Aamir Khan turns 50: Excerpts from his media interaction

The undisputed king of the box office, the one and only Aamir Khan, turned 50 today. He, along with the other two Khans, have dominated the industry for the last 25 years and all three are showing no signs of slowing down.

Aamir invited the media to his residence a day before his birthday (yesterday) and spoke about his films, his life and how he feels about turning 50. 

When the entire media gathering sang the ‘Happy Birthday’ song to Aamir, the actor was seen lowering his head and blushing.. he later thanked the media for their support over the years and shared his birthday cake.

Some excerpts:

I would like to thank all of you for your love and the excitement with which you all celebrate my birthday every year. I feel very special, so thank you to all those people who shower your love towards me. Every year you think of me, from so many years, you all have been giving me so much love and respect.. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

[advert]

Today I have not worked out, I am taking a holiday from my workout. I spent sometime with Azad and in sometime I am leaving.. Kiran has planned a surprise for me.. so I am going there. What she has planned for me, I have no idea.

40 is a lot (a journalist asked him if he feels 40 years old). I have not even turned 22. I feel very happy, I feel very privileged, I feel I have been lucky.. in my 25 year career, I have been able to the do the work that I wanted to do, work that has given me happiness. There are very few people who get the opportunity to get to do the work they like, a job that makes them happy.. I feel very grateful. This industry is so special, there are so many talented people and I feel grateful to have gotten a chance to work and interact with them.

All my writers and directors, because of whom I had a chance to do so many different films and play so many different characters, it is their skills that has got me so far.

I feel every day is special, whether it is my birthday or any other day. Everyday is special, we should special each day with the people who we are close to and do the things that are important.

50 is just a number. As far as age is concerned, our mind gets stuck at a certain age. I have realised that a lot of people, when they turn 18, they feel that they have grown up and are now adults.. Most people get stuck at that age in their minds.. physically they get older, but emotionally and mentally we get stuck to that age.. When I see a few people, I feel they are ‘aunty – uncle’ type of person, I forget that I am also of the same age. Within me, I still feel like I am 18.

I only remember my age when I have to do something physical. Some things that I would easily do at the age of 18, now it feel difficult. That’s when I remember my age. Otherwise, at heart, all of us are young I think..

Box office numbers are not within our control, but the work that we do is in our control. When I say that I have been lucky to do the work that I have done, but I have work extremely hard too.. I have fought against the tides, I have always followed my heart.. I have not done work that seemed logical, practical or tactical. I have struggled a lot, luck has favoured me.. sometimes no matter how much we struggle, we don’t succeed.. call it luck, hard work or the love of people..

Salman has not called me to wish yet.. no one has called me so far.. but my birthday is tomorrow, so they will call me..

I feel embarrassed on my birthday.. A lot of people get excited, but all the attention that I get.. I feel a little shy.. If I don’t get the attention that I do, it would be better.

Failure is the stepping stone to success. At the very beginning of my career, I faced a lot of failures when my films didn’t work at the box office. I had not done great work in those films either.. Choices were bad.. But I got to learn a lot from my failures. Whatever I am today, is not only because of my successful films, but also my failures. Failure has taught me a lot.

All three of us are still young (replying to a journalist asks who looks younger between Salman and Shahrukh), we are all turning 50 this year. We all are still 18-20. In 2-3 years, we will turn 25 (smiles).

During childhood, since we had exams during the time of my birthday, it used to get postponed.

It was difficult to physically transform myself to play the character in Dangal. With age, it gets even more difficult. But this is our work. It’s not easy to play with your body.. As an actor, where I want to be to play the character, I am there currently..

The only thing I remember about my birthdays is that I meet you guys.. That’s the only thing I don’t forget..

I have turned Vegan. Even the cake that I gave you doesn’t have egg or milk. The reason is, Kiran showed me a video of a doctor in America who was giving a lecture about food habits. He was telling his audience about healthy food habits, the affects that food has on your body. I felt that Vegan diet is the best diet, I would like to tell you all to give Vegan diet a try.

With Vegan diet, you stop consuming non-veg food and all milk related products like cheese, paneer, butter, ghee etc.