Happy Birthday, Aamir Khan, Mr Perfectionist @ 54
Aamir Khan's life in pics
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Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who celebrates his 54th birthday today, is perhaps the only actor who has limited himself to one movie a year - and what a movie it always turns out to be - Aamir's 2016 film Dangal broke all records to emerge as the highest-earning Bollywood film of all time with collections estimated at more than Rs 400 crore at the box office.
On his 54th birthday, here's a pictorial look at Mr Perfectionist's life and career so far. -
Aamir Khan is the second generation of a filmy family. His father was film producer Tahir Hussain. His uncle Nasir Hussain was also a famous film producer, director and actor. A third uncle, Tariq, acted in movies like Yaadon Ki Baraat (in which Aamir had a small role) and Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin. Aamir's cousin Mansoor Khan made his directing debut with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, the film that launched Aamir into the stratosphere of stardom. The Khans are descendants of freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
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Aamir's breakthrough role was in the movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak(1988), opposite Juhi Chawla. The revenge and romance tale was a blockbuster, and Aamir's 'chocolate boy' looks made him a teen idol. The song Papa Kehtey Hain Bada Naam Karega is considered something of a youth anthem and is popular even today.
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In 1992, Aamir charmed as a slacker schoolboy who re-invents himself as a cycling champion in Mansoor Khan's Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. Loosely based on The Sound of Music, Aamir's next mega hit, Hum Hain Raahi Pyaar Ke (1993), co-starred his Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak heroine Juhi Chawla.
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1995 brought with it applause and high praise for Aamir's pitch perfect performance as a tapori in Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela, opposite rising star Urmila Matondkar. But despite a stellar performance, he lost the Filmfare Award to Shah Rukh Khan (for Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge). That was when the actor decided to boycott all popular award shows.
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Then came a series of super hit films for the actor, starting with Raja Hindustani (1996) for which he won the Filmfare Best Actor award (and didn't show up to collect), followed by Ishq in 1997 co-starring Juhi Chawla, Kajol and Ajay Devgn, and Ghulam, opposite Rani Mukerji (1998).
Sarfarosh(1999), co-starring Sonali Bendre and Naseeruddin Shah, brought him more critical praise. -
Another landmark year in Aamir's life was 2001, when the actor turned producer with Lagaan. It became the third Hindi film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film won seven National Film Awards, in addition to fetching Aamir his second Filmfare Best Actor Award.
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Lagaan was a hard act to follow but in the same year, Aamir pulled another rabbit out of the hat with Dil Chahta Hai, playing the brash Akash in Farhan Akhtar's acclaimed writing and directing debut. Aamir then took a four-year break and made a comeback with the poorly received Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005).
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The Mangal Pandey fizzle was soon erased by the success of Rang De! Basanti in 2006, which earned Aamir the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, apart from other honours. The film was also selected as India's official entry to the Oscars but was not shortlisted as a nominee. The film received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the BAFTA Awards. Aamir also appeared with actress Kajol in her comeback film Fanaa the same year.
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In 2014, Aamir smashed all records with his mega-blockbuster film PK, in which he played the role of an alien, marooned on Earth, critiquing fake godmen and superstition. The film was criticised by several religious outfits and Aamir said that the film wasn't meant to have hurt sentiments.
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Aamir also struck a high note in 2012 with his ground-breaking television series Satyamev Jayate, which dealt with issues and problems in the Indian society. The show, of which three seasons have aired so far, has discussed issues like female foeticide, sexual assault and disability.
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Aamir Khan's younger brother Faisal also tried his luck in Bollywood and was first launched by their father Tahir Hussain in 1994's flop film Madhosh. Six years later, Faisal appeared with brother Aamir in Mela (2000), also a flop. Since then, Faisal's career as an actor has been limited to a handful of forgettable B-grade films and a couple of TV roles.