Aamir Khan talks about Talaash, it's similarity with Satyamev Jayate, his choice of movies, the 100 crore club and more.....
1. Your role in Satyamev Jayate and the moral policing that you do in the show, do you think that will make easier for people to accept you as a cop in Talaash?
Well, I don’t think I would like to describe Satyamev Jayate as moral policing. I don't think that’s what it is. I think Satyamev Jayate is a personal journey to begin with and it’s a personal journey of self realization and understanding of issues that are close to all of us. And I personally believe that I am equally responsible for the way things are. Moral policing is not what we are doing in Satyamev Jayate, in fact we don't show names and faces of people as our policy because for us it's not the individual but it is kind of trying to find a way forward, there are people who have found a way forward and try to improve our lives. And perhaps through our knowledge and action we can do it. The essence of Satyamev Jayate is not moral policing and therefore your question doesn't make sense to me.
2. But do you think in any way it will help the people to accept you as a cop?
No, Satyamev Jayate has no connection with Talaash. Satyamev Jayate is real fiction and based on social issues whereas Talaash is purely entertainment and non-fiction.
3. Also, your films previously had values and social messages which highlighted the problems in the society; does Talaash also spread any such message in any way?
Not all of them are spreading social messages. I'll tell you about Talaash but before, I'll clarify your thoughts on that. You might have seen Delhi Belly, I don't think there was ANY social message in it (laughs) or Fanaa or Ghajini had any sort of message that would help the society. Those are emotional stories or love stories. So there were no social messages, therefore it's not true that I do only films with social messages. I do films that excite, touch my heart or move me. They may or may not have a social message that's a latter part. Some of them do and I am happy about it. But that is not the reason why I am doing those films. I am doing a story because it touches me. And as far as Talaash is concerned it's a suspense drama, it has no social message but there is very important aspect to the story and the reason why I chose Talaash and why it attracted is not just because it a great suspense story but as a listener when I was listening to the script I couldn't make out what's going to happen next and so it was an exciting journey for me to listen to the script. So in that sense, it builds the suspense in me and I found that suspense aspect in it very fulfilling but at its heart it’s a story of loss. It's a very emotional story and it touches you to the core. And each one of us has either lost someone very close to us or has the fear of losing your lover, husband-wife, brother or anyone. So losing somebody close to you is a reality for all of us which has either happened to us or will happen anytime soon. So apart from being a suspense drama, it is a film which, you know, moves you to come to a loss. And that's something important for all us - to come to that acceptance of loss. It's a very important aspect of our lives. And that's why the story attracted me a lot.
4. You have never repeated your directors or producers, each time you have a different director or producer, why is it so? Also, you are coming back with Kareena and Rani, how has it been with them?
I don't think that I don't have to repeat a producer or director; I don’t look at my projects in that manner. Each film is different. You ask, have I repeated director earlier, yes! I have done 3 films in the past with Mansoor Khan. I am repeating Raju Hirani; or rather he is repeating me (Laughs), that is a better way to put I guess. So it's on each individual project. I have no rule of not repeating director. I am happy to work with Ritesh and Farhan again after 10 years. Even the first time it was a wonderful experience and also this time it was great. We share a certain love for filmmaking in cinema and so we enjoy working together. And coming back to working with Kareena after 3 idiots and Rani after a little while, it was great working with them. Both are good actors and fine human beings and I get along with them very well. When you work with a good artist, there is certain chemistry that you share. It’s a give and take with co-actors. It makes you perform better too. They are fantastic actress. And the people will really enjoy seeing the two of them.
5. Your films always have a right balance of content and collection, so does it take a toll on you? Is it stressful?
(Smiles) Filmmaking is tough. So whether you have the balance or not the toll is taken on you in any case. I am fortunate that for the last so many years my films have done well. I am happy that right kinds of projects also have come my way and people like it. I have got a chance to work with some really talented directors in the industry and I am thankful. Filmmaking is a team effort and directors play a very important part. Writers play an important part. But along with that there's cameraman, there's sound engineer, other actors and so many people come on board to make a film. And a film does well; it's a result of the team doing well. I am fortunate to have worked with these people in the past. So the balance that you're talking of is not in my hands entirely.
6. Does the tag of ‘Mr. Perfectionist’ make you feel over analyzed or burdened?
No, it just makes me smile (Laughs). I don't believe in this tag, no one can be perfect. It is just that I love my work and so when I do it, I leave no stone unturned. There is nothing as perfect especially in the creative field. Basically I don't think I am any perfectionist!
