Dearest Aamir
I just saw the TZP trailer for the 18th time, and before you release the new trailer, I would have probably watched it at least 40 more times. I watched the Mangal Pandey trailers about 200 times before the film released.
As someone correctly said on your blog, in times where every filmmaker wants his heroes and heroines to wear Prada and Gucci, and wants to shoot his films in nothing less than London and New York (as if Indians in India have no interesting lives), you dare to make a film about children.
You probably know that children-centric films have not had a good time in our industry of late. Nanhe Jaisalmer and Chain Khuli Ki Main Khuli bombed recently. Even the ambitious Raju Chacha with big stars tanked not too long back.
But, of course, when have you thought of all that. Following norms has never been your cup-of-tea.
You made Lagaan when cricket and a period setting were both taboos in our industry.
You worked with Ashutosh Gowarikar when he had 2 flops behind him and was rejected by one and all. You worked with Rakeysh Mehra when he had only a flop Aks in his resume. And on both occasions you made probably the best film in the history of Indian Cinema.
You refused invites from Koffee with Karan, a show celebrities would give their right hand to appear in (or may be the leg as they’d need the hand for Koffee); yet you showed up at some small talk-show at NDTV.
You don’t give interviews to the paparazzi, yet you spend over an hour video chatting with your fans on your website, answering all their questions.
You don’t go for the stupid dime-a-dozen award shows, but you went to voice the misery of the troubled farmers in the Narmada Valley.
While other actors made 3 films a year, you gave 3 years to one film at the height of your carrier.
While other actors are all over the media praising their films and do their best to keep media happy, you did not make a single media appearance before RDB just because you were angry with the media. Wow!
While other actors are endorsing everything from undergarments to hair-oil to chyawanprash, your endorsements can be counted on one finger – 3.
You have been the perennial trend setter of this age. Others followed, but never came close.
You sang ‘Aati Kya Khandala’ which became the anthem of the loafers countrywide. ‘Apun Bola’ (SRK) and ‘Aye Shivani’ (Sanjay Dutt) followed but left were hardly given a second listening.
You went to the border to entertain our soldiers. Others followed suit.
You started the whole trend of ‘looking the part’. Today, every actor seems to want to look different in every movie.
And well, you started a blog. Last I heard there were blogs by Anil Kapoor and SRK.
But in spite of that Aamir, or more appropriately, because of that Aamir, you are truly the country’s greatest superstar. You may not have the label of the ‘King’, or the temples with your statue in it, but you are indeed the greatest force in this industry.
How else would you explain the euphoria that surrounds your mere signing a film?
How else would you explain RDB being a blockbuster without you making a single public appearance for its publicity?
How else would you explain the craze to find out how Aamir Khan looks in his next film?
How else would you explain the fact that the caps, rings, or mufflers you wear grace the apparel stores nationwide? The barbers throughout the country need to learn how to make your current hairstyle if they want to stay in business? The lines you say are probably in the lexicons of every film-loving boy in the country? And the funny part is you never make an effort for any of the three to happen.
Now I hear Aamir that you are shaving your head for your new film. When has that been done before (Akshaye in Salaam-E-Ishq but that wasn’t intentional)? Not in my living memory! The barbers of India would have it easy this time
So Aamir Hussain Khan, take a bow! You are the greatest masterpiece in the museum of the Hindi Film Industry.
In the meantime, I’ll try to go into hypersleep mode as I really can’t wait for December 21, the day I get to see you in a Mohawk on the big screen.
Yours truly
Nitesh a.k.a Bollywood Byter
