Aamir Hussain Khan[a] (pronounced[ˈaːmɪrxaːn]; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works inHindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of filmgenres, particularly in films which raise social issues like education and gender equality, or which have a positive impact on society in India or abroad.[4][5][6][7] Throughhis career spanning over 30 years, Khan has established himself as one of the most notable actors of Indian cinema.[8][9] Khan is the recipient ofnumerous awards, including nineFilmfare Awards, fourNational Film Awards, and anAACTA Award. He was honoured by theGovernment of India with thePadma Shri in 2003 and thePadma Bhushan in 2010,[10] and received an honorary title from theGovernment of China in 2017.[11]
He has a large following, especially in India andChina, and has been described byNewsweek as "the biggest movie star in the world".[19][20][21] He has been regularly listed amongThe 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world.[22][23] He also created and hosted the television talk showSatyamev Jayate. His work as a social reformer earned him an appearance on theTime 100 list of most influential people in the world in 2013.[24]
Early life and background
Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan was born on 14 March 1965 inBombay toTahir Hussain, a film producer, and Zeenat Hussain.[1][25] He is the second of four siblings; he has a younger brother—Faisal Khan—and two sisters, Farhat andNikhat Khan.[26][27][28]
Several of his relatives were members of the Hindi film industry, including his late paternal uncle, producer-directorNasir Hussain.[25] Nasir's sonMansoor Khan is a director who has cast Aamir in most of his movies while Nasir's grandson through his daughter,Imran Khan, is a former Hindi film actor.[35] Through his mother, Khan is a nephew of the Fazli brothers, who have been filmmakers in bothIndia and Pakistan.[36]
As a child actor, he appeared on screen in two minor roles. At the age of eight, he appeared inYaadon Ki Baaraat (1973),[37][38] which was the firstmasala film inBollywood.[39] The following year, he portrayed the younger version ofMahendra Sandhu's character inMadhosh.[37] Khan attended J.B. Petit School for his pre-primary education, later switching toSt. Anne's High School, Bandra, until the eighth grade, and completed his ninth and tenth grades atBombay Scottish School, Mahim.[40] He played tennis in state level championships and became a state-level champion. He professed he was "much more into sports than studies".[40][41] He completed his twelfth grade at Mumbai'sNarsee Monjee College,[42] and described his childhood as "tough" due to the financial problems his father had, as his film productions were mostly unsuccessful. He said, "There would be at least 30 calls a day from creditors calling for their money," and that he was always at risk of being expelled from school for non-payment of fees.[43]
At the age of sixteen, Khan got involved in the experimental process of making a 40-minute silent film,Paranoia, which was directed by his school friendAditya Bhattacharya.[44] The film was funded by filmmakerShriram Lagoo, an acquaintance of Bhattacharya, who provided them with a few thousand rupees.[45] His parents did not want him to make films and wished that he would instead pursue a "steady" career as an engineer or doctor;[44] for that reason, the shooting schedule ofParanoia was kept secret.[46] In the film, he played the lead role alongside actorsNeena Gupta andVictor Banerjee while simultaneously assisting Bhattacharya.[45] He said that the experience encouraged him to pursue a career in film.[47]
Khan subsequently joined a theatre group called Avantar, where he worked backstage for over a year. He made his stage debut with a small role in the company'sGujarati play,Kesar Bina, atPrithvi Theatre.[45][48] He went on to act in two of their Hindi plays, and one English play, which was titledClearing House.[49] After completing high school, Khan decided to discontinue studying, and work instead as anassistant director to Hussain on the Hindi filmsManzil Manzil andZabardast.[44][50]
In 2007, he lost a custody battle for his younger brother Faisal to their father, Tahir Hussain,[51] who died on 2 February 2010.[52]
In addition to assisting Hussain, he acted in documentaries directed by the students of theFilm and Television Institute of India.[53] DirectorKetan Mehta noticed Khan in those films, and offered him a role in the low-budget experimental filmHoli.[53][54] Featuring an ensemble cast of newcomers,Holi was based on a play by Mahesh Elkunchwar, and dealt with the practice ofragging in India.[55]The New York Times said that the film was "melodramatic" but "very decently and exuberantly performed by the nonprofessional actors".[56] Khan played a rowdy college student, an "insignificant" role[55] that was described byCNN-IBN as "lack[ing] in finesse".[57]
