Celebrities are notoriously cagey when you broach the subject of private emotions. But Aamir Khan doesn’t shy away from revealing his vulnerable side.
“I am constantly living in the fear that I will lose people who are close to me,” said Khan in an interview with tabloid!.
The father of three, who has gained considerable clout at the box office, saw his fears increase three-fold when he was making Talaash, the much-anticipated thriller releasing in the UAE today.
“Talaash is a suspense drama. Apart from that, there is an important aspect to the story — it’s a story about coming to terms with loss. Each and every one of us has lost someone close to him or her, or stands to lose someone, or is afraid of that happening. It’s the truth of our life,” said Khan.
In Talaash, Khan plays police officer Shekhawat, a troubled Mumbai cop obsessed with murder cases. Khan’s cop act will be a far cry from Salman Khan’s much-loved comical act in blockbuster Dabangg. Bollywood has a tendency to depict the law-enforcement officers in an extreme light — either they are villainous or they are upright officers. A middle path just doesn’t exist.
real human being
“Talaash is certainly realistic in terms of cop portrayal. When you see my character Shekhawat, you will see him as someone who’s a real human being. He has his own own weaknesses and issues,” said Khan, who has pushed boundaries in the past. His films, though mainstream, are rarely about showcasing his star persona. He’s played an inspiring teacher to a dyslexic child in Taare Zameen Par and a cricket bat-wielding villager in colonial drama Lagaan.
This fact was noted by Reema Katgi, director of Talaash. The screenplay was written by Katgi and Zoya Akhtar, the winning combination behind last year’s blockbuster Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
“The actors in Talaash are so good, they know their craft well. The best part is that they can transcend their star persona and bring the characters to life. They are not just about larger-than-life characters. My film has real people and it’s wonderful to see it play out in real life,” said Katgi, who also directed the feel-good romance Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.
In turn Khan, 47, found one-film-old Katgi’s perceptive nature helpful.
“Reema is someone whom I trust. She is clear about what she wants. She understands her material well. As an actor, I found her helpful in discovering layers in my character,” said Khan. Like all unions in Bollywood, their association took several years to materialise.
“Actually, I don’t like to make people wait. I don’t enjoy that at all. Whenever someone approaches me with a film, I am very upfront about whether I can do it or not. I tell the producers and directors right away because I respect their time. I respect their work and creativity. I don’t like to keep them waiting. I tell them exactly how long it will be before I can start their film,” said Khan.
A stickler for time (tabloid! witnessed it first-hand when he came to the Gulf News office to guest edit in 2010), Khan began scaling down work and focusing on one project at a time. This strategy has won him the “zara hatke actor” tag (an actor who does everything with a twist).
“Being different is not the intent. My choice of films is really based on how excited and touched I am about a story or a script. It doesn’t matter which genre it is or whether such a film has been made earlier. I should be excited about the material in front me, it should touch me.”
social issues
His TV debut as the host of Satyamev Jayate, where he tackled grim social issues with conviction, stands as a proof.
“Sometimes what I am attracted to may be organically different from what’s happening around me,” he said.
Talaash, which was shot in real locations in Mumbai, displays signs of an entertaining film.
“It was a challenging script for me and Zoya to write. Its emotions are darker than conventional Bollywood films are comfortable touching upon. It’s a story about loss, sadness and pain,” said Katgi.
It may be an intense film, but actor-producer Khan wishes it was released during Diwali or Christmas. The holiday season is considered lucrative for filmmakers.
“Timing is always important. When you have worked on a film, you want it to have a good release. The ideal time for any film to release would be during the holiday period – either Diwali, Christmas or Eid. Unfortunately for Talaash, we couldn’t stick it into any Diwali or festive slots. I am disappointed, but I hope the material speaks for itself,” said Khan.
Neither the director nor the actor believes in joining the famed Rs1 billion club, a nod to the robust box office collections that hit films take on their opening weekend.
“I don’t think it is fair. It’s such a reductionist way of making a film. Numbers are for accountants and not creative people.
“These numbers tell you how many people watched the film, but it doesn’t tell you how many people liked the film. People need to change the equations on how a film is judged. Money is just a by-product of a good film. How the viewers respond to a film is important,” said Katgi.
Both promise an emotional catharsis at the end of Talaash.
“It’s a gripping story with strong emotional undercurrents,” added Khan.
Don’t Miss it:
Talaash releases in cinemas across the UAE on Thursday.
