Aamir Khan brought the penultimate evening of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) alive, headlining the final Fireside Chat titled ‘The Narrative Architect of Social Transformation and Inclusivity’ in a packed Kala Academy auditorium. In a spirited 90-minute session, the superstar announced a major shift in his career focus: a full return to acting once his current productions, including ‘Lahore 1947’ and ‘Happy Patel’, are completed.
The conversation, moderated by noted film critic Baradwaj Rangan, quickly became “the Aamir Khan show,” beginning with a tribute to the legendary Dharmendra, whom Aamir described as a “gentle giant” with an extraordinary artistic legacy.
Aamir Khan traced his lifelong fascination with stories back to his childhood. He spoke at length about his instinct-driven approach to cinema, stating he has never chosen films based on trends or formulas.
“I can’t repeat myself. Once I’ve done a certain kind of film, I want to move on,” he said, admitting that many of his career decisions, like the making of ‘Lagaan’, have been “impractical by industry standards.”
Despite his association with films carrying strong social themes (‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘3 Idiots’, ‘Dangal’), Aamir clarified these choices were never deliberate. He emphasized his primary objective remains to entertain his audience:
“I never select a film thinking about which social topic to address next. I only look for scripts that excite me. If a great script carries a social message, that’s a bonus. I am a complete film personality, not an activist.”
He attributed the impact of his socially relevant films entirely to the strength of the writers who built those worlds.
In one of the evening’s key revelations, Aamir Khan announced a significant shift in his professional life. Once his ongoing productions are complete in the coming months, he intends to dedicate himself completely to acting again.
- Future Focus: “From here on, any script I hear will be only for me as an actor. It’s the right time to dedicate myself completely to acting again,” he stated.
- New Projects: He confirmed he is currently listening to new scripts, with “two or three” that particularly excite him. Filmmakers can approach him by contacting his manager to request a narration or by sending the script across, as he is comfortable with both formats.
Aamir also addressed his passion for direction, a role he admits he has been consciously delaying. He confessed that direction is his “big love” but requires total commitment: “The day I consciously decide to take it up, I’ll probably stop acting,” he said, noting that filmmaking would consume him entirely.
The reflective and energetic evening at IFFI concluded with Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, felicitating Aamir Khan.
Key Highlights:
- Aamir Khan headlined the final Fireside Chat at IFFI 2025 in Goa, announcing his intention to return to acting full-time after completing his current productions, including ‘Lahore 1947’.
- The actor emphasized his instinct-driven cinematic approach, stating he never chooses films based on trends or formulas and clarified that his involvement in films with social themes is a “bonus” derived from exciting scripts, as he is a “film personality, not an activist.”
- Khan attributed the success and impact of his films like ‘Dangal’ and ‘3 Idiots’ to the strength of the writers, adding that he will now only listen to scripts for himself as an actor.
- He admitted that direction is his “big love” but is a role he consciously delays because he believes that once he commits to directing, he would “probably stop acting” entirely.