logo
Aamir Khan recalls eight years of poverty; family had no income, creditors were at the door: ‘People think producers have a lot of money'

Aamir Khan recalls eight years of poverty; family had no income, creditors were at the door: ‘People think producers have a lot of money'

Indian Express03-06-2025
Aamir Khan may be a 'perfectionist' now, but his inclination towards control stems from his childhood. On a new podcast, the actor-producer talked about how, despite coming from a film family, he didn't benefit from nepotism. Aamir recalled how his family had a financially strenuous time when he was a kid. 'There were a lot of financial problems at home. Usually, people think film producers have a lot of money. There's no truth to that. Most producers struggle a lot to make ends meet. There was a film of Abba jaan (father), Locket, which took eight years to make. There were problems with the actors' dates so the film, which was supposed to finish in one or one and a half years, stretched to eight years,' said Aamir.
On Raj Shamani's YouTube channel, he continued, 'There was no income at home for eight years. Because Abba jaan had taken a loan, and the interest was top-level at 36%, there was a very long rough patch in the middle.' He explained how his late father Tahir Hussain would be stuck in a vicious cycle because lenders would keep calling him for recovery while no other lender would loan him more money to finish the pending shoot.
Also read – The director who launched Dharmendra, Kabir Bedi and Zeenat Aman died broke: 'Not in good shape financially or physically'
'I used to play competitive tennis then. Since I knew there's stress at home, I'd keep whatever prize money I won with my Ammi (mother) and tell her if she wants to buy any of my stuff, like shoes or clothes, she should buy from that money. When I'm saying all this, I'm realising I became responsible from a very young age,' added Aamir.
Aamir's father Tahir Hussain produced films like the 1971 crime thriller Caravan, Raghunath Jhalani's 1973 romantic thriller Anamika, and Mahesh Bhatt's 1993 romantic comedy Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, starring Aamir. He turned director with another Aamir-starrer, the fantasy revenge drama Tum Mere Ho, in 1990. He died of a heart attack in 2010.
Aamir revealed despite the deep debt, his father was a strong and determined figure, qualities that he has inherited from him. 'He was a man of his word. He used to tell actors he doesn't have money to pay them, but he would as soon as the film releases. I remember Dutt sahab (late Sunil Dutt) told me when my father made Zakhmee (1975), he was afraid he wouldn't get his fees, but when the film released and worked, he got his money. So he used to stick to his commitments,' added Aamir.
Another quality he learnt from Tahir was condensing the story of a film to one line. 'If you can't narrate your film in one line, it won't be a hit. When I was little, I'd think one narrates a film in three hours, so how could one bring it down to one line! I thought Abba jaan was being unreasonable. Later, when I grew up and learnt a bit about filmmaking, I realised what he meant,' said Aamir.
Also Read — Aamir Khan says he met girlfriend Gauri Spratt 'by mistake', calls ex-wives Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao his forever family: 'Thought I didn't need a partner'
'What's your premise? What are you trying to say? Mhari chhori chhoron se kum ke hai ke — this is the one-line story of Dangal. If you can't narrate your film in one line, then your story is confused,' he explained further. Aamir's 2016 sports drama Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, remains the highest-grossing Indian film at the global box office.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

We knew Aamir would do it: Sitaare Zameen Par writer on Farhan Akhtar stepping aside
We knew Aamir would do it: Sitaare Zameen Par writer on Farhan Akhtar stepping aside

India Today

time28 minutes ago

  • India Today

We knew Aamir would do it: Sitaare Zameen Par writer on Farhan Akhtar stepping aside

During the promotion of 'Sitaare Zameen Par', Aamir Khan revealed that Farhan Akhtar was supposed to do the film, after he declined it. However, during the readings of the script, the superstar decided that it was too good a story to let go. He spoke to Farhan, who was gracious enough to let go, and Aamir got back on it. The writer of the film, Divy Nidhi Sharma, in an exclusive chat with India Today, admitted that though he and director RS Prasanna knew all along that 'The Perfectionist' would come along, and star in the he could tell us, Prasanna and I had gauged that he was interested. As we were doing our final readings, he would often try to stop us. While we thought he would give us some feedback, he would just say it's a really well-written script. So we would just look at each other and agree that he will want to do this film. After a few days, when he finally told us, we told him that 'we were waiting for you to say it'. I think sir was a little disappointed that we didn't show much enthusiasm, but we had known all along," Sharma said with a that the film is an adaptation of the Spanish film 'Campeon', we asked the writer about his biggest challenge in making the film suited for the Indian audience. He said, "You have to hold on to the cultural contexts and nuances, as that makes a huge difference. The social scenarios in Spain are very different from India. For example, the scene where Gulshan finds out that his mother is seeing the family cook. In the original film, the scene ends there, but as an Indian, I felt that a child, whatever the age, would have a bigger reaction to his mother's affair. Hence, we gave a long follow-up scene, which, thankfully, was very well-received. So you have to keep these emotions in mind while scripting." Divy Nidhi Sharma also spoke about his favourite character from the film, and it's not Aamir's or even the neurodivergent actors. "It was Daulat ji's character. People kept questioning why Brijendra Kala would do the part of a butler who has such a short role. But nobody could forsee the arc of his character. I really enjoyed writing that. I also liked how Gulshan and Sunita's love story panned out; it gave a very beautiful shade to the film."The writer also discussed Aamir Khan's decision to have a theatre-only release for 'Sitaare Zameen Par'. Calling himself a cinema lover, he praised his lead star and producer's decision, stating how it needs guts to say no to so much money. "I really hope other producers also follow suit and we can revive the habit of going to the theatres. We can never find the substitute for something as immersive as cinema."On a final note, Sharma shared some pearls of wisdom for new writers who want to enter the film industry. "People who are coming to work right now, most have not seen Indian cinema. They go for meetings and talk about world cinema, but you also need to know the basics of Indian, commercial, and masala films. They should know the history of the country to be able to tell these stories. And I am not talking only about Bollywood, but all languages and cultures. Their basic grammar remains the same, and a writer needs to be adept with it."Sitaare Zameen Par is currently running in theatres.- EndsYou May Also Like