Holi failed to attract a broad audience, but Hussain and his sonMansoor cast him as the leading man in Mansoor's directorial debutQayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) oppositeJuhi Chawla.[55] The film is a tale of unrequited love and parental opposition, with Aamir Khan portraying Raj, a "clean-cut, wholesome boy-next-door".[58] It became a major commercial success, and catapulted both Khan and Chawla to stardom.[59] It received sevenFilmfare Awards including aBest Male Debut trophy for him.[60]
Raakh, a crime thriller from Bhattacharya that was filmed before the production ofQayamat Se Qayamat Tak, was released in 1989.[61] Despite a poor reception at the box office, the film was critically acclaimed.[62] Khan was awarded aNational Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention for his performances in bothQayamat Se Qayamat Tak andRaakh.[63] Later that year, he reunited with Chawla for the romantic comedyLove Love Love, a commercial failure.[64]
He appeared in several other films in the early 1990s, includingJo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992),Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) (for which he also wrote the screenplay), andRangeela (1995). Most of these films were successful critically and commercially.[70][71] Other successes includeAndaz Apna Apna (1994) alongsideSalman Khan; at the time of its release, the movie was reviewed unfavorably by critics, but over the years has gained cult status.[72] In 1993, Khan also appeared inYash Chopra'saction drama filmParampara.[73] Despite having an ensemble cast that includedSunil Dutt,Vinod Khanna,Raveena Tandon, andSaif Ali Khan, the film failed to find a wide audience and became a critical and commercial failure.[74] Khan was also cast inTime Machine; however, due to financial constraints, the film was shelved and remained unreleased.[75]
He continued to act in just one or two films a year, which was an unusual trait for a mainstream Hindi cinema actor. His only release in 1996 was theDharmesh Darshan directed huge blockbusterRaja Hindustani, in which he was paired oppositeKarisma Kapoor.[76][77] The film earned him his firstFilmfare Award for Best Actor after seven previous nominations, and went on to become the biggest hit of the year, as well as the third-highest grossing Indian film of the 1990s.[78] Adjusted for inflation,Raja Hindustani is the fourthhighest-grossing film in India since the 1990s.[79] In 1997, he acted inIshq, which proved to be another blockbuster for him.[80][81] The following year, Khan appeared inVikram Bhatt'saction thrillerGhulam, for which he also didplayback singing.[82] The film received positive response from reviewers and went on to become a hit at the box office.[83]
John Mathew Matthan'sSarfarosh, Khan's first film in 1999, was also a commercially successful venture.[84] The film and Khan were highly appreciated by movie critics, as was his role inDeepa Mehta's Canadian-Indianart house filmEarth (1998).[85]Earth was internationally acclaimed[86] by critics such asRoger Ebert[87] for Khan's portrayal of Dil Nawaz ("Ice Candy Man").[85] His first release for the 2000s,Mela, in which he acted alongside his brother Faisal, was both a box office and critical failure.[88][89]
In 2001, he produced and starred inLagaan,[90] and received a nomination forBest Foreign Language Film at the74th Academy Awards.[91] The film also received critical acclaim at several international film festivals, in addition to winning numerous Indian awards such as aNational Film Award. Khan also won his second Filmare Award for Best Actor.[92]
His 2007 film,Taare Zameen Par, was also produced by him and marked his directorial debut.[101] The film, which was the second release from Aamir Khan Productions, opened to positive responses from critics and audiences. His performance was well-received, though he was particularly applauded for his directing.[102] He received the Filmfare Awards for Best Director and Best Film of 2007,[103] as well as theNational Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare.[104] The film won other awards, including the 2008Zee Cine Awards[105] and 4th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards.[106] The film was initially acclaimed as India's official entry for the 2009Academy Awards Best Foreign Film.[107][108][109]
In 2008, Khan appeared in the filmGhajini. The film was a major commercial success[110] and became the highest-grossing Bollywood movie of that year. For his performance in the film, he received severalBest Actor nominations at various award ceremonies as well as his fifteenthFilmfare Best Actor nomination.[111]
Aamir Khan at the trailer launch ofDhoom 3 in 2013.
