An Exclusive Interview With Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan's, appeal is about an actor assiduously honing his craft to perfection. It’s about a committed professional with an inbred understanding of cinema. He is a perfectionist.

How has the Lagaan experience been?
It has been very very rewarding, I must say. It has taught me a lot. a lotabout filmmaking and a lot more about dealing with people and coping withSOS situations.

Weren’t you scared to touch such an unusual subject?
Well, I'm not afraid to take risks. If I believe in the script and if I have faith and trust in the director, then I'm quite willing to try something that might conventionally seem risky. When I heard the script of Lagaan, I enjoyed it so much, I just wanted to be a part of it. And the decision of whether I'm doing a film or not, as an actor or anything, is based on that one moment in the script... either I like it or I don't. So if I like it, it's an instinctive decision that yes, this is something I like, this is something that excites and moves me so I want to be a part of this. I select my films on that basis, and so likewise, I selected Lagaan.

The film is said to have been very demanding.
Yes, definitely. We had for over 165 days, more than 200 extras on a dailywage on scenes that required over 50 actors.

What did you like most about Lagaan that you chose it as your debut film as a producer?
The narrative. It was brilliant. I knew it would work. I think my strength, as a producer, is that I am a creative person too. So I'm willing to go that much further to support the creative team, in trying to achieve the full potential of the film.

Why did you choose Gracy Singh?
Because she offered the dates that no one else could. (Laughs) Not really,thought that was also a reason. It was primarily because she fitted therole. And we were quite clear that we would like to shoot the film at onestretch. One of them was Rani Mukherjee. I had also spoken to Preity Zinta.

Rani agreed and you refused?
When I asked her about her date situation, she said that she signed these so many films, and that she was trying to work out her dates. And I told her 'don't do that' because the other producers should not feel neglected. So we did not go ahead with that. We'll work together some other time. Then we started looking out for a new girl and a lot of girls were tested for that. Gracie was the one who suited the role the best.

You didn't mind Gracie acting in a sidey role in Hum Aapke Dil Mein RehteHain?
Oh! I didn't even know she had done that. This is the first time I'm hearing it. Actually she would feel quite bad if you call it a sidey role. Because every role is important for an actor. She may be talented, but was wasted in that film.Everyone has their path that they take. What I would like to say about Gracie is that she's immensely talented. She's a complete natural. Her performance has a lot of ease in it. She has an amazing amount of energy and brightness on her face. I'm trying to get the right words for it. In real life, she's very shy and introvert kind of a person, but when she comes in front of the camera she comes alive. And a very effortless performer. She's very good dancer. She looks very good. We also wanted a girl who had very Indian features, who would seem fit into the milieu of this small village in India, that we are showing in the film. Preity, of course, we were planning to paint black. I'm just joking. She's quite fair. But Preity also has very Indian features if you do her hair correctly, and her dress correctly. The basic face is very Indian. Gracie of course reminds me of Vyjanthimala of Ganga Jamuna and Madhumati.

The music of the film by A R Rahman is well-appreciated.
Yes, Rahman spent a lot of time creating the music of the film as he had to go back to the days of the Raj. Using a fusion of Indian classical and folk music and a bit of western classical, Rahman has created wonders. JavedAkhtar's lyrics give life to the music.

Your wife Reena was the executive producer? How much did she help you with the film?
A great deal; she was a huge help. When I look back, I don't think I could have managed without her, because she took a lot of the responsibilities off my shoulders.

What are the reactions of those who’ve seen the film?
I did show it in Delhi and Atalji, Sushmaji and Advaniji liked it a lot. Their reactions do matter a lot to me, because they are very intelligent and aware people, so their positive reactions were very heart warming. Also, Mr Bachchan saw the film and liked it very much.

You have been trying for tax exemption for the film?
All my distributors are applying for tax exemptions, so let's see.

Didn't you ask the PM himself?
No, I did not broach the topic of tax exemption with the PM (laughing); I didn't have the himmat for it. He was sitting next to me while watching the film. I was thinking twice even before changing my position because I didn't want to disturb him. Also, I was trying to see how he was reacting to the film. He seemed to be really enjoying the film; his family was sitting around. I could see Advaniji, who was sitting with his wife, telling her ki, 'Ab aisa hoga, waisa hoga," very engrossed in the film. I was happy about that.

You have been branded as a perfectionist?
That's very unfortunate for me. Because I've been accused of something I've never done. It is unfortunate for my directors who are very talented people and unnecessarily people will feel that they haven't done their job and that I did it for them. It's very unfortunate and sad for them. And what is also very strange and sad is that this is an allegation put on me which started some ten years back perhaps, (I've been working for twelve years now) by some Bombay-based film magazines whom I've not been speaking for the last eight to ten years. And no one has bothered to investigate whether there's truth in it or not. Most of the (even the mainline) press has just carried it on. And this has been a mandatory question from the press from the past ten years. Arre bhai, come on my sets uninformed, and watch. And see how I'm working. I invite any of you all to do that. Indulge in investigative journalism, test me whether I'm speaking the truth or not, and see for yourself.