Ever since its inception in the early 20th century, Indian cinema has given joy to millions of viewers around the world. The film industry has produced numerous movies and iconic actors who have shaped the history of cinema. Film stars have gone on from ruling the silver screen to carving a special place in the hearts and minds of the people.
From Rajesh Khanna to Shah Rukh Khan, Hindi films have given unique actors who have won accolades for their exceptional craft and command over their audiences. Aamir Khan is one of the gems of the Indian film industry who has carved a niche for himself and swayed audiences through his authentic portrayals of characters in the films.
On his 57th birthday, here is a look at Aamir Khan’s notable characters that sets him apart from the rest of his generation. Be it altering his physical appearance or capturing the subtle nuances of a character’s emotional state, Aamir Khan has stirred the audience with his finesse.
‘Dangal’
Nitesh Tiwari’s 2016 biographical sports drama saw Khan live and breathe the role of Mahavir Phogat. ‘Dangal’, is considered to be one of the most successful Indian films, and Khan had delivered the performance of a lifetime. The heavy-bellied father through his determination to realise the potential of his daughters left a strong imprint on the viewers. Khan had put on 25 kgs in six months to play the role of the disciplinarian father.
“Putting on the weight was fun as I could eat and drink whatever I wanted. I had a ball, I have to say but it was uncomfortable. My wrestling training was affected because I was carrying so much weight and I couldn’t move fast,” Khan had said in one of his interviews.
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‘Rang De Basanti’
Khan appeared as a young college rebel in this drama directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. The 57-year-old also played Chandra Shekhar Azad. He effortlessly glided through the gleeful youth Daljit and the sombre revolutionary Azad. His riveting performance won him overwhelming applause. The movie created ripples at Golden Globes, Oscars and BAFTA awards.
Aamir’s sincere depiction of both the characters stood out in the film that featured an ensemble cast. Audiences were charmed by Aamir’s extraordinary craft to do justice to the character of a college rebel at the age of 41.
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‘Lagaan’
After the lacklustre performance of movies like ‘Mann’ (1999) and ‘Mela’ (2000), Aamir Khan made a strong comeback with film-maker Ashutosh Gowariker’s epic ‘Lagaan’. Viewers got to witness Aamir Khan as ‘Bhuvan Latha’, a rustic character far from his refined real-life persona. The acclaimed actor went on to charm both critics and audiences by his depiction of the raw mannerisms and nonchalance the character entailed.
The film made headlines globally and Aamir as Bhuvan attracted moviegoers to the theatres. ‘Lagaan’ went on to become one of the best performances of his career. ‘Lagaan’ was India’s official entry to the Academy Awards in 2002 and was nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film.
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‘Rangeela’
‘Rangeela’ marked the collaboration of Khan with maverick film-maker Ram Gopal Varma. The romantic comedy featured Khan as an orphaned street urchin. Aamir’s chemistry with his childhood friend Urmila Matondkar was the highlight of the film.
In one of his recent interviews, Khan revealed that his character required to be gruff. To get the part of the ‘Tapori’ right, the ‘3 Idiots’ actor did not have a bath for almost a week. Besides, the love triangle also featured music by AR Rahman. Dreams of Bollywood fame and social mobility were the themes of the movie that went on to garner both critical and commercial success. The movie is considered to be a turning point in Aamir Khan’s illustrious career.
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‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’
Film-maker Mansoor Khan’s ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ was Aamir Khan’s debut in a lead role. The film which was an instant success got Khan noticed among the Indian moviegoers. The romantic film was known for its memorable songs and Khan’s chemistry with Juhi Chawla. Aamir captivated the audience with his performance and has been consistently delivering power-packed performances ever since.
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“QSQT the foundation stone of my career, what a lovely time we had, laughing, playing games, rehearsing, fighting & shooting in between. Ever grateful to Nasirsaab, Mansoor, Aamir, Nuzhat, Anand Milind, Alka, Udit & QSQT team!” tweeted Juhi Chawla in 2018 when the film completed 30 years.