Aamir Khan has been credited with opening up theChinese markets for Indian films. His father Tahir Hussain previously had success in China withCaravan,[128][129] but Indian films declined in the country afterwards, until he opened up the Chinese market for Indian films in the early 21st century.[128][130]Lagaan became the first Indian film to have a nationwide release there.[131][132] When3 Idiots released in China, the country was only the 15th largest film market partly due to China's widespread pirate DVD distribution at the time, which introduced the film to most Chinese audiences, becoming acult hit in the country. It became China's 12th favourite film of all time, according to ratings on Chinese film review siteDouban, with only one domestic Chinese film (Farewell My Concubine) ranked higher. As a result, he gained a large growing Chinese fanbase.[130] After3 Idiots went viral, several of his other films, such asTaare Zameen Par andGhajini also gained a cult following.[133] By 2013, China grew to become the world's second largest film market (after the United States), contributing to Khan's box office success withDhoom 3 (2013),PK (2014), andDangal (2016).[130]
He appeared next in thepsychological crime thriller,Talaash: The Answer Lies Within. DirectedReema Kagti and produced byExcel Entertainment and his own production house, it costarred two of his frequent co-stars;Kareena Kapoor andRani Mukerji.[134] Khan, who never knew how to swim went under rigorous training for this underwater sequence. He was trained for 3 months under a specialist trainer and went well prepared for the shoot.[135] According toBox Office India,Talaash: The Answer Lies Within grossed₹912 million net by the end of its run and was declared a "semi-hit".[136]
His next venture wasDhoom 3 withYash Raj Films, which he considered to be the most difficult role of his career.[137][138] The film was released worldwide on 20 December 2013.[139]Box Office India declaredDhoom 3 "the biggest hit of 2013" after two days of release,[140] with the film grossing₹2 billion (US$34.13 million) worldwide in three days[141] and₹4 billion (US$68.26 million) worldwide in ten days, making it thehighest-grossing Bollywood film of all time.[141][142][143]
In 2014, he appeared as the eponymous alien inRajkumar Hirani's comedy-dramaPK.[144][145] The film received critical acclaim and emerged as the 4th highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time.[146][147][148] Raja Sen called the film a "triumph" and said: "Aamir Khan is exceptional inPK, creating an irresistibly goofy character and playing him with absolute conviction."[149] The film won two Filmfare Awards,[150] and in Japan received a top award at the 9thTokyo Newspaper Film Awards event held byTokyo Shimbun.[151][152]
In 2016, he produced and starred inDangal, and was cast as wrestlerMahavir Singh Phogat.[153] He played him at different ages, from 20 to 60 years old; he weighed 98 kg to portray the older Phogat before losing weight to play the younger version.[154][155] The film received positive reviews from critics and emerged as the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time domestically, surpassingPK, making it the fifth time he had achieved this feat.[156]Dangal also became an overseas blockbuster success in China, where it was the16th highest-grossing film of all time,[157] the 8th highest-grossing foreign film,[158] and the highest-grossing non-Hollywood foreign film.[159] Worldwide, it became the fifth highest-grossing non-English language film of all time,[160] and gave him one of thehighest salaries for a non-Hollywood actor at $42 million.[161]Dangal has also been watched over 350million times on Chinese streaming platforms.[162][163][164] The film won him two more Filmfare Awards (Best Film and his thirdBest Actor award).[165]
In November 2018, he starred alongsideAmitabh Bachchan in the action-adventure filmThugs of Hindostan. The film received negative reviews from critics.[168][169] Produced at an estimated budget of₹300crore (US$46.07 million),[170] it is one of themost expensive Bollywood films.[171] the film grossed₹335 crore ($45 million) at the worldwide box office and was considered a financial failure.[172]
