Amazing Aamir

It’s rare to meet an actor with the versatility, talent and downright charm that simply sweeps you off your feet

BY PREETI JABBAL

He has made a success of etching indelible and distinct characters through his choice of scripts and superlative performances. He is up there in the top echelons of contemporary Indian cinema. He continues to be a remarkable certainty in an otherwise uncertain and unpredictable Indian film industry. No longer enmeshed in the ‘oh-so-cute-lover-boy’ image, he has a fan following bordering on adulation. If we can capsule his career in a sentence, he has put Indian cinema on the international landscape. He is also called ‘Mr. Perfection’ for his attention to detail. Aamir Khan is in the city prior to the screening of his new release Peepli Live, as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival. The actor talks to Indian Link about the movie, his charismatic career and future plans.

What was the creative process of inspiration, implementation and fruition that went into the making of Peepli Live? Has it met with your expectations?

Anusha Rizvi, who has also been a journalist, read the script of this movie to me. It was humorous, thought provoking, touching – it had everything that is required to engage an audience. I liked it, but Anusha was a newcomer and this was her first script. So I asked Anusha to execute five shots which she did, and I was amazed at her talent. We auditioned hundreds of people for roles before selecting our final cast. The filming of Peepli Live was a great experience. It was received very well at its first screening at the Sundance Festival. I am hoping it will be liked by everyone.

You have the knack of creating something new or off-beat that works; it could be a comment, hairstyle, production or movie. So what makes you decide that a script will work?

“I myself am the audience when I come across a script that moves, touches and excites me, and it’s only then that I work with it”

I don’t have any preconceived ideas when I read a script. I feel that my core responsibility as an entertainer is to give people a good time. I look at that responsibility very seriously when I choose a script. It is impossible for me to guess exactly what an audience would want, so I don’t do that. I myself am the audience when I come across a script that moves, touches and excites me, and it’s only then that I work with it. After that I hope people will like it too.

In your blog you have expressed pre-release nervousness about this movie, even asking non resident Indians to promote it. Is your target the overseas market?

No, our target and primary market is Indians, whether they live in India or overseas. Peepli Live is a film that offers a great window into life in rural India. The issues that the film raises are common issues, and hence it will resonate with everyone globally. Countries where rural life and farms are affected by drought or global recession will relate to the story. In that sense, it has the potential to reach out to everyone around the world.

In your opinion do Indian movies deserve a global market?

There is a lot of talent in the Indian film industry and a lot of potential to entertain a wider audience. However all along we have had such a large and healthy audience of traditional Indian film lovers that we have not had our movie-making process. A lot more time and effort and even money should be spent in developing scripts. This is one of the things that I would like to see change in Indian films. media hypes up everything?

You have knocked back film awards and even Madame Tussaud’s, so how about Hollywood?

I don’t mind working in a Hollywood/international project and I have been offered many roles, but I haven’t yet come across anything that excites me yet.

Tell us about your philanthropic work, the charities you support and how you give back to the community. There are several public service issues with which I am involved. I have made two films on education. I support Teach For India, a campaign that invites 100 children who have completed higher education to invest 2 years of their time in teaching in municipal school. This gives an opportunity for youngsters to give back to society. I also support Prevention of Suicide and Right to Information. I also feel that anything I want to contribute to society is right there in my films.

I don’t think there is any country in the world that is free of violence and a certain amount of racism. India is no exception. I felt that it was unfortunate that these incidents should occur, and I spoke my mind. Each one of us should speak about issues that concern us.

You shot Dil Chahta Hai in Sydney before the media kerfuffle over attacks on Indians in Australia. Would you shoot here again? It depends on the film. If there is a script that requires us to shoot in Australia, I will.

What’s next on the cards?

After the release of Peepli Live I will be releasing Dhobhi Ghat which is written and directed by my wife Kiran. I have also acted in it. That should be released sometime in January-February 2011. I am also currently working on Delhi Belly with Imran Khan as one of the leads, along with a bunch of new actors. Frankly, I have been so busy with Peepli that I haven’t looked at anything else. Hopefully once this is released, I will look at new scripts and see what excites me.