'I am like a weaver', proclaims Aamir Khan, likening a film to a saree on a loom, adding that one-at-a-time works best for him.

Are you superstitious? Do you visit religious places before a film's release?
No... But I visit Shammi uncle. It started with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, my first film as an actor. He was the only person Nasir uncle called from the industry for the premiere. He was the first person I took blessings from.

So when I made Taare Zameen Par -- my first film as a director -- I remembered that.

By then, my uncle had passed away and I knew he would have been very excited to see me make my directorial debut, so I reached out to Shammi uncle -- who was very close to him -- to seek his blessings. I asked him to release the CD. And after that, came Jaane Tu... and that was Imran's first film. But this is not superstition. It is an emotional thing.

Ever considered numerology for your films?
No.

Would you add an extra 'A' to the title to make your film a hit?
I don't believe in that. A lot of things are out of your control. The best you can do is: Do the best work you can. I do that.

Any special marketing plans for PL? Are you going to disappear again like during 3 Idiots?
(Smiles) No. That marketing plan was for 3 Idiots. In PL, I think the strength lies in the content and we are actively putting it out there for people to see. It's essentially through the promos that we are promoting the film. We want people to see the promos and decide if they want to see it.

From the promos, it seems it's about farmer suicides.
On the contrary, if Natha was not a farmer and if he was a weaver or a potter, it would make absolutely no difference to the plot or the story. For me, a film on farmer suicides should address the problems they are facing and what has been happening socially and politically and what led to all this.

Peepli doesn't have any stars. You are marketing the film on your name. Is that why you have kept away from other films and given this your all?
There was no strategy behind it. I am the kind of person who can do only one thing at a time. I am like a handloom weaver. On the loom, there is only one saree. When it is over, the loom becomes free and another dhaaga comes on to it. I can't put another dhaaga when the saree is there. You know what I mean?

There's the news that telecast rights of PL have been sold for Rs 10 crore. Is that true?
We have made a deal, but I don't discuss financial matters on a public platform.

If that's true, the film is already a hit, isn't it?
For me, the film is a hit when the audience likes it. Pre-sales and sales are not an indication of the success of the film.

That promo, where a tv reporter makes digs at you... are you aware that people talk about you like that?
(Laughs) All the time.

Does it bother you?
No. I'm saying it myself. It's a joke.

When people say that 'kaisi picturein banata hai, he is in his own world, ' etc, it's a joke?
But they are right. I can't complain. They are right.

But it implies that every film is not going to be a hit.
But it will happen. I have been extremely fortunate so far.

I can't remember your last flop. Do you?
There are two stages for me. For me, the first milestone for success is -- Have we ended up making the film we set out to make? If not, then we have failed and my success is already gone. The second stage is when it is screened publicly.

Until now, it has not happened that a film I have liked, has not done well. In that, I have a cent per cent record. There have been films where we have not managed to bring out what we wanted to. And if those have not worked, I expected them not to. But it's sad.

We all work so hard on the film and if it doesn't work for the team itself or the people, then it is definitely a moment of sorrow. And whenever my film has not worked, I have grieved a lot.

How do you grieve?
The first thing I do is I cry. Why? Because I feel like crying.

How do you deal with it after that?
I talk. It's important to grieve your losses -- it could be films, it could be people -- and recognise them and try and move ahead from there. In case of a film, you try and learn from it.

Your "got lucky?" tweet to Imran about IHLS has made quite the news. Comment
It was just a joke. I keep pulling Imran's leg and he does the same. I haven't seen the film. I intend to, but I have been very busy. Believe it or not, I saw Paa a couple of days ago. And I had been dying to see that film! I find that I get very lost in what I am doing.

If I was in Imran's place, I would have been really hurt that you hadn't seen the film.
If you were my nephew, you would have grown up with me and realised exactly what I am like. I will see the film. It's just that I have a lot of deadlines. I am very happy that it is doing well. I am happy for him. I am happy for Karan (Johar).

Yash Chopra was at your home recently. Curiosity continues. Are you doing his film?
(Shaking head) Yashji has not offered me any film. He is someone we are all very close to and have high regard for. We are friends. He was there that evening with 20 other guests. He was one of the few who were noticed.

At this point of time, I am not considering any script. My focus is entirely on Peepli and that's where it should be. Post- August 13, I will start reading scripts.

Three years ago, you said you have got your dues as an actor from the media but not as a star. Has it changed?
I think so. The reason is fairly obvious. I didn't have any relationship with the media earlier because I felt they were not being fair to me.

That's changed now?
Yes, I think, by and large, they are fair now. But I would like to point out that I am the one who made the first move.

I agree. You were open to an association.
For me, the media has a responsibility beyond their relationships. It is irrelevant what my relationship with them is. They should report accurately. That's what they were not doing for 20 years. I am glad that it has changed.