Tahir Hussain’s son Aamir wasn’t launched like a usual film family kid. Instead, his debut movie was a small-budget production. Yes, it had great tunes by Anand-Milind. Aamir had worked as a child actor in Yaadon Ki Baaraat and had a second fiddle role in Holi as a novice. But when Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak released to a rousing reception Aamir became the new heartthrob. He broke hearts when he admitted that he was already married to his childhood sweetheart Reena Dutta. But that didn’t discourage his female fans. No wonder Aamir was then cast in a slew of lightweight romances of which Dil with Madhuri Dixit was a resounding success. Even then Aamir took risks like Raakh and Awwal Number. 

Many say it was Aamir’s choosy nature that let Shah Rukh Khan cement a place in the movies. Aamir reportedly said no to Darr, Baazigar, Saajan, Hum Aapke Hain Koun and many other films. He chose to focus on films like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Rangeela. And then he hit a purple patch with blockbusters Raja Hindustani, Ishq and Ghulam. It helped that Aamir was playing contrasting characters in every film, far from the formulaic.

Sarfarosh ascertained that Aamir was evolving as an actor. And when he took on the rustic Lagaan he made it a personal project. He turned producer and he even adopted a village in Bhuj. Simultaneously, he went metrosexual in Dil Chahta Hai spurring a riotous imitation of his spiked haircut and goatee by teenagers. Aamir took time off for the magnum opus of Mangal Pandey but it flopped. There was also the Jessica Hines controversy where the British journalist alleged she had mothered Aamir’s love child Jaan. But he chose not to react. Instead he restored balance with Rang De Basanti. This was also the time he took a stand for the Narmada Bachao Andolan. Aamir conquered the director’s chair with the sensitive Taare Zameen Par and then turned things on ‘the head’ to unleash a marketing blitzkrieg for Ghajini (he had theatre ushers sporting his Ghajini hairdo). This was followed by the 3 Idiots phenomenon, which further established Aamir as a marketing genius. The humanitarian in him wasn’t too far behind. His TV show Satyamev Jayate focussed on problems plaguing the society and braveheart stories. It earned Aamir a Time Magazine cover. His mega-budget Dhoom 3 is about to release and promises to end the year with a bang! 

Written By Rachit Gupta