In March 2019, on his 54th birthday, Aamir Khan confirmed that he would be seen next inLaal Singh Chaddha,[173] an adaptation ofForrest Gump. The film features him in the lead and is directed byAdvait Chandan, who previously directed Khan inSecret Superstar.[174] The film's release on 11 August 2022 marked Khan's return after a four-year hiatus, opening to mixed reviews from critics.[175] The film flopped miserably at the box office and was declared a "disaster".[176] In an interview withHindustan Times, Khan expressed sorrow over the failure ofLaal Singh Chaddha, stating, "I made so many mistakes in this film on so many levels. Thank God I made these mistakes in just one film."[177]
After another three year hiatus, Khan played a suspended basketball coach who must serve community service by helping a team of players with disabilities, inSitaare Zameen Par oppositeGenelia D'Souza.[178][179]Saibal Chatterjee noted, "Khan effortlessly slips into the character of a temperamental man who is often mocked for his short stature."[180] The film did a lifetime business of₹266.49 crore, thus emerging a hit and marking his comeback.[181][182]
In 2007, he directed and producedTaare Zameen Par, which marked his directorial debut. He also played a supporting role in the film. The film was conceived and developed byAmole Gupte andDeepa Bhatia. The movie was critically acclaimed[187] and a box office success.Taare Zameen Par won the 2008Filmfare Best Movie Award as well as a number of otherFilmfare andStar Screen Awards. Khan's work also won him theBest Director. In 2008, his nephew Imran Khan debuted in the filmJaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na under his production house. The film was a big hit in India, and earned Khan another nomination for Best Film at Filmfare.[188] He also co-wrote the blockbuster filmGhajini, which he starred in; Khan made alterations to the original2005 Tamil film and rewrote the climax.[189] In 2010, he releasedPeepli Live, which was selected as India's official entry for the83rd Academy Awards'Best Foreign Film category.[190][191]
In 2011, he released his home productionDhobi Ghat,[192] anart house film directed by Rao. In the same year, Khan co-produced the English languageblack comedy filmDelhi Belly withUTV Motion Pictures.[193] The film opened to critical acclaim and was a commercial success, with a domestic revenue of over₹550 million (US$11.78 million).[194] In 2012, he starred inReema Kagti's neo-noir mystery filmTalaash, which was a joint production ofExcel Entertainment and Aamir Khan Productions. The film was declared a semi-hit in India and accumulated a worldwide gross of₹1.74 billion (US$32.56 million).[195]
His next production wasSecret Superstar, which became one of the most profitable films ever in proportion to its limited budget.[196] In China,Secret Superstar brokeDangal's record for the highest-grossing opening weekend by an Indian film,[197] cementing Khan's status as asuperstar in China[198]Secret Superstar is the third highest-grossing Indian film of all time[199][200] With his films giving serious competition to Hollywood in the Chinese market,[201][202] the success of films such asDangal andSecret Superstar drove up the buyout prices of Indian film imports for Chinese distributors.[203] Khan's earnings forSecret Superstar from the Chinese box office is estimated to be₹190 crore (US$27.78 million),[204] higher than what any other Indian actor-producer has ever earned from a film.[205] The film has increased Aamir Khan's Chinese box office total to $346.5million (₹2,231crore).[204]
Aamir Khan made his television debut with his talk show,Satyamev Jayate, which dealt with social issues, on 6 May 2012. On the radio, Khan said that in view of a phenomenal public response, he would come up with a second season of the show.[217] The show went live simultaneously onStarPlus,Star World, and national broadcasterDoordarshan in the 11 am Sunday slot in eight languages, being the first to do so in India.[218] 'It opened to positive reviews and feedback from social activists, media houses, doctors, and film and television personalities. Khan was also praised for his effort.[219] Despite the initial hype and being labelled as the channel's most ambitious project to date, the initial viewership figures were not very encouraging; the show received an average television rating of 2.9 (with a sample size of 14.4 million, it was watched by only 20% of TV viewers) in the six metros in its debut episode on 6 May. The rating was lower than those of most other celebrity-hosted shows at the time.[220][221]
