Bollywood superstar on why he secretly quit films

 

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Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is known for some of India's most popular films, including Lagaan and 3 Idiots, and can barely walk down the street without getting mobbed by fans.

What's less well known is that he secretly quit films during the Covid pandemic in order to spend more time with his loved ones.

"I told my family I'm done with acting and films," he tells BBC News.

"I [didn't] want to produce or direct or act. I just wanted to be with the family."

You'd imagine a major star like Khan deciding to quit the industry would have sent shockwaves through India, a nation that is fully obsessed with films.

But, he explains, his decision went unnoticed at the time because so few movies were being made due to the pandemic.

"No-one knew about it," he says.

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Aamir Khan is one of Bollywood's most famous actors

Fans can breathe a sigh of relief, though.

Khan didn't quit for long. And now he's back and is promoting Laapataa Ladies - or Lost Ladies - a film he's produced. It is India's official pick for the Oscars in the best international feature film category.

Khan says it was his children who convinced him to go back to work.

"They were like, 'But we can't spend 24 hours with you. So get real and get a life.' So they gently nudged me back into the films," he says.

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At 59, Khan has worked as an actor, director and producer for three decades.

He's known as one of the three "Khans of Bollywood" - the others being fellow megastars Shah Rukh and Salman.

Known for tackling social issues, Aamir's films are widely acclaimed as well as breaking box office records.

He is also no stranger to the Oscars. Lagaan, a film about cricket set in the 19th Century during the British Empire, was nominated for best foreign language film in 2002.

Khan is now trying to make history with Laapataa Ladies. If it succeeds, it would be the first Indian film to win the coveted international prize. He will find out whether it has made the shortlist on Tuesday.

Khan said he's "not quite sure how seriously" to take awards. "Cinema is so subjective," he says.

But he admits a win would mean a lot to India.

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Aamir Khan Productions

The film Lagaan, starring Aamir Khan, was a massive hit

"I think Indians are so film crazy and we've been dying to win the Academy Award for an Indian film, which hasn't happened till now. So the country will go ballistic. They'll just go mad if we win," he says.

"So just for the people of our country and for our country, I would be really happy if we win the award."

Set in rural India, Laapataa Ladies tells the story of a young man bringing the wrong bride home. Meanwhile, his wife ends up lost, having to fend for herself.

It's a satire looking at the treatment of women, including touching on the sensitive topic of domestic violence.

Khan describes the plot as "a bit Shakespearean", with its focus on humour and mistaken identities.

But, he adds, it's saying "a lot of important things about women's issues, their independence, their right to decide for themselves what they want to do".

It was these issues that drew him to the film in the first place, he explains.

"Every now and then you get an opportunity as a creative person to actually also sensitise people about certain issues that we face in society," he says.

"Women all over the world have been subjected to a lot of challenges in their lives. Women have a raw deal in life. So I felt that here is a story which really brings that out well in such a nice way, which is why I wanted to produce it."

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Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan have continued to work together after their divorce

Khan was also "very keen" that his ex-wife, Kiran Rao, should direct the film.

The pair, who married in 2005, announced their separation in 2021. But they have remained close, both professionally and personally.

"I think the reason I chose Kiran was because I knew that she would be very honest with it and that's what I wanted," he says.

"We get along really well. We really love each other, we respect each other.

"Our relationship may have changed slightly – but that doesn't mean what we feel for each other has gone down or something."

That's not to say it's all been plain sailing, however.

Khan admits there were arguments on set.

"We can't make a film without an argument. So we argue every point and we have strong opinions," he says.

"But our sensibilities are very similar. We are not talking about fundamental things. We are just trying to sometimes convince the other person a better way of conveying something."