In a gesture that’s as heartfelt as it is headline-worthy, senior Bollywood actor Aamir Khan recently flew down to Hyderabad to name Tamil actor Vishnu Vishal and badminton star Jwala Gutta’s baby girl. Born in April, the couple’s daughter has now been named Mira—a name that, as Vishnu shared on social media, stands for “unconditional love and peace.”
Sharing a family photo with the actor on his official X handle, Vishnu expressed his gratitude to Aamir Khan for flying down all the way to Hyderabad only to name his baby. The tweet might come as a surprise to many, but those who’ve been following Vishnu Vishal’s journey would know that this moment is the culmination of a unique and unexpected friendship, one that blossomed between two actors from very different worlds.
In multiple interviews over the past year, Vishnu has spoken with endearing honesty about how his relationship with Aamir Khan began, not through cinema, but through serendipity. “His friendship is something beyond my dreams,” he said in a previous interview with CE. “I’m an introvert, someone who thinks twice before initiating a conversation with a stranger. But I’ve reached a point where I can pull Aamir sir’s legs without any inhibitions."
It all started with what Vishnu calls an “accidental meetup," a chance encounter that Jwala Gutta had with Aamir at a function. From there, the veteran actor and director gradually became a part of the couple’s inner circle. “He slowly went on to become a close friend of our family within a year,” Vishnu revealed.
That bond was only strengthened during the Chennai floods in late 2023. Vishnu and Aamir both happened to be in Karapakkam—the actor caring for his mother, and the rains suddenly stranding them in the area. “The water levels started rising, and we got scared. That’s when I posted on X. Those who knew where I lived helped me get a boat,” Vishnu recalled in an interview with Suryan FM during the promotions of Lal Saalam. “Aamir Khan sir was in the area. I helped him in whatever way I could.”
The actor revealed that Aamir was meant to return to Mumbai that very day, after his mother’s treatment was completed. But with no way out, he ended up staying back for two days. “That’s when our friendship began,” Vishnu said. “Later, Ajith Kumar helped us with the transportation after we reached the main road by boat.”
Their relationship, however, has extended well beyond those trying days. Aamir has seen Vishnu’s films Ratsasan and FIR and offered warm praise. The Tamil actor, in turn, has spoken about learning from Aamir’s process, be it in acting, marketing, or discipline. “If I can adopt even a part of Aamir’s approach, it would help me make great films,” he had told News18.
And while there’s been buzz about the two collaborating professionally, Vishnu is in no rush. “Actually, I’ve been turning it down, as I want to relish our bond and not let business influence it,” he said. “But sir is keen on making a film with me. So, we might join hands at the right time, for the right script," he said in an interview with Cinema Express.
For now, that script has taken a more personal form—one that ends in a name and begins a new chapter.