In a 2009 interview, Aamir Khan stated that he tends to take an independent approach to the world of filmmaking, noting that he does not "do different things; I try to do it in a different manner. I think every person should follow his/her dream and try and make it possible to create an ability to achieve it backed by its practicality." He also said that he is more interested in the process of filmmaking than in the result: "For me, the process is more important, more joyful. I would like to have my entire concentration on the process right from the first step."[222]
Aamir Khan has a reputation for avoiding award ceremonies and not accepting any popular Indian film awards. Although he has been nominated many times, Khan has not attended any Indian film award ceremonies and has stated that "Indian film awards lack credibility".[223] When asked about the selection procedure and authenticity of popular Indian film awards, he replied, "Fact is that I have no objections to film awards. I just feel that if I don't value a particular film award, then I won't attend it either. Apart from theNational Film Awards, I don't see any other award ceremony that I should give value to. My personal experience about these award ceremonies is that I don't trust them. I have no faith in them so I would prefer to stay away."[224][225]
In April 2013, he was amongTime magazine's list of the100 Most Influential People in the World.[236][237] Khan was featured on the cover ofTime's Asia edition in the September 2012 issue with the title "Khan's Quest" – "He is breaking the Bollywood mold by tackling India's social evils. Can an actor change a nation?"[238] In addition to being highly popular in India, he is also highly popular overseas, particularly in China,[239][240] the second largest movie market.[241] He is the most followed Indian national on Chinese social media siteSina Weibo, above Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi.[242] Khan is also popular inTurkey,[243] Hong Kong,[244] and Singapore,[245] among many other countries.
In February 2015, Aamir Khan stated his views on a popular online comedy groupAll India Bakchod for its celebrity roast episode. He said, "I completely believe in freedom of speech, no issues. But we have to understand that we all have a certain responsibility. When I heard what was being described to me I felt it was a violent event." He further said violence is not just physical but it has verbal aspects to it. He called the roast a shameless act, and even called out his friends from the film industry—Karan, Ranveer, and Arjun.[246]
InIndian media, he is often referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" for his dedication to his work.[247][248] InChinese media, he is often referred to as a "national treasure of India" or "conscience of India", due to much of his work tackling various social issues that are pervasive inIndian society, some of which are also relevant toChinese society, in a way that domesticChinese films often do not portray. His work is highly regarded in China, with films such asTaare Zameen Par (2007),3 Idiots (2009) andDangal (2016), as well as his television showSatyamev Jayate (2012–2014), being some of the highest-rated productions on Douban.[249][250] In China, Khan is known for being associated with quality cinema and committed to social causes,[251] and is often seen as an activist-actor.[252] In the past, Chinese media used to refer to him as "India'sAndy Lau", but as Khan gained more familiarity with mainstream Chinese audiences, younger fans have often referred to him by the moniker "Uncle Aamir"[253] or "Mishu".[252] He has become a household name in China,[254] where he is currently the most famous Indian.[255][256] His bookI'll Do it My Way is commonly found in bookstores across China, while Chinese retailers sell merchandise ranging from "Uncle Aamir"smartphone cases toDhoom 3-style black hats.[198] His effect in China has drawn comparisons with previous Indian cultural icons in the country, including the Bengali writerRabindranath Tagore, and actorsRaj Kapoor andNargis.[257]
In September 2025, Khan publicly criticized the growing trend of Bollywood actors demanding that film producers cover their personal expenses, such as the salaries of cooks, trainers, drivers, and other support staff. He argued that while costs directly connected to filmmaking—like costumes, hair, and makeup—are reasonable for producers to bear, personal lifestyle expenses should remain the responsibility of actors themselves. Expressing concern over this practice, Khan questioned, "Where will this stop?" and warned that such expectations could extend to unreasonable demands like producers paying for actors' children's school fees.[258]
