'Cried every evening': Aamir recalls struggle after back-to-back flops
What's the story
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan recently opened up about a challenging phase in his career. Despite his successful debut with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT), he faced a series of box-office failures, leading to him being labeled a "one-film wonder." Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2025, Khan revealed he was overwhelmed by the pressure and disappointment during this time.
Career choices
Khan's early career decisions and realizations
Khan, who made his acting debut in 1973 as a child artist, shot to fame with QSQT in 1988. However, this success led him to make what he later called the "biggest mistake" of his life: signing multiple films without much thought. He said, "I was getting a lot of offers, and I had signed over nine films... Then I realized...I've never worked like that."
Director's role
'The director is the captain of the ship'
Khan also learned an important lesson about the role of directors in filmmaking. He said, "The director is the captain of the ship." He added, "When I read a script, I imagine it being shot in Kashmir. The director imagines Khandala." "Unless the script, director, and producer are ticked off," he said, "I won't be able to do a film."
Emotional struggle
Khan's emotional turmoil and career decisions
Khan admitted to feeling crushed by the failure of his films. "I felt sunk. My career is going down the drain. I used to come home and cry in evening." It was during this difficult time that he got an offer from filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. However, despite knowing it would give him "stability," he turned it down because he didn't like the script.
Career impact
'That 1 decision gave me the strength...'
Khan said no to Bhatt's film, a decision he called "the hardest of his life." He added, "That one decision, at a time when everything was going wrong, gave me the strength to take all the tough decisions in my career ahead." This choice eventually led him to do films like Lagaan and Taare Zameen Par.