Aamir Khan: Nudity is not vulgarity, PK

You recently attended Salman Khan sister’s wedding what did you do?

I sang the song “Aaye ho tum”. His family is very loving and relaxed; we had a lot of fun. Salman literally pulled me and made me dance. I usually don’t like to dance but then it was Arpita’s wedding. Arpita had also written a lovely note and she asked Priyanka to read it out as she became very emotional. We all became emotional and had tears in our eyes after we heard her letter.

Do you believe in Bidaai and how emotional is it for you?

I don’t believe in Bidaai as she is entering a happy phase of her life. It is a happy occasion as two loving people are entering a new phase of life.

There were a lot of criticisms with your first poster of PK, did you expect it and what do you want to convey through the poster?

You represent an image which is called Key Art. A key Art poster helps you tell the story of the film. So if you look at it keenly you can guess the story behind it. For Example, the poster of Taare Zameen Par shows a small boy sitting in a class room and drawing and behind him there are three to four seats and I am sitting on the third seat you come to know the story of the film. The first image is the lasting impression. In most of the films there are promotions all are film moments. It was the true picture I know some people would not like it. It was not distasteful. I hid it with a transistor. But I also feel that I and Raju will not do frivolousness or sensationalism. For example, we didn’t sensationalize the kissing scene in 3 Idiots. You have to be honest with Key Art. Yet I would like to say that nudity is not vulgarity. A nude child is not vulgar. Vulgarity has various meanings.

Do you believe that First impression is the last Impression?

I won’t say in all cases but yes it's important impression. It’s hard to predict about a film before release.

With every film your numbers keep changing how do you think PK will do at the box office?

We can only hope it will do well. I can’t compare any of my films. For me every film is unique. How can I compare Dhobi Ghat to Ghajini or 3 Idiots to P.K.? It has its own yardstick. P.K. is a universal film. How many of you can remember the box office results of Mughal-E-Azam or Pyaasa. Whether it’s done well at the box office or not it’s the film that stays on your mind. They have been my favorite films and I have emotional memories attached to it. 99% figures are wrong. Public believes in it. Business fraternity does not hide it. They know the truth, I am strict about my numbers and even Raju Hirani is strict about it. In America, Rentrack is there to monitor the figures they give out the right figures. Hope it comes to India too I would love to initiate it. No one breaks records except Sachin Tendulkar who has actually broken records out there on the field.

How different is PK and what is Raju Hirani’s specialty?

In Raju’s film there is drama. It’s a serious subject. He uses the vehicle of humor in his films and I love that.

Is there a thread of Migration in it?

In a sense it is. When I see films I see as an audience. It affects me like a common man. I am sensitive and I feel it affects sensitive people. That’s an advantage for an actor. If you don’t feel you can’t recreate it.

What inspires you in your roles?

I try to absorb as much from books, films, the way a writer writes and describes. I get to learn as an actor I absorb from paintings and songs and real life unconsciously. I try to understand from people’s nature it automatically registers in my mind. When I play my role and when I did 3 idiots I was 44 year old and I was playing an 18 year old. Your energy your thinking changes as you grow older. I use real life observations to my advantage. For that role I used Mansoor Khan’s son Babloo’s mannerisms. I would observe him and felt that he was never static he was always restless and had a lot of energy within him. I took some mannerisms of director Murugadoss. I had never met him before Ghajini and when I saw him I realized he was a young boy. He always sat on the edge of the seat. I liked his childlike qualities. He gets excited about everything. He gives instant reaction. There’s innocence intact in him. He speaks his mind out.

How much has Satyamev Jayate really affected you?

I am what I am and if I think I wouldn’t remove that poster I can only be honest with myself I don’t work with pressure or fear people. People have become close to me and I have become closer to the audience after the show. I have met people from different parts of the country. I do this talk on All India Radio programme and I reply to people. They share a lot with me. It’s an enriching experience. They speak in different accents. I feel their experience. I get strongly acquainted with emotions they are going through. We don’t realize what we do in humor but we should understand and what line we can cross or not cross. We have been doing deep research but somewhere we tend to make mistakes.

But some sects of the people have also criticized you?

A few detractors have said that I am aiding terrorists. Why should I clarify with everyone, I put in a defamation complaint in the police station. We have to understand in this day and age. The cyber cell caught these people. If I was like that people would not see my show. We are the number one trendsetters on twitter.

You have done so many films, which has been your toughest role?

PK has been my toughest role, Raju thinks differently. I feel how important I feel about it. Director also has a vision and how the team feels about it. It is the audience reaction to it as we expected. For me my kith and kin, friends and mom’s opinion matters. Finally I see a critic within the audience. Audience does not write but critic can write. Sometimes I agree with them and sometimes I don’t. You have to accept. Shoma, a journalist friend didn’t like 3 Idiots and she told me. She has her right to opinion.

Are reviews and feedbacks important for you?

I read twitter and get feedback it's important feedback. Earlier, I used to go to theatres. They are some good critics. Critics can be partial at times. I feel journalists should keep a distance from film fraternity. Their responsibility is beyond relationships.

What has been the most important event of the year?

Important event has been Satyamev Jayate and I have put in a lot of time. My mother says you are not doing too many films, you are not earning money. I do what I feel like doing.

You recently said in Satyamev Jayate that you will not sensationalize in your films, do you intend to keep your promise?

People in the industry are good and no one is regressive. We do things that we don’t realize. I feel ideally like to do. I am planning to have sessions and discuss these issues with the film fraternity. Like the police and judges have discussion on youngsters. We also feel we should have it. I am realizing it now. When I did Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na there was a scene where Arbaaz and Sohail go into a night club and start teasing a girl. Imran Khan comes and says to the girl “you have aids and I am suffering from Aids because of you.” It was done in a humorous way and we made fun of it. But after 3 months of release I got a letter from a girl stating that her sister was suffering from AIDS and she felt hurt during the scene. She cried after watching it. I had hurt her sentiments. I wrote to her that I didn’t realize I was hurting someone’s sensitivity so I said sorry to her. We don’t realize what we do in humor but we should understand and what line we can cross or not cross. We have been doing deep research but somewhere we tend to make mistakes.

By Lipika Varma