In April 2006, Aamir Khan participated in the demonstrations put up by theNarmada Bachao Andolan committee after theGujarat government's decision to raise the height of the Narmada dam. He was quoted to supportadivasis (tribes), who might be displaced from their homes.[259] Later he faced protests and a partial ban on his filmFanaa, but thePrime Minister of India,Manmohan Singh, supported him by saying, "Everyone has the freedom of expression. If someone says something on a particular subject, that doesn't mean you should start protesting."[260] Aamir also lent his support to theJanlokpal Bill Movement led byAnna Hazare in August 2011.[261]
He has been supporting common causes; when asked about views on the entertainment tax in the2012 budget, Khan said, "I don't want any reduction in that, all I expect is focus on education and nutrition."[262] He quit theGOI's copyrights panels in February 2010 after facing sharp differences with other members.[263] During the promotion of3 Idiots, he journeyed to diverse parts of India, mostly to small towns, noting that "filmmakers from Mumbai don't understand small-town India".[264] This experience of reaching out to "regional India" was extended inSatyamev Jayate. On 16 July 2012, Khan met the prime minister and the minister for social justice and empowerment, and discussed the plight of manual scavengers and sought eradication ofmanual scavenging in the country.[265]
On 30 November 2011, he was appointed national brand ambassador ofUNICEF to promote child nutrition.[266] He is part of the government-organised IEC campaign to raise awareness about malnutrition.[267] He is also known for supporting causes such asfeminism[19] and improvededucation in India, which are themes in several of his films.[268] His crossover success in China has been described as a form of Indiansoft power,[205][256][269] helping to improveChina–India relations, despite political tensions between the two nations (such asDoklam andthe Maldives), with Khan stating he wants to help "improve India-China ties".[198][205][257] Due to Khan being a household name in China, he has been considered to be India's brand ambassador to China by theIndian commerce ministry, which may contribute to reducing thetrade deficit with China.[270]
In 2016, Aamir Khan came up with theMaharashtra government to make the state drought-free in the next five years. He has been doingshramdaan for the last 3 years. He asked people to come to join him in this cause and become a Jal Mitra by doingshramdaan. While explaining to journalists, Khan said, "the reason why popular TV show Satyamev Jayate did not go on air was not because of Court's verdict, but because all the producers, directors and talents working on this show were busy in this water project. For us, the water conservation project in the State is the most important initiative."[271] He is a co-founder ofPaani Foundation with Rao. The foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which is active in the area of drought prevention and watershed management in the Maharashtra, India.[272]
Khan with his then wifeKiran Rao at an event in 2012
Aamir Khan married Reena Dutta, who had a small part inQayamat Se Qayamat Tak, on 18 April 1986. They have two children: a son namedJunaid and a daughter, Ira. Dutta was involved briefly in his career when she worked as a producer forLagaan. In December 2002, he filed for divorce and Dutta took custody of both children.[274][275]
On 28 December 2005, he marriedKiran Rao, who had been an assistant director to Gowariker on the set ofLagaan.[276] On 5 December 2011, they announced the birth of their son, Azad Rao Khan,[277] through asurrogate mother.[278][279] In July 2021, the couple announced their separation and stated they would raise their son Azad together.[280][281]
His former wife Rao is aHindu. In March 2015, he stated that he quit non-vegetarian food and adopted a vegan lifestyle after being inspired by her.[282][283][284]
