Aamir Khan addresses the media in Mumbai on March 14
Actor Aamir Khan, newly returned from the US, celebrated his 51st birthday on Monday in what has become a tradition of sorts over the past few years - by addressing the media in a mid-day conference at his Mumbai home. Mr Khan, quizzed about his birthday wishlist, revealed that instead of receiving a gift, he'd like to make a present of a house to his mother, Zeenat Hussain.
But not just any house. "This year, I would like to buy my mother her childhood home in Varanasi," said Mr Khan. "My mother is over 80 now and I have been thinking about this for some time. I want to speak to the people who live in the house now and buy it from them," he said, looking considerably lighter and fitter than he has in the last year. Aamir Khan put on 25-odd kilos for his new movie
Dangal and is now losing the extra weight to play the younger version of his character.
For himself, the actor would be happy with the gift of sleep, having flown into Mumbai early Monday morning after a 32-hour journey. His first birthday wishes were from his wife and son, Kiran Rao and four-year-old Azad, who greeted him at the airport. At the press conference, Aamir Khan wore a T-shirt printed with a picture drawn by Azad.
The
Ghulam actor also thanked his fans and followers for wishing him on his birthday on Twitter:
His American sojourn involved a strict regime of exercise. "I was in the US for three weeks, just sleeping, eating and working out. I was exercising almost six hours a day," he said.
Mr Khan also spoke about the lacerating backlash to his comments about 'intolerance' last year. "People who questioned me were already biased towards me. I don't react to that - no matter what you do, people will raise questions," he said.
For those wondering if a career in politics might be on the cards, the answer is this: "Just because actors are popular doesn't mean politics is the natural. Must have passion to get into it."
For now, Aamir Khan is happy to focus on Bollywood. "I value and respect the 27-year relationship I share with my viewers," he said. He is currently making sports biopic
Dangal, in which he plays wrestler Mahavir Phogat and for which he is undergoing a massive physical transformation.
Dangal, scheduled for the end of this year, will be his first film since 2014 blockbuster
PK.
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