"Chase excellence and success will come looking for you": Aamir
Bollywood’s holiday offering and Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots is well on its way to turning out to be one of the biggest blockbusters ever. It has received rave reactions in New Zealand and Australia just as it has in India and across the world. The passionate actor and film maker – Aamir – who has had a string of successes in the past few years and one who values quality way above quantity and has earned a reputation as a perfectionist, spoke exclsuively with Indian Weekender editor-in-chief Dev Nadkarni on phone from Bangalore. Excerpts from the conversation:
Aamir, What’s your reaction to 3 Idiots now on course to becoming the top grosser ever?
We are absolutely thrilled with the response of the audiences everywhere. It feels great and the team is grateful for this tremendous reaction. I think it’s a tribute to the theme, the concept, the performances, the execution – all the team’s efforts.
What do you think is the single biggest factor in the film that appealed to audiences?
Actually, the single biggest factor that appealed to all of us including the people who made the film is this: follow your heart and don’t compromise in doing what your heart says. Don’t chase success; chase excellence and success will come looking for you. I think that’s what the film says in many ways and that’s something all of us can identify and can agree with. Also, the great sense of humour in the film works in a big way – even when you cry you laugh. That is an awesome factor as well.
What was it like for you personally working on 3 Idiots?
I absolutely enjoyed working with the bunch of actors. I’ve worked with Madhavan and Sharman before but I worked with Boman and Kareena for the first time as also Omi who played Chatur. Working with Raju Hirani is something I’ll always cherish. It was something of a huge, enriching experience working with him. I’d watched Munnabai MBBS and Lage Raho Munnabhai and I was really impressed with those films. So I was really looking forward to working with him.
What was it like playing someone half your age?
(Laughs heartily) Tough. Very, very tough. Whenever you’re jumping the age barrier as an actor it is always very challenging whether you’re playing someone below your age or above your age. That’s always a tough one.
Did all that bodybuilding for Ghajini come in handy?
No, as a matter of fact I had to lose all of it – so it was heartbreaking. I had to work hard for Ghajini and then I had to shed all that muscle to for this role.
You’re a perfectionist, aren’t you – pushing your limits all the time?
I enjoy it. Each part that I play is something that I fall in love with… that’s the way I work. I’ve only done my best.
With the success of Ghajini and now 3 Idiots, can we look forward to a hat trick soon?
Well I have been fortunate really with Fanaa, Rang de Basanti and Tare Zameen Par all of which did very well, too. My next release will be Dhobi Ghat. It’s written and directed by Kiran [his wife] and is due to be released later in 2010.
What would be your dream project – something that really would excite you?
What excites me is the Mahabharat. It’s a most amazing epic and a real big one. I’m not sure if I’m up to it. It’s a big one and a tough one. If I ever get on to it it’ll take 20 years out of my life. That’s something I dream about.
There are people who sincerely believe a film like Taare Zameen Par should have got greater international recognition. What do you say to that?
We have a huge and healthy audience here in India for which I make my films, really. To take the film for audiences beyond that, I’ll have to stop my other work. Its difficult and I’m not sure if I have the bandwidth for that sort of thing. I make films for our own audiences – people living in India and abroad who like to watch Indian films. And a film like Taare Zameen Par has appealed to a wide audience irrespective of the culture or the country they belong to. Disney, for example, has come out with a DVD for home entertainment that takes it to audiences who normally don’t watch Hindi films.
Aamir, you must be pleased to note that 3 Idiots has been received very well and also is emerging a top grosser on the New Zealand and Australia circuit. You must have something to say for the fans…
I’d like to thank my fans in New Zealand, Australia and everywhere for the kind of response. Thank you all for this tremendous reaction to 3 Idiots.
--
The film’s distributors in New Zealand and Australia, Mind Blowing Films has planned a film festival in the two countries in March 2010. Watch this space for further information. Meanwhile, enjoy 3 Idiots if you haven’t yet seen it.
