Aamir Khan’s 2016 film ‘Dangal’ remains one of the biggest success stories in Indian cinema. However, Aamir recently admitted that he was initially hesitant about taking up the film and even joked that Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan might have sent director Nitesh Tiwari to sabotage his career.
During a conversation on the Just Too Filmy podcast, Aamir was asked about his process for selecting films. The 60-year-old actor shared that he follows his instincts rather than industry trends or audience expectations.
Aamir Khan doesn’t chase trends
“A lot of mainstream filmmakers analyse what audiences prefer and try to deliver accordingly. It’s a logical approach because, after investing so much time, effort, and money, there’s always a risk of rejection. But as a creative person, I’ve never thought that way. If a story truly moves me, I put my heart into it, trusting that viewers will feel the same way,” Aamir explained.
Aamir Khan’s initial reaction to Dangal
Sharing an amusing anecdote about Dangal, Aamir recalled, “When Nitesh narrated the story, I told him it was a fantastic film, and I wanted to do it—but not right away. I had just finished Dhoom 3, looking like a million bucks, with only 9.67% body fat. And here he was, asking me to play a 55-year-old father of four daughters who’s out of shape!”
He humorously added, “For a moment, I even wondered if Shah Rukh and Salman had secretly sent Nitesh to convince me to take this role and end my career.” Aamir admitted that he initially asked the director to return after 10-15 years, and to his surprise, Nitesh agreed.
Also read: Amitabh Bachchan Noticed This One Mistake In Aamir Khan’s Dangal—Actor Regrets It
Of course, Dangal went on to become a historic blockbuster, grossing over ₹2,000 crore worldwide and cementing its place as the highest-grossing Hindi film of that year.
Aamir is now gearing up for his next film, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, which is being described as a spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par. Marking his return to the screen after three years, the film is expected to release later this year.