7. Your movies have always had a universal appeal. Having said that, Talaash has a rather darker tone, so did you ever think that it would fail to make an universal impression?
That's what I said earlier. These things don't drive me. I am well aware of these things, I understand business. But my decisions are not moved only by scripts. When I heard the story by Reema, I loved it, I didn’t think of 100 crore that time. I just know that this is the story I love and I want to be a part of it. That's how I make my decisions. I know my films have done well, Ghajini was the first one to break the 100 crore record, and 3 idiots is the only one that has done more than 300 crores. But these are things not in my control in any way. 3 idiots did not make 300 crores because of me. I may have helped to get an opening. But it has done great later on because of Raju Hirani.
8. Qyamat Se Qyamat Tak till Talaash, how have you seen the changes in the films and scripts?
Ummmm…. I will complete 25 years as an actor next year. And the changes that I have observed all this while includes, there was a time when producers and directors experimented less and chose to be on the conventional road whereas now, they have started experimenting more with the cinema. Now the trend has begun to make films of different genre.
9. 25 years as an actor, do you still get nervous when your film releases?
Always! (Smiles) one day u feel confident, one day you feel, you made a mess, it’s a state of conflict, I get nervous. It’s like being in love, one day you think she doesn't love me, one day you think, omg! She is my life.
10. Aamir, in your past you have been in news about creating differences with your directors be it Amole Gupte or Anusha Rizvi, so how was it with Reema considering she is just one film old and you are a perfectionist…
It's been wonderful working with Reema, I found her to be a very sure footed director, she is much in control of the material, she is very clear what she wants and she also knows how she will get it. She doesn't compromise. She gets what she wants. Partly it's also because she is a writer. She is very familiar with the story; so she understands and has a grasp of it. She is someone whom I can have confidence in. At a number of occasions she could find out layers in my characters which I had not thought of, so I was pretty amazed at her understanding of the scene.
11. So, you mean there were no such scenes, where you had difference of opinion with her?
I think 99% of the time I was satisfied with her thoughts. I think not a single movie is such where I haven't given my opinion, but sometimes the opinion is taken and sometimes not. I don't even remember how many times it has been taken or not and it's not even important because I trust my directors. And when a director is working, everyone gives their opinion. When I was a director in Taare Zameen Par (TZP), everyone gave me opinions, that doesn't make me any less, Darsheel often gave me suggestions also (laughs). It's up to me to take or not. Filmmaking is a team effort of creative people in their own departments who are giving suggestions to fulfill my vision as a director. We all tried to follow Reema's vision (Smiles).
12. We haven’t seen your direction after TZP…so when can we see you back as a director?
Yes right! I have a story with me. But as an actor I have so many responsibilities now that I am too packed with all of that. Also, I have taken Satyamev Jayate season 2 in hand. So I have kept the story that I have chosen aside and will work on it as I get free. And I won't tell anything about the story (Grins).
13. You are playing a cop in Talaash and a thief in Dhoom 3, two contrasting roles. So, was it like a fun thing to do at a time?
Oh! Yes, I didn't think of that. True! Good observation (Chuckles). Well, Dhoom is fun in any case. I am enjoying shooting for Dhoom.
14. As you said, filmmaking is a group effort but if sometime there is some big star attached to it, the film becomes all about those stars. What is your take on this?
That's unfortunate! I feel the script really determines the films fortune. If the balance shifts just because he or she is a big star, that's really unfortunate. I hope that it doesn't happen at least in my movie.
15. Is it true that you have booked theatres for 2 weeks because 'Khiladi 786' is also releasing nearby around Talaash…
I hope we have (Laughs). I have no idea what my producers are doing. We decided onto the release date well in advance. So I am hoping we get at least 2 weeks, because I want to make sure that all those people who want to see my film get to see my film. That is pre-planning, that I want 2 weeks or 3 weeks, the theatre is bound to give me that much space, they may decide to give me one week, they might decide to not screen my film. The theatre can refuse to screen my film also. That is what open market is all about. I may want to release in your theatre but you may not want to agree on the terms I am giving you. Or I may not agree on the terms you are giving me. So we may not reach an agreement. But if we both reach an agreement then the film would remain for 2 weeks, 10 weeks. I have known of cases where the producers were aggressive about their films and over confident have said that they would open run. Open run is that I would release in your theatre and you will not remove my film until I tell you. So if the business becomes less I will give minimum guarantee. So you as a theatre owner will not lose. So the theatre owner would agree to open run that if the business drops beyond a certain level, you would pay me this much amount. It’s an individual agreement. So there is nothing wrong.