Before pursuing a full-time acting career, Aamir Khan was an avid tennis player. He played professionally in state level championships in the 1980s and became a state level tennis champion prior to entering a full-time acting career.[40][41] In 2014, he participated in an exhibition match for theInternational Premier Tennis League, playing doubles with grand slam winnersRoger Federer andNovak Djokovic, as well asSania Mirza.[285]
His children have also ventured into the entertainment industry. In September 2019, Ira announced on social media that she would be directing a theatrical production, her first, a version ofEuripides'Medea.[286] Veteran actressSarika, ex-wife ofKamal Haasan, and her daughterAkshara Haasan produced the play,[287] and Khan's sister Farhat Dutta had painted a poster for its promotion.[288][289] His elder son Junaid made his acting debut in the Hindi filmMaharaj.[290][291]
On 13 March 2025, Khan has publicly introduced Gauri Spratt as his girlfriend at his 60th birthday party, confirming their 18-month relationship.[292]
Political controversies
Gujarat (2006)
In 2006, Aamir Khan lent his support to theNarmada Bachao Andolan movement, led by activistMedha Patkar, in their actions against raising the height of theSardar Sarovar Dam.[293] While promoting his filmFanaa inGujarat, he made some comments regarding theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Gujarat chief ministerNarendra Modi's handling of theNarmada Dam and the necessity to rehabilitate the displaced villagers.[294][295] These comments were met with outrage from the BJP, with the government of Gujarat demanding an apology from Khan. He refused to apologise, saying "I am saying exactly what the Supreme Court has said. I only asked for rehabilitation of poor farmers. I never spoke against the construction of the dam. I will not apologise for my comments on the issue."[296] An unofficial ban ofFanaa was put in place for the entire state of Gujarat. Protests occurred against the film and Khan, which included burning posters of him. As a result, several multiplex owners stated that they could not provide security to customers, and all theatre owners in Gujarat refused to screen the film.[297]
Comments on intolerance (2013–2016)
"I think in the last maybe six to eight months, there is a growing sense of despondency. When I chat withKiran at home, she says, 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make. She fears for her child. She fears what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day."
In November 2015, Aamir Khan expressed the feelings that he and Rao had about rising intolerance in India at an event in New Delhi hosted byThe Indian Express newspaper[300] in response to political events in India that includedviolent attacks againstMuslims and intellectuals, and the absence of swift or strong condemnation from the country's rulingBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Modi government.[301] He remarked that Rao, fearing for her family, suggested to "move out of India".[302]
BJP responded with online campaigns through itssocial media cell to intimidate Khan.[303] The ensuing political controversy was referred to as the "intolerance row" in theIndian media,[304] and started a debate on social media.[302] Khan faced intense backlash for his comments, with certain sections of society branding him "anti-national",[305] while others voiced their agreement about his concerns[302] and supported him.[306]
Much of the backlash against him, anIndian Muslim with aHindu wife, came fromHindu nationalist groups.[301] The far-right political partyShiv Sena sharply criticised Khan's statement, labelling it "the language of treachery",[307] and the BJP condemned the incident as a "Moral Offence".[308][309] In the wake of the controversy, burning of posters took place inLudhiana by Shiv Sena.[310]Punjab's Shiv Sena chief Rajeev Tandon also made a violent threat, offering a₹1lakh (US$1,558.8) reward to anyone who slaps Khan.[311][312] As a result, the Khans were given additional police protection.[313] Khan responded to the backlash and threats by stating, "it saddens me to say you are only proving my point".[314]
He later stated that he was not leaving the country.[314][328][329] Alawsuit was filed against Khan and Rao at Jaunpur in ACJM II court.[330] Khan was dropped as brand ambassador of the government's officialIncredible India tourism campaign.[301] A company that Khan was endorsing,Snapdeal, faced backlash from Khan's critics for being associated with him, before the company distanced themselves from his comments.[306]
