

In 2006, Aamir Khan lent his support to the Narmada Bachao Andolan movement, led by
activist Medha Patkar, in their actions against raising the height of Sardar Sarovar Dam.[264]
While promoting his film Fanaa in Gujarat, he made some comments regarding the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's handling of the Narmada Dam and
the necessity to rehabilitate the displaced villagers.[265][266] These comments were met with
outrage from the BJP, with the government of Gujarat demanding an apology from Khan. He
refused to apologise, saying "I am saying exactly what the Supreme Court has said. I only
asked for rehabilitation of poor farmers. I never spoke against the construction of the dam. I
will not apologise for my comments on the issue."[267] An unofficial ban of Fanaa was put in
place for the entire state of Gujarat. Protests occurred against the film and Khan which
included the burning of posters of the star in effigy. As a result, several multiplex owners
stated that they could not provide security to customers. Thus, all theatre owners in Gujarat
refused to screen the film.[268]

Intolerance controversy (2015–2016)

"I think in the last maybe six to eight months, there is a growing sense of despondency. When
I chat with Kiran at home, she says, 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and
big statement for Kiran to make. She fears for her child. She fears what the atmosphere
around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day."

— Khan on his wife Kiran Rao's views.[269][270]

In November 2015, Khan expressed the feelings that he and his wife Kiran Rao had about
rising intolerance in India at an event in New Delhi hosted by The Indian Express
newspaper.[271] This was in response to recent political events in India, including violent
attacks against Muslims and intellectuals, along with the absence of swift or strong
condemnation from the country's ruling BJP Modi government.[272] Khan remarked that his
wife Kiran, fearing for her family, suggested to "move out of India", to his surprise.[273]
Khan's remark about intolerance in India and his wife suggesting to "move out of India"
sparked political controversy, referred to as the "intolerance row" in the Indian media,[274] and
started a debate on social media.[273] Khan faced intense backlash for his comments, with
certain sections of society branding him "anti-national",[275] while others voiced their
agreement about his concerns[273] and applauded him.[276]

Much of the backlash against Khan, an Indian Muslim with a Hindu wife, came from Hindu
nationalist groups.[272][277] The far-right political party Shiv Sena sharply criticised Khan's
statement, labelling it "the language of treachery".[278] Ruling political party Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) remarked the incident a "Moral Offence".[279][280] In the wake of the controversy,
burning of posters took place in Ludhiana by the Sena party.[281] Punjab's Shiv Sena chief
Rajeev Tandon also made a violent threat, offering a ₹1 lakh (US$1,400) reward to anyone
who slaps Aamir Khan.[282][283] As a result, the Khan family was given additional police
protection.[284] Khan responded to the backlash and threats by stating, "it saddens me to say
you are only proving my point".[285]

In response to the backlash, Khan received support from a number of celebrities and public
figures,[286] including Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi,[272][287] as well as
Hrithik Roshan,[288] Shah Rukh Khan,[289] Mamata Banerjee,[290] Rajkumar Hirani,[291] Kabir
Khan,[292] Farah Khan,[293] A. R. Rahman[294] and Priyanka Chopra.[295] Several, on the other
hand, criticised Khan's remark about intolerance, including Shatrughan Sinha,[296] Anupam
Kher,[297] Raveena Tandon[294] and Vivek Oberoi.[298]

Aamir Khan later stated that he was not leaving the country.[285][299][300] A lawsuit was filed
against Khan and Rao at Jaunpur in ACJM II court.[301] Khan was dropped as brand
ambassador of the government's official Incredible India tourism campaign.[272] A company
that Khan was endorsing, Snapdeal, faced backlash from Khan's critics for being associated
with him, before the company distanced themselves from his comments.[276]

Khan later clarified his comments in January 2016, saying that he never said India was
intolerant or that he thought about leaving the country, saying he was "born in India and will
die in India." He said that his comments were taken out of context and the media was
responsible for it to some extent.[302][303] Despite this, he continued to face backlash later in
the year, with calls for protests and boycotts against his film Dangal. In October 2016, the
Vishva Hindu Parishad called for protests against the film.[304] Following its release in
December 2016, #BoycottDangal was trending on Twitter,[305][306] and BJP general secretary
Kailash Vijayvargiya called for protests against the film.[307] Despite calls to boycott the film,
Dangal surprisingly turned out to be a massive hit,[308] grossing more than ₹500 crore
(US$72 million) in India.[309]

Personal life
Khan with his wife Kiran Rao at an event in 2012

Khan married Reena Dutta, who had a small part in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, on 18 April
1986. They have two children, a son named Junaid and a daughter, Ira. Reena was involved
briefly in Khan's career when she worked as a producer for Lagaan. In December 2002, Khan
filed for divorce. Reena took custody of both children.[310]

On 28 December 2005, Khan married Kiran Rao, who had been an assistant director to
Ashutosh Gowariker during the filming of Lagaan.[311] On 5 December 2011, Khan and his
wife announced the birth of their son, Azad Rao Khan,[312] through a surrogate mother.[313][314]
In 2007, Khan lost a custody battle for his younger brother Faisal to their father, Tahir
Hussain.[315] His father died on 2 February 2010.[316]

A practising Muslim, Khan along with his mother Zeenat, performed Hajj, an annual Islamic
pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims, in 2013.[20]
His wife Kiran Rao is a Hindu. In March 2015, Khan stated that he has quit non-vegetarian
food and has adopted a vegan lifestyle after being inspired by his wife.[317][318][319]

Prior to pursuing a full-time acting career, Khan was an avid tennis player. He played
professionally in state level championships in the 1980s, becoming a state level tennis
champion, prior to entering a full-time acting career.[34][35] In 2014, Aamir Khan participated
in an exhibition match for the International Premier Tennis League, playing doubles with
grand slam winners Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, as well as Sania Mirza.[320] During
his visit to China in January 2018, he participated in a competitive ping pong (table tennis)
match with former Olympic champion Liu Guoliang.[321][322]

Aamir Khan considers Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar as his inspiration. "Dr. Babasaheb
Ambedkar was fearless. He propagated love and humanity. He loved people and gave them a
thought of humanity. Babasaheb never gave up he was fearless. So today I have had
difficulties, problems or situation is bad I remember Babasaheb. That's why I get inspiration
from him. That's why Babasaheb is my role model" said Aamir Khan.[323][324][325][326]

Khan's children have also ventured into the entertainment industry. In September 2019, his
daughter Ira announced on social media that she would be directing a theatrical production,
her first, a version of Euripides' Medea.[327] Veteran actress Sarika, ex-wife of Kamal Haasan,
and her daughter Akshara Haasan produced the play,[328] and Khan's sister Farhat Dutta had
painted a poster for its promotion.