Actor Aamir Khan, a celebrated name in Bollywood for nearly four decades, recently disclosed that he once considered quitting the film industry during the pandemic. Persuaded by his family, Aamir decided to stay in the business.
After the commercial setback of Laal Singh Chadha in 2022, he took a brief hiatus, prioritizing time with his family and reflecting on years spent away from them. However, upon his return, he surprised fans by taking on an ambitious lineup of six projects—a first in his extensive career.
In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Aamir revealed his motivation behind this unique decision. “I have never taken up six movies together in my life. This time, I had my own reason for it. When I finally decided that, ‘Okay, I won’t leave films yet,’ the next thought came to me that this is probably the last 10 years of my active working life,” he explained.
During the interview, Aamir’s ex-wife, filmmaker Kiran Rao, playfully objected to his notion of nearing the end of his career, citing 97-year-old Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood as an example. Aamir responded with humor, “You guys are giving an extreme example. He is one of the rare people who is in his 90s and still thinking straight.” Acknowledging life’s uncertainty, Aamir continued, “I’m 59 now. Until I’m 70, I hope to remain productive, which is why I want to make these years count.”
Aamir elaborated on his desire to support emerging talent, from writers and directors to other creative individuals. “As I get older, I want to become a platform for talents I believe in before I retire at 70. That’s why I took up more films,” he added.
The actor also touched upon his yearning for a peaceful retirement. Rao humorously recalled a moment when Aamir almost announced his retirement to their family. Their daughter’s reaction was, “Please, papa, you can’t spend all your time with us; we will go crazy!” Aamir responded with a smile, expressing his ideal vision of retirement: “I would love a retired life—reading books, doing yoga.”
Aamir’s recent return as a producer with Laapataa Ladies—India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars—marks his commitment to backing meaningful cinema. In line with his vision, he has hired Aparna Purohit as the CEO of Aamir Khan Productions, ensuring structured support for young talent. “I can’t do large-scale all by myself. To support talent on a larger scale, I need someone to manage it while I’m engaged with other projects,” Aamir concluded.