Aamir Khan Dismisses Rumours That He's Making Film On Meghalaya Murder Case: "Absolutely No Truth"
Aamir Khan Dismisses Rumours That He's Making Film On Meghalaya Murder Case: "Absolutely No Truth"

NDTV

timea day ago

  • NDTV

Aamir Khan Dismisses Rumours That He's Making Film On Meghalaya Murder Case: "Absolutely No Truth"

New Delhi: Aamir Khan dismissed reports that he's making a film on the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case. Speculation began when a news portal put out an article saying that Aamir Khan is "closely following the updates on the Meghalaya Murder case." What's Happening Times Now claimed that Aamir Khan is "closely following the updates on the Meghalaya Murder case" and is "personally tracking and discussing the details with his close circle." "There might be a development on the subject from his production too," the entertainment portal claimed. After the news was published, Aamir reacted to it and dismissed it. Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Aamir said, "There is absolutely no truth to it." He added, "I honestly don't know where these stories start." For the unversed, the Meghalaya murder case refers to Sonam, the wife accused of murdering her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon, which dominated headlines for months for its chilling details and psychological complexities. Aamir Khan's Recent Work Meanwhile, Aamir Khan is currently enjoying the success of his recently released movie, Sitaare Zameen Par. Released in June this year, the film earned over Rs 160 crore at the box office. Next, Aamir will be seen in Rajinikanth's Coolie in a never-seen avatar. Recently, Aamir talked about his cameo in the film when he said, "I really enjoyed doing it. I am big fan of Rajini fan. I have a lot of love and respect for Rajini sir. So, I did not even hear the script. When Lokesh told me that it is a Rajini sir's movie and that he wanted me to do a cameo, I said, 'Done. I am doing it. Whatever it is, I am doing it.'" Aamir Khan dismissed rumours that he's making a film on the Meghalaya murder.

Aamir Khan Makes A Laid Back Appearance, Enjoys Rainy Day In Mumbai
Aamir Khan Makes A Laid Back Appearance, Enjoys Rainy Day In Mumbai

News18

timea day ago

  • News18

Aamir Khan Makes A Laid Back Appearance, Enjoys Rainy Day In Mumbai

Last Updated: Aamir will soon be attending The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025, scheduled from August 14-24, as a Chief Guest. Fresh off the success of his recent release, Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan is now reportedly working on the scripts of his next projects. As fans await to see the actor in a new role, he grabbed the audience's attention with his laid-back look in a white casual T-shirt and grey pyjamas as he stepped out amid heavy Mumbai rains. In a video shared on Instagram, Aamir is seen at his building complex and striking a pose for the shutterbugs stationed at the location. As the clip moves forward, we see him briefly interacting with the paps and his security before heading towards his car. Aamir will soon be attending The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025, scheduled from August 14-24, as a Chief Guest. His attendance at the 16th edition of the Festival will include a unique retrospective honouring his exceptional achievements in Indian cinema, culminating in a spotlight presentation on his most recent film, Sitaare Zameen Par. Speaking about being a part of the IFFM 2025 as the Chief Guest, Aamir said in a statement, 'I'm humbled and excited to be a part of the Melbourne Indian Film Festival. It's a festival that truly honours the spirit of Indian cinema in all of its diversity and riches. I'm excited to interact with audiences, share some of my most valued work, and participate in discussions that honour the power of film. With Sitaare Zameen Par, we attempted to tell a story that embraces inclusivity and neurodivergence with sensitivity and heart, and I'm grateful that the film has touched so many people. I am eager to share my journey with Melbourne and shed light on the stories that matter." On the work front, Aamir's Sitaare Zameen Par minted around Rs 165 crore Net in India after a month of its release. Directed by RS Prasanna, the film also featured Genelia D'Souza in the lead. The film follows the story of Gulshan Arora, a suspended basketball coach who, as part of his community service, is assigned to train a team of neurodivergent adults. Initially, Gulshan is reluctant, but through his interactions with the team, he learns empathy and discovers a new perspective on life. Up next, he will be seen in director Rajkumar Hirani's biopic film based on the life of the father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store