Bollywood’s holiday offering and Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots is well on its way to turning out to be one of the biggest blockbusters ever. It has received rave reactions in New Zealand and Australia just as it has in India and across the world. The passionate actor and film maker – Aamir – who has...
Bollywood’s holiday offering and Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots is well on its way to turning out to be one of the biggest blockbusters ever. It has received rave reactions in New Zealand and Australia just as it has in India and across the world. The passionate actor and film maker – Aamir – who has had a string of successes in the past few years and one who values quality way above quantity and has earned a reputation as a perfectionist, spoke exclsuively with Indian Weekender editor-in-chief Dev Nadkarni on phone from Bangalore. Excerpts from the conversation:
Aamir, What’s your reaction to 3 Idiots now on course to becoming the top grosser ever?
We are absolutely thrilled with the response of the audiences everywhere. It feels great and the team is grateful for this tremendous reaction. I think it’s a tribute to the theme, the concept, the performances, the execution – all the team’s efforts.
What do you think is the single biggest factor in the film that appealed to audiences?
Actually, the single biggest factor that appealed to all of us including the people who made the film is this: follow your heart and don’t compromise in doing what your heart says. Don’t chase success; chase excellence and success will come looking for you. I think that’s what the film says in many ways and that’s something all of us can identify and can agree with. Also, the great sense of humour in the film works in a big way – even when you cry you laugh. That is an awesome factor as well.
What was it like for you personally working on 3 Idiots?
I absolutely enjoyed working with the bunch of actors. I’ve worked with Madhavan and Sharman before but I worked with Boman and Kareena for the first time as also Omi who played Chatur. Working with Raju Hirani is something I’ll always cherish. It was something of a huge, enriching experience working with him. I’d watched Munnabai MBBS and Lage Raho Munnabhai and I was really impressed with those films. So I was really looking forward to working with him.
What was it like playing someone half your age?
(Laughs heartily) Tough. Very, very tough. Whenever you’re jumping the age barrier as an actor it is always very challenging whether you’re playing someone below your age or above your age. That’s always a tough one.
Did all that bodybuilding for Ghajini come in handy?
No, as a matter of fact I had to lose all of it – so it was heartbreaking. I had to work hard for Ghajini and then I had to shed all that muscle to for this role.
You’re a perfectionist, aren’t you – pushing your limits all the time?
I enjoy it. Each part that I play is something that I fall in love with… that’s the way I work. I’ve only done my best.
With the success of Ghajini and now 3 Idiots, can we look forward to a hat trick soon?
Well I have been fortunate really with Fanaa, Rang de Basanti and Tare Zameen Par all of which did very well, too. My next release will be Dhobi Ghat. It’s written and directed by Kiran [his wife] and is due to be released later in 2010.
What would be your dream project – something that really would excite you?
What excites me is the Mahabharat. It’s a most amazing epic and a real big one. I’m not sure if I’m up to it. It’s a big one and a tough one. If I ever get on to it it’ll take 20 years out of my life. That’s something I dream about.
There are people who sincerely believe a film like Taare Zameen Par should have got greater international recognition. What do you say to that?
We have a huge and healthy audience here in India for which I make my films, really. To take the film for audiences beyond that, I’ll have to stop my other work. Its difficult and I’m not sure if I have the bandwidth for that sort of thing. I make films for our own audiences – people living in India and abroad who like to watch Indian films. And a film like Taare Zameen Par has appealed to a wide audience irrespective of the culture or the country they belong to. Disney, for example, has come out with a DVD for home entertainment that takes it to audiences who normally don’t watch Hindi films.
Aamir, you must be pleased to note that 3 Idiots has been received very well and also is emerging a top grosser on the New Zealand and Australia circuit. You must have something to say for the fans…
I’d like to thank my fans in New Zealand, Australia and everywhere for the kind of response. Thank you all for this tremendous reaction to 3 Idiots.
--
The film’s distributors in New Zealand and Australia, Mind Blowing Films has planned a film festival in the two countries in March 2010. Watch this space for further information. Meanwhile, enjoy 3 Idiots if you haven’t yet seen it.
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