Being a Bollywood star for 25 years is not always a joyride, but Aamir Khan wouldn't trade this profession for any other. "Indian cinema has completed a century run and I've been there for a quarter of this journey, touching people's hearts and making them laugh. It feels great," he beams, settling on a couch in his Bandra office.
He's also just delivered Hindi cinema's biggest grosser, Dhoom 3, which was Aamir Khan all the way? "Is that a criticism?" he asks with a laugh, pointing out that it was understandable he'd have more screen time since he was playing a double role and the story evolved around the twins. "If people had not liked me that would have been a problem. But given that the film did a business of Rs 285 crore in India and Rs 160 crore worldwide, I guess the majority did," Aamir reasons.
After this, expectations are sky high from P.K. which after four years brings the 3 Idiots trio back. The actor admits that he still gets sleepless nights and nightmares a month before every release, but this time, he insists, the burden is more on Raj Kumar Hirani, the film's co-writer and director. "Raju wanted to spend more time on the editing which is why the release was pushed to December," he says. "Besides, some portions with Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) are yet to be shot."
Buzz is, the delay was because he wanted to play Santa again. And with the second season of his talk show, Satyamev Jayate (SMJ), coming up in March, he wasn't sure he'd be able to promote the film in June. "I had agreed to a June release without expecting to play Santa. And this season the 13 episodes of SMJ have been spread over three segments--the first five will air in March, the second lot mid-year and the final instalment towards the year-end," he informs. The reason is that he believes the audience needs time to absorb and reflect on the issues raised, and be a part of the change they are trying to initiate.