Aamir Khan later clarified his comments in January 2016, saying that he never said India was intolerant or that he thought about leaving the country, saying he was "born in India and will die in India". He said that his comments were taken out of context and the media was responsible for it to some extent.[331][332] Despite this, he continued to face backlash later in the year, with calls for protests and boycotts againstDangal. In October 2016, theVishva Hindu Parishad called for protests against the film.[333] Following its release in December 2016, #BoycottDangal trended on Twitter,[334][335] and BJP general secretaryKailash Vijayvargiya called for protests against the film.[336] Despite calls to boycott the film,Dangal turned out to be a massive hit,[337] grossing more than₹500 crore (US$74.41 million) in India.[338]
Khan won 9Filmfare Awards, out of 32 nominations,[c] including theBest Actor award[339] forRaja Hindustani (1996),[340]Lagaan (2001), andDangal (2016);[92] theBest Actor (Critics) award forRang De Basanti (2006); the Best Film award forLagaan,Taare Zameen Par (2007), andDangal; and theBest Director award forTaare Zameen Par. He won fourNational Film Awards: as an actor inQayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) andRaakh (1989), as producer ofLagaan andMadness in the Desert (2004), and as director and producer ofTaare Zameen Par.[341]
Khan has received honorary accolades, including theIndia'sPadma Shri in 2003[352] andPadma Bhushan in 2010,[353] and an Honorary Doctorate by theMaulana Azad National Urdu University for his contributions to the Indian cinema and entertainment industry.[354] In 2011, he accepted an invitation from theBerlin Film Festival to be on the jury, after having turned it down three times since 2008.[355] In 2012, he appeared on theTime 100 list of most influential people in the world.[24] In 2017, theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited Khan to be a member,[356] and he received an award for "National Treasure of India" from China.[11]
Khan is known for refusing to attend, or accept awards from, Indian film ceremonies. This has led to controversy, notably at the2017 National Film Awards, where he was snubbed fromBest Actor forDangal. Committee memberPriyadarshan explained that they did not want to award him because of his refusal to attend.[357][358][359] Despite avoiding Indian ceremonies, he made an exception for the 2002 Academy Awards, soLagaan could reach a wider audience, but did not care much about the award.[360]
In December 2024, Khan was honoured at the opening night of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival.[361]
^While Khan has referred to his full name asMohammed Aamir Hussain Khan,[1] his legal name as per business filings of his production company omits Mohammed.[2][3] Wikipedia uses legal name for introduction.
^Awards in certain categories come without a prior nomination.
References
^abcSwarup, Shubhangi (29 January 2011)."My Name is Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan".Open.Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved10 February 2014.My full name is Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan. A lot of Muslims keep Mohammed as a first name after the Prophet.
^Manwani, Akshay (2016).Music, masti, modernity: the cinema of Nasir Husain (First published in India ed.). Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India: HarperCollins Publishers India.ISBN978-93-5264-097-3.Jaffar Husain was a Pathan and belonged to a family of zamindars, albeit of modest landholdings, settled in Shahabad (...) Aamna, Husain's mother, was of Arab ancestry. Her forefathers originally hailed from Jeddah before successive generations found their way to Calcutta, finally settling in Bhopal (...) his maternal grandmother, Fatima Begum, was a well-educated woman and was appointed the inspector of schools by nawaab of Bhopal. This lady's brother was the well-known freedom fighter and scholar Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
^Lal, Niharika (27 July 2022)."Aamir Khan visits the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai".Times of India.Aamir also stumbled upon a rare poster of his maternal uncles, the Fazli Brothers from the 1940s and spoke to the officials about them and said, "I would love to visit the National Museum of Indian Cinema again with my family."
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