Published By: Sayan Paul

Birthday Special: Aamir Khan Became An Actor "Merely By Accident" - Know How

Despite being born into a film family, Aamir Khan had no desire to join the industry while growing up.

After nearly four decades of excellence in Hindi cinema, Aamir Khan continues to reign supreme in the hearts of cinephiles. But it’s not just about acting - yes, he’s a phenomenal actor, with countless unforgettable performances to his credit. However, what truly sets him apart from his contemporaries is his deep understanding of cinema (both as an art form and a business) and obviously his unmatched commitment to meaningful storytelling. Whether as an actor or a producer (or the occasional director), he constantly pushes his own boundaries, ensuring that every project he takes on leaves a lasting impact on our minds. Of course, not all his calculations work out as expected; sometimes he makes a 'Thugs of Hindustan', and sometimes a 'Laal Singh Chaddha' fails despite his best efforts. But no one can deny that his intentions have always been in the right place. That's the definition of a true artist. That's the definition of Aamir Khan.

Born on March 14, 1965, Aamir Khan stepped into the spotlight as a lead actor in 1988 with Mansoor Khan's 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'. And from that moment on, there has been no looking back. However, contrary to popular belief, his entry into showbiz was merely by accident. Today, on the superstar's 60th birthday, let's learn about that in this article.

Why Aamir Khan Never Wanted to Enter the Film Industry

Aamir Khan is the son of Tahir Hussain, who was an actor, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. Several of his relatives have been members of the Hindi film industry, including his late paternal uncle, director-producer Nasir Hussain, and his cousin, director-producer Mansoor Khan.

However, despite being born into a film family, he never wanted to enter the industry while growing up. And there's enough reason behind that.

As a kid, Khan was very introverted and hence was scared of the spotlight in showbiz. Also, seeing his father struggle as a filmmaker, he never really saw films as a career option. In his own words, "... I was shy, high-strung, goofy and awkward. Acting was far remote from my thoughts, my 'filmi' connections disillusioned me further. My dad being a producer, paid the directors and artists; yet, he had to regularly chase them, as they would play musical chairs with him before completing his films. Seeing these unfavorable conditions. I vowed that I would never become a producer or have anything to do with films."

(Credit: Bollywoodirect)

In an interview with Times Entertainment, he shared, "My parents never wanted me to enter the film industry. They wanted their children to be in a more steady profession that has less ups and downs. So they were strongly against it."

Becoming An Actor - "Merely by Accident"

While Khan appeared in a few films in brief roles (including 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat'), he never considered it as a career option. However, destiny had planned it differently. When he was still in school, filmmaker Aditya Bhattacharya came to him with an offer, which actually changed his life.

As the actor shared in an interview, "Acting was merely by accident. When I was in the XII standard, Aditya Bhattacharya approached me for his short film, which he desired to send for the festival and I said 'Yes' just for the fun of it. I enjoyed the experience and it gradually grew on me making me confident of the fact that I could act. I then made up my mind to take up acting as a profession."

(Credit: Shemaroo)

Well, that was a 40-minute silent film, titled 'Paranoia', funded by filmmaker Shriram Lagoo. Khan kept the shooting a secret because his parents were against him being in films. He played the lead role alongside Neena Gupta and Victor Banerjee while also assisting Bhattacharya - and that experience opened the door to an entirely new world for him.

And The Rest - As They Say - Is History

After 'Paranoia', Khan realized his inclination towards acting and hence started working for the same. He joined a theatre group called Avantar, where he worked backstage for over a year. He made his stage debut with a small role in the play, 'Kesar Bina', at Prithvi Theatre, and went on to appear in several other plays along the way.

After completing high school, he worked as an assistant director to Nasir Hussain on the films 'Manzil Manzil' and 'Zabardast'. Meanwhile, he also acted in documentaries and short films directed by the students of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. Filmmaker Ketan Mehta happened to notice him in those films, and offered him a role in his film, 'Holi'. In 1988, he made his debut as a lead actor with Mansoor Khan's directorial debut, 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak', opposite Juhi Chawla. The rest, as they say, is history!

(Credit: Film History Pics)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Khan. Thanks For All The Amazing Films!