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- Writer, Noor Nanji & Sadia Khan
- Name the person who wrote the story, BBC News
A well-known actor in the Indian Bollywood industry, Aamir khan is famous for some of his famous Indian films such as Lagaan and 3 Idiots.
He was so famous that he did not walk down the street without his fans flocking to him.
What many people do not know is that he stopped making movies during the Covid epidemic, so that he could spend more time with his family.
“I told my family I’m done making movies,” as he told the BBC.
“I don’t want to produce a movie or direct or appear in it. All I want is to be with my family.
You would think that if a great actor like Khan decided to leave the film industry, it would shock India, a country that loves movies.
However, he explained that his departure was not noticed because at that time, few films were being made due to the epidemic.
“No one knows,” he said.
Original image, Getty Images
But Khan’s fans can rest easy now.
Khan did not stop making films for a long time. Now he is back and promoting a movie he has produced called Laapataa Ladies. The film was nominated in India in the category of the best film in the world at the Oscars.
Khan said that his children inspired him to return to work.
“They said ‘but we can’t spend 24 hours with you. So you go and live.’ They encouraged me to return to film,” he said.
At 59, Khan has worked as a filmmaker, director and producer for 30 years.
He is known as one of the three “Khans of Bollywood” – the others are the famous actors Shah Rukh and Salman.
His movies are known for touching important issues that affect the society, many people appreciate and the movies get more viewers than expected.
He is also no stranger to the Oscars. His film Lagaan, which is based on the game of cricket in the 19th century during the British rule, is among those nominated to receive an award in the category of the best non-English language film of the year. 2002.
Now Khan is trying to make history with the movie Laapataa Ladies. If successful, the film will be the first Indian film to win the prestigious award. On Tuesday, he will confirm whether the film has been included in the list of films seeking the award.
Khan said he did not know how much importance he would give to winning the award. “The film industry is full of selfishness,” he said.
But he admitted that winning the award would be important for India.
Original image, Aamir Khan Productions
“In my opinion, Indians love movies and we have been wanting to win an award for an Indian film at the Oscars for a long time, which we have not yet succeeded in. Therefore, the people of the country will be incredibly happy if we do. win” he said.
“For the people of this country and our country, I will be very happy if we get the award.”
The movie “Laapataa Ladies” which was made in a village, tells the story of a young man who mistakenly takes a bride who is not his home. On the other hand, his wife disappeared, and she ended up taking care of herself.”
The film is a comedy that shows what is done to women, and it touches on the hot topic of domestic violence against women.
Khan said that the film shows important things about women’s problems, their rights, and their right to choose for themselves what they want to do.
He explained that from the beginning it was these issues that attracted him to the film.
“Sometimes you get an opportunity as a creative person to make people aware of some of the problems faced in society,” he said.
“Women around the world are facing many challenges in their lives. Women are facing problems. That’s why I felt that there is a story that brought that out in a good way, that’s why I wanted to prepare it.”
Original image, Getty Images
Khan also demanded that his ex-wife Kiran Rao will direct the film.
Aamir and Kiran, who got married in 2005, announced their separation in 2021. But they have been together, both at work and off-duty.
“I think the reason why I chose Kiran is because I know that she will do the job honestly, and that’s what I wanted,” he said.
“Our things are very similar. We love each other very much, we respect each other.
“Our relationship has changed a bit – but that doesn’t mean that our feelings for each other have decreased or anything like that.”
However, that does not mean that everything is a warning.
Khan said that they used to have some arguments on the set of the films.
“We can’t make a movie without arguing. At every stage we argue and we all have strong opinions,” he said.
“However, we don’t take things too seriously. We are just trying to convince one of us on the best way to do something.”
How Bollywood is viewed around the world
Original image, Aamir Khan Productions
The Bollywood industry produces hundreds of films every year, and has a huge following among Indians around the world.
It is impossible to imagine the passion that movies and Bollywood stars create for their followers.
A has been successful recently at the Oscar ceremony, where RRR’s song Naatu Naatu won the best song award, and Elephant Whisperers won the best historical short film award.
However, there is still no success in the international film category, something that Khan has related to the competition and entry into the category.
“India has produced very good films in recent years. Sometimes there is a problem of a film that should not have been sent, or the best film has not been sent.” he said.
“In addition, we should consider that the films that are competing with them, are not five or six films, you are competing with at least 80 or 90 films, which are world famous.
On the topic that one day the Bollywood film will win the award for the best film in the world, Khan said that it is possible.
He added that there is a need for filmmakers to start producing films for the international market.
“I have never considered our viewers around the world,” he said. “We have a lot of followers from our country, so we don’t consider the others.
“That can happen if Indians start making films because of our international followers. I don’t think we have the strength to do that now.”
‘I don’t work after six o’clock’
Right now, Khan is focused on other films besides Laapataa Ladies, including his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par which will be released in 2025.
After that, he hopes to produce one film every year, while his dream job is to update the Mahabharat film – an old Indian film that is famous.
However, since he came back after leaving the movie, he decided to do things differently than usual. And, it is his children who have to draw his opinion on that.
“My son said, ‘You are a serious person.’
He said, ‘You are a different kind of person. In the past you have done movies, movies, movies. now you want to go to the other side and stop the movie and go back to your family, your family, your family. There is a place in the middle if you think about it.
Khan said his son told him he tried to bring balance to his life.
“And I thought he was right. Therefore, since then I have been trying to adjust my life and work hard, in fact, I am now working as I have never done before, except now, I am not working after 6 o’clock.
Khan also said that he started seeking treatment in recent years, which was recommended to him by his daughter Ira, who works in mental health.
“In my opinion, that is something that has helped me a lot. It helped me understand myself better.”
“Actually, I started finding a balance between work and my life. I think I have reached this level.”
