MASTER of DISGUISE: AAMIR KHAN

He is quite the master of disguise and doesn't shy away from tweaking his physique to get into the skin of a character. It hence comes as no surprise that the actor is piling on the pounds to play a wrestler in his next film, tentatively titled Dangal. And while Aamir will undoubtedly be fabulous in his portrayal.

Here's a look at characters he has brought alive on-screen and made them his own.

A wide-eyed, unblinking stare that peeps into your soul, protruding ears, mussed up hair and colourful shirts - that's summing up PK for you. He has a mousy smile, dances like a dunce and yet manages to seem endearingly innocent, all at the same time. However, team PK had a tough time putting together the look of the lead character for which they apparently had no reference. Blue tacs were used to make Aamir's ears pop out more than they usually do. PK's character is rumoured to be that of an alien and hence he doesn't blink his green eyes even once. To make his eyes seem larger than usual, Aamir used to curl up his eyelashes before every shot. PK enjoys his paan (betel leaf) and to achieve the resulting red lips, Aamir too had to chomp on as many as 40paans in a day. The clothes were also a major concern and in an experiment of sorts, the team scouted for interesting prints and textures on Indian streets and put together a look for PK that was kitschy and desi.

Aamir pulled off a double whammy in Dhoom 3 and the box-office was twice as happy.

Aamir played both characters with such finesse that it was difficult to believe that the same actor was dodging between a stammering dud and a snarky dude. As a con artiste who doubled up as a magician, Aamir had the liberty to experiment with his looks. He sported many disguises in the film. Turning blonde the highlight of them all.

Aamir's character in Talaash was troubled, lost and agitated. His cop was stern with a keen eye for details. Surjan Singh Shekhawat looked every bit the strict taskmaster that a cop of his stature would be. Building up the character and adding to its depth was Aamir's look. Though there wasn't much scope for experimentation here, Aamir sported a downward-curling moustache that gave him the edge required to pull-off a role as gritty as this one. The bushy eye-brows and neat, trimmed hair conveyed the power of his character's convictions.

He had to look convincing as a college student and managed to do so. He was unusually restless as Ranchoddas Chanchad and effortlessly calm as Phunsukh Wangdu. Opting for T-shirts and jeans as his preferred choice of attire in the film, and brilliantly managed to look twenty.

A cross between Elvis Presley and Mithun Chakraborty of the '80s, Aamir's character Disco fighter is as quirky as it gets. Sporting blingy clothes and accessories and a hairy chest, Aamir had all the kinks of the character in place. Though the actor appeared in only one song that played when the end credits rolled, he ensured that it managed to garner all the publicity that the experimental Delhi Belly called for.

Industrialist Sanjay Singhania was suave and sensible but his alter ego was not. After his girlfriend is murdered right in front of him, Sanjay can barely contain his anger. Add to this, his short-term memory loss and you have a character that has all the making of a challenge. Aamir evidently loves challenges. However, a buzz cut with scary indents and a lot of tattoos on a chiselled physique was all it took the actor to morph into the vile mercenary who wants to avenge the death of his girlfriend.

He sings songs and recites poetries, he also shoots and kills ruthlessly. Aamir Khan as the terrorist Rehan, was spine-chilling in his indifference. Rehan looked deceivingly benign with his tousled hair and endearing demeanour. His actions though were completely in contrast to his look, creating the desired effect of pure terror.

Acting in a historical film is always challenging but for Aamir it was yet another chance to work on his look. With a moustache that would put 'Nathulal' to shame, Aamir also sported long tresses and an arched set of eyebrows that made him look like the legend who spearheaded the first struggle of Indian independence. The bright red uniform also complemented his ruddy complexion.

Dil Chahta Hai was a trendsetting film on many levels. Not only did it create the space for niche cinema, it also established well-etched urban characters that didn't seem caricaturish. Aamir Khan's look in the film was hence very important. The actor decided to sport a goatee in the film that then became all the rage with youngsters. Akash was very relaxed till he joins his father's business. His attire then changes from routine jeans and T-shirt to crisp shirts and dapper suits.

A revolutionary village-dweller, Bhuvan was a simpleton who decided to change the destiny of the entire village with his visionary plans. Aamir got into the skin of the character, literally. Clad in dhoti and a vest, Aamir completely looked like the farmer who dared to dream. Aamir also sported a bali (earring) in the film which was reportedly borrowed from his now wife, Kiran Rao. Windswept hair and tanned skin rounded off the rugged look.

He redefined the word tapori when he donned the avatar of Munna in the film,Rangeela. Bright shirts, unbuttoned half-way down, a net vest that barely covers a hairy chest, tacky glares and a handkerchief knotted around the neck, made Munna look the part of the wayward, street smart guy. Aamir rocked the look with his accent.