'I broke all rules': Aamir reflects on stardom, unconventional films
What's the story
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan recently expressed his surprise at his own stardom. Speaking at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), he said, "I broke all the rules, and I made everything impractical." "I don't know how I became a star. By all logic, I should not have been a star," he added.
Film selection
Khan's unconventional film choices and their impact
Khan, who has been in the industry for over three decades, admitted that he often chose films without any guarantee of their success. He cited examples like Sarfarosh, Lagaan, Ghajini, Taare Zameen Par, and his recent release Sitaare Zameen Par as instances of his unconventional choices. "In fact, almost every film I used to pick...I used to be like 'I don't know whether this is going to work.'"
Film strategy
Khan's approach to film selection and audience expectations
Khan also spoke about how he has never tried to second-guess what audiences want. He said, "They are like, 'What is it that I should make today?' The obvious answer is what people are watching and what are the films running nowadays in the market." "So, you try and make that genre. If it's action, you make action. If it's comedy, you try and pick up a comedy film."
Social themes
Khan's perspective on social themes in films
Despite his films often addressing social issues, Khan clarified that he doesn't actively seek out social causes. He said, "I am not an activist and nor am I someone who is interested in actively taking up issues. That's not me." "What is me is storytelling, what is me is films. That's my world." He emphasized that his primary responsibility as an actor is to entertain audiences through engaging storytelling.
Recent release
Khan's recent film and its unexpected success
Khan's last film, Sitaare Zameen Par, was a surprise hit at the box office. The film, which released in theaters in June and later on YouTube under a pay-per-view model, earned over ₹250 crore. The actor plays Gulshan, an assistant coach who is forced to coach a team of specially-abled basketball players after being fired from his job.