16. Anyhow, do you think the market is open up for grabs for a bigger party, that basically if he/she wants to block as many screens as they want, they can…
Now let me ask you a question. You are a theatre owner. You have a choice of playing 2 films in your theatre. Two films happened to be releasing on the same day. One of them is 3 idiots and the other is Peepli Live or Dhobi Ghat. I am talking in terms of size. But the example that I am giving you is if you are a theatre owner and I am releasing 3 idiots, I want it for 2 weeks and Peepli Live you have a choice you can either run after one week or you can run 3 idiots for 3 weeks, what will you do? (Reporter: I would obviously take 3 idiots for 3 weeks) You at your freewill will decide. Am I forcing to do that, no! You have the choice to decide one film over the other. No individual can ever be forced to do something. The single screen owner has decided that they want to run the film for 2 weeks, what is wrong with that. So your question of a film being bigger or smaller, you need to ask yourself if you are at the receiving end. If I am the theatre owner, I want to make sure that I earn money, which film to run that gives me huge bucks. I would tell Peepli Live that 'is waqt mujhe 3 idiots’ ke 2-3 week’s chahiye, aap uske baad aa jao, then I will run your film'. (I want to run 3 idiots for 2-3 weeks in my theatre, you come after that.) This is what open market is all about; as long as you are not doing anything illegal.
17. Aamir, whenever yours or any big star's movie comes, there is a lot of speculation, as in deciding how the movie will be performing at box office, how much money it will make… so does that 100 crore club bother you sometime as an actor or as a producer?
I don't believe in the profits that films make. At the outset I am not looking at figures. Figures gauge how the film has performed at the box office. I don't think of figures while I see the script and sign the movie. Had I thought of that, I wouldn't have done films like Lagaan, TZP, Rang De Basanti. I am the last person who looks at figures at the outset. Yes, the figures at a later date will tell you how many watched the film, how many liked it. So it will gauge the response to the film. And even then it’s not entirely accurate. You take a particular film, the number of people who have seen the film is very high, and when you ask the people how did you like the film, 7/10 say ummm okay, because if 7/10 are saying 'okay and fine', it’s not liked by many. Numbers can be deceptive. People may go and see the film because I am in it, because big actors are in it, that doesn't mean the film has done well. If you ask what success means to me, success to me is to convey exactly what we have thought of doing. When we sit and watch we should feel okay this is what I precisely wanted. Now, however it performs is a different aspect. Satisfaction that you get is above all. Ideally, success is when you're happy with what you make and people like it too and not merely numbers.
18. Your films, by and large, have been different as compared to other films. Most of them if we see are unique in themselves. So is it a constant decision each time to choose such a film?
Not at all! I have never thought of doing films off track. I am not even concerned what others are doing. I make my own decisions. I don't think that if he is not doing it, I will do it. Never! I do films on my own instinct and my own instinct happens to be different quite organically, and I have no control over that. What I am getting attracted to is something that has attracted me, and may not attract someone else, because it's my own gut feeling. It is my own emotional response to a story. It would sometime be very different from the mainstream or it may sometime be so mainstream that my fans would think that why am I getting in such a mainstream film. So my decision to do a film is not 'let me do something different'. I go with what my instinct is and it happens to be different.
19. But in hindsight, are you proud of every film that you have done?
Certainly not! Filmmaking is tough as I said. When you finally watch your product sometimes you think it's definitely not what you wanted, but then you cannot do anything about it. There were such films in my life too. But in the early part of my life, not in the later life. I like to be realistic about my work. So in the hindsight when I look at my films, I feel very embarrassed showing it to people. I won’t name them. Because each film has emotion attached to it and people attached to it. I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone now.
20. There are talks about remake of Andaz Apna Apna… what are your thoughts about such remakes nowadays?
If someone has liked the film, they can buy the rights and make a remake. Shakespeare's play has been presented in a different manner. As long as you're not hurting anyone, there is no harm with remakes.
21. What scares you the most about stardom?
(After a long pause) You're at a position where you will get what you ask for so you should be careful while asking for things.