Introduction

Aamir Khan is among Bollywood’s leading producers, directors, screenwriters, playback singers, television personality and actors. Known to be a perfectionist, three of his movies like Ghajini, 3 Idiots and Dhoom 3 have records for being the highest grossing Bollywood films of all time. His 2013 Dhoom 3 film made $ 66 million in ten days worldwide, making it one of the highest grossing Bollywood films of all time.

Early Life

Aamir Khan’s father Tahir Hussain was a film producer, while his late paternal uncle was producer Nasir Hussain. Initially, Aamir studied in JB Petit School for primary education before shifting to St Anne’s High School in Bandra. Later, he finished his ninth and tenth grades at the Bombay Scottish School Mahim and twelfth grade at Narsee Monjee College. As his father’s films failed to make much profit, he often faced problems over non-payment of fees at school. His first appearance in films came as a child actor at the age of eight, when he appeared in a popular song for Nashir Hussain in the movie Yaadon Ki Baarat in 1973. The next year, Aamir appeared in the film Madhosi. By the time he appeared in the art film called Holi in 1984, which starred Naseeruddin Shah, Aamir was a state tennis champion of Maharashtra. At the age of 21, Aamir eloped with and married Reena (who also appeared in the song Papa Kehte Hain).

Entry to Bollywood

Although his parents didn’t want him to enter films and wanted him to do steady job of a doctor or engineer instead, Aamir went to work as Assistant Director with Nasir Hussain for two Hindi films Manzil Manzil (1984) and Zabardast (1985). Soon, Nasir Hussain and his son Mansoor signed Aamir up for Mansoor’s directorial debut film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988 along with Juhi Chawla. The movie was a huge commercial success and turned Aamir into a star as he also won the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award. The film attained cult status and Bollywood Hungama dubbed it a path breaking, trendsetting film.

In the 1990’s his films like Awwal Number, Tum Mere Ho and Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin failed to do well. The turning point came with the movie Dil, wherein he starred opposite Madhuri Dixit. The film was a big hit and saw Aamir firmly entrenched with a star status in Bollywood. The movie was the highest grosser of the year.

Soon, he had another box office hit in the romantic comedy Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), wherein he starred opposite Pooja Bhatt. He acted in several other hit films like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke in 1993 (for which he wrote the screenplay) and Rangeela in 1995. In 1994, he costarred opposite Salman Khan in the movie Andaz Apna Apna, which also gained cult status later.

The year 1996 saw him release the blockbuster Raja Hindustani in which he starred with Karisma Kapoor, and won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award. The film was also the third highest grosser in the 1990’s. In 1997, he starred with Kajol, Ajay Devgn and Juhi Chawla in Ishq, which went on to be a box office success. In the next year, he did playback singing for the moderately successful film Ghulam, which had his memorable song Aati Kya Khandala. Next came his movie Sarfarosh in 1999, which performed above average. His other movies in between like Earth and Mela (wherein he acted alongside his brother Faisal Khan) failed to do well.

Directorial Debut

The year 2001, saw Aamir’s fame rise to new high with the critically acclaimed and directorial debut film, Laagan. The film received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards and won critical acclaim at several International Film Festivals. Aamir won his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor, along with The National Film Awards for this movie.

He followed up the success of Laagan with Dil Chahta Hai wherein he starred with the likes of Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna and Preity Zinta, which performed moderately well, especially in the urban areas.

After this, Aamir took a four-year break to sort out personal problems and came back in 2005 with Mangal Pandey: The Rising. In 2006, Aamir won Filmfare Critics Award for his performance in the movie Rang De Basanti, which was the highest grosser of the year and was selected as the Indian entry for the Oscars. It did not get selected for the Oscar, however, it went on to be nominated for the Best Foreign Film at the BAFTA Award. In the same year, his film Fanaa (2006) also became the highest grosser of that year.

In 2007, Aamir made his directorial debut with the film Taare Zameen Par, which was hailed by audiences and critics alike and he received a lot of applause for his directorial skills. The following year, his film Ghajini became the highest grosser and he received several nominations for Best Actor. He broke the record set by Ghajini with his film 3 Idiots in India, which also brought in $25 million overseas, making it the highest grossing Bollywood film of all time in overseas markets.

Next up, Aamir participated in the show Satyamev Jayate (2012), which discussed social issues like dowry, female foeticide, and child sexual abuse for which he won a lot of praise. In the same year, he produced the movie Talaash, which became a hit film. Aamir’s next venture was Dhoom 3 in 2013, which broke all box office records, grossing $ 33 million worldwide in three days of its release and $ 66 million in ten days worldwide. This made it the highest grossing Bollywood film of all time(till 2013).

His upcoming film PK, set for release in December 2014 has already created a lot of controversy with the film poster featuring Aamir Khan nude and covering his private parts with a transistor. The poster has been criticized for promoting obscenity. A Public Interest Litigation was also filed seeking a ban on the film but the Supreme Court has dismissed the plea.

Awards

National Film Awards

• Special Jury Award / Special Mention Actor for Raakh and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1989)

• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for Lagaan (shared with Ashutosh Gowarikar) (2001)

• Best Exploration/Adventure Film (To include sports) for Madness in the Desert (shared with Satyajit Bhatkal) (2004)

• Best Film on Family Welfare for Taare Zameen Par (2008)

Filmfare Awards

• Best Male Debut Award for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1989)

• Best Actor Award for Raja Hindustani (1997)

• Best Actor Award for Lagaan (2002)

• Best Movie Award for Lagaan (2002)

• Critics Award for Best Actor for Rang De Basanti (2007)

• Best Movie Award for Taare Zameen Par (2008)

• Best Director Award for Taare Zameen Par (2008)

Academy Award

• Best Foreign Language Film for Lagaan (2002)

IIFA Awards

• Best Actor Award for Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2002)

• Best Movie Award for Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2002)

• Movie of the Decade for Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2009)

Screen Awards

• Best Actor for Raja Hindustani (1997)

• Best Film for Lagaan (2002)

• Best Supporting Actor for Taare Zameen Par (2008)

• Best Director for Taare Zameen Par (2008)

Apsara Awards for Best film & Best director for the film Taare Zameen Par (2009)

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

• BFJA Awards, Best Actor for Akele Hum Akele Tum & Rangeela (1995)

• BFJA Awards, Best Actor for Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

Zee Cine Awards

• Best Actor- Male for Sarfarosh (2000)

• Best Actor- Male for Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2002)

• Best Director for Taare Zameen Par (2008)

Recognitions

Honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010.

He was ranked 3rd Most Powerful Indian Film Star by Forbes (2001). In December 2001, he was named "Man of the Year" by Bombay Times and in 2002, he was a member of the jury of the Locarno film festival.