In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aamir Khan, one of Bollywood’s most renowned actors, considered stepping away from the industry that made him a household name across India and the world. Locked down in 2020 and in a deeply introspective state, Khan began to reevaluate his life. “I’d spent all my adult life in this magical world of cinema. And I was so lost in stories and characters and that whole journey that I realized I had not been there for my family,” Khan shared in an interview with CNN during a visit to London.
For Khan, the realization came as a turning point. “It was a major moment for me,” he explained. “My three kids, two of them already adults, and I pretty much missed their childhoods. All of that really made me feel horrible about myself and how I’d conducted my life.” Reflecting on his tendencies toward extremes, Khan added, “I’m quite an extreme person, so I was like, ‘OK, I’m done with films now.’”
At the time, Khan was still working on a film that had been halted by the pandemic, but he decided not to share his plans with anyone except his family. When asked whether his decision to leave the film industry was truly a retirement if kept secret, Khan firmly stated, “I did.” He even spent time accompanying his daughter to work, as she runs a nonprofit organization focused on mental health. “Really, I was having a great time,” Khan said, referring to his period away from the industry.
However, it wasn’t long before his children had a heart-to-heart with him. “We can’t spend 24 hours a day with you, you need to get a life of your own,” Khan recalled them saying. This subtle nudge helped Khan eventually return to Bollywood, though his absence from the public eye meant that most of the world remained unaware of his hiatus.
Now, Aamir Khan is back, but with a new set of priorities. He is currently busy promoting his film “Lost Ladies” (“Laapataa Ladies”), a project he produced. Directed by Kiran Rao, his ex-wife, the film tells the story of two brides who, due to a mix-up, end up with the wrong grooms after their weddings. This light satire, available on Netflix, is India’s official submission for both the Academy Awards and the BAFTAs.
In the film, Nitanshi Goel and Pratibha Ranta play the two brides, Phool and Jaya. The story explores the struggles of women, touching upon themes of gender roles, patriarchy, and the lack of freedoms faced by women in various parts of the world. “The film organically spoke to so many issues that girls go through thanks to deeply entrenched patriarchy and gender roles and the lack of freedoms that women experience in so many parts of the world,” director Kiran Rao said.
Khan, who brought the script to Rao, was adamant about infusing humor into the film. “Humor is one thing that both of us really wanted to bring into the film. It really softens you, and (for) people who otherwise may not be of your point of view, it makes it easier for them to get it,” Khan explained. This use of humor to communicate deeper social messages is something Khan often returns to, particularly when discussing the power of cinema to influence hearts and minds.
Khan and Rao have a long history together. They met on the set of the Oscar-nominated film “Lagaan” (2001) and were married for 15 years before divorcing in 2021. Despite their separation, they remain on good terms and continue to collaborate professionally. Rao expressed the mutual respect they share, stating, “I think it starts with the fact that we both really enjoy each other’s minds.”
The film has earned significant attention, particularly as it enters the race for international awards, including the Oscars. Khan, known for steering clear of awards season in India, is lending his support to the film’s campaign, noting that the Oscars offer a unique opportunity. “It really opens up many windows for your film … I think as creative people, we really want more and more people to experience what we’ve done,” he remarked.
The competition for the Best International Feature Film is fierce, with another Indian film, Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix-winning “All We Imagine as Light,” also vying for recognition. The controversy surrounding the Film Federation of India’s decision to submit “Lost Ladies” instead of Kapadia’s film has stirred up debate, particularly due to remarks made by the jury head about the latter’s film feeling more “European” than Indian. Despite the debate, Rao remains positive about the space for multiple voices in Indian cinema. “It’s a really interesting and exciting moment in Indian cinema when we see two women (making) films that speak about women’s journeys and struggles,” Rao said. “In fact, both films actually address sisterhood and solidarity among women — and I think that really deserves celebration.”
Khan has also shared that he plans to focus more on producing in the next decade, particularly as a platform for emerging talent. Despite his success and decades-long career, Khan remains humble about his stardom, saying, “We can’t place our finger on it. Why do people love me and Salman (Khan) and Shah Rukh (Khan)? Why not someone else? What’s is that we have? I have no idea.”
The trio of Khan, Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan has been synonymous with Bollywood success for over 30 years. Recently, Aamir Khan suggested that the three Khans should collaborate on a film together before retiring. “Last year we were sitting together and I said, ‘Listen, before we all retire, we have to do one film together otherwise audiences will be really upset with us,’” Khan shared. He added, “All three of us are looking forward to that. All three of us have the responsibility of looking out for this one script that all of us can star in. I’m hoping it happens sometime soon.”
Khan has faced setbacks in his career, notably with his 2022 film “Laal Singh Chaddha,” which underperformed at the box office. Reflecting on his early career, Khan recalled, “After my 1988 breakthrough ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak,’ I had a string of flops. I was being called a one film wonder — and rightly so, I was doing awful work.” However, Khan learned valuable lessons from those failures, recognizing that the success of a film is often determined by the director’s vision. He added, “I realized the hard way that filmmaking is one person’s vision, and that one person is the director.”
Khan also emphasized that his primary concern is the success of the film, not personal accolades. “I don’t want to be in a film that’s not appreciated … Also, I don’t like people praising me more than the film. When I’m in a film and someone says, ‘Oh, you were fantastic,’ and he doesn’t talk about the film, I’m like, ‘So the film didn’t work for him.’ For me, the film is most important. I come in much later.”
As a leading figure in Bollywood, Khan has often used his platform to advocate for social causes, but he has learned to be cautious with his words. “It’s a tough one,” he admitted. “I’ve been learning that sometimes you need to speak, and sometimes you don’t.” He further explained his preference for communicating through films, stating, “Experience has taught me that it’s much better to communicate through a film.”
Khan, a Muslim in a predominantly Hindu industry, has been a champion for religious pluralism. Reflecting on his role in “Sarfarosh” (1999), Khan said, “It is still very relevant. I thought ‘Sarfarosh’ was a really lovely script, and I think it was saying such important things — and saying it with so much love and sincerity that it really connected across the board in India.”
Ultimately, Khan believes that the responsibility of creative people extends beyond mere entertainment. “You can also provoke (an audience). You can make them think. You can shed light on certain things,” he said. “It’s the creative people in society — the poets, the writers, the performing artists, dancers, painters — who really build the social fabric of any society.”
With “Lost Ladies” now competing on the global stage, Khan is focused on his journey, which has come full circle. “It’s been an interesting journey these last three years, where I’ve come full circle. But now I’m in a much happier space — and I’m glad I didn’t quit,” he concluded.
