Here’s tracing the long and eventful career of a near-perfect perfectionist.

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Celebrating Aamir Khan: The incredible screen journey of a superstar

Aamir Khan made his screen debut at 8. Over the next five decades, he charted a legacy that is one of the most enviable ones in Indian cinema. Here's CE tracing this remarkable journey of a once-in-a-generation superstar

CE Features

Updated:11th May, 2023 at 3:45 PM

Yes, that’s him. Aamir debuted as a child actor at the age of 8 in Yaadon Ki Baarat. He played young Ratan, essayed by his cousin Tariq Khan later in the film

His first feature role was in Ketan Mehta’s Holi (1984). Besides Aamir, the film also starred Ashutosh Gowariker, his would-be director on Lagaan

In 1988, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, announced Aamir’s arrival. The romantic-musical won him a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut

In Raakh, a cult crime film from 1989, Aamir played a young man who turns to violence to avenge his girlfriend’s rape. The emerging actor won a special mention at the National Film Award

Dil (1990) was Aamir’s first association with director Indra Kumar. For Hindi cinema, it ushered a decade of blithe romanticism

The wheels got spilling with Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, a defining 90s hit and the benchmark for underdog high-school movies. Tiger Shroff awkwardly tried to recreate the magic in Student of the Year 2

Aamir got his first screenwriting credit on Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, a lovable comedy-drama about three orphaned kids and their stern caretaker

A mineshaft of pop-culture paraphernalia, Andaz Apna Apna (1994) had Aamir prancing, shuffling and fast-talking his way into our hearts. Salman was often out of breath

Ram Gopal Verma’s Rangeela drew many winning scenes from Aamir. The actor spent time in real Mumbai chawls for the prep

Besides playing a boxer-turned-street-thug in Ghulam, Aamir earned his first playback credit for ‘Aati Kya Khandala’. He also did the train stunt himself

The first in her Elements trilogy, Deepa Mehta’s 1947: Earth starred Aamir as a jocular ice-candy man. His transformation from kindness to monstrosity is tragic and affecting

On the face of it, Sarfarosh is another film about an honest, straight-shooting cop. But Aamir’s frank sincerity keeps you invested in ACP Ajay Rathod — 90’s counterpoint to the Rohit Shetty brutes

Lagaan’s cultural influence remains unchallenged. But it wouldn’t have been made if Aamir hadn’t agreed to turn producer, shelling out an unprecedented budget and taking on the Gadar at box office

Under-lip goatees became a thing. So did Goa trips, brooding musical numbers filmed in Australia and crashing your girlfriend’s wedding. All with Dil Chahta Hai

What Rang De Basanti has lost in political heft, it retains in exhilarating brashness. Aamir played DJ, raffish college jock and revolutionary, rolled into one

The lasting social impact of Taare Zameen Par is uncontested. Aamir’s directorial debut was always going to get didactic. Its tenderness was the surprise

Ghajini forged the 100 crore club in Bollywood. Aamir co-wrote the climax with director AR Murugadoss, remaking his own 2005 Tamil hit

Based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel, 3 Idiots turned the breezy college drama into massive box-office fare. As Ranchoddas Chandhad, Aamir is energetic, hilarious and coolly inspiring

Just a few years back, Aamir Khan was playfully nudging India onto a rational path. What the hell happened?

Dangal’s feminism and emotional appeal found resonance across shores, becoming the highest grossing Bollywood film of all time. It was also one helluva sports film.