Aamir KhanAamir Khan began his film career as a child actor in a home production, produced and directed by Nasir Hussain, titled Yaadon Ki Baraat In 1973 and Madhosh In 1974. Eleven years later, he made his adult acting debut in a role that went quite unnoticed in Ketan Mehta's Holi In 1984. Khan's first notable leading role came in 1988 in the film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak which was directed by his cousin and Nasir Hussain's son Mansoor Khan. This film was a breakthrough commercial success, effectively launching Khan's career as a leading actor.
Having the typical 'chocolate hero' looks, he was publicised as a teen idol. After that, he went on to appear in several other films in the late 1980's and early 1990's : Dil In 1990, which became the highest grossing film of the year, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin In 1991, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar In 1992, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke In 1993, and Rangeela In 1995. Most of these films were successful critically and commercially. Other successes include Andaz Apna Apna, co-starring Salman Khan.
Aamir Khan continued to act in just one or two films a year, an unusual trait for a mainstream Hindi Cinema actor. His only release in 1996 was the Dharmesh Darshan directed commercial blockbuster Raja Hindustani in which he was paired opposite Karisma Kapoor. The film earned him his first Filmfare Best Actor Award, after eight previous nominations, and went on to become the biggest hit of the year, as well as the third highest grossing Indian film of the 1990s.
Aamir Khan's career had seemed to hit a plateau at this point of time, and most of the films to follow for the next few years were only partially successful. In 1997, he Co-starred with Ajay Devgan and was paired opposite Juhi Chawla in the film Ishq, which performed well at the box office. In 1998, Khan appeared in the moderately successful Ghulam, for which he also did playback singing. John Mathew Matthan's Sarfarosh In 1999 was Khan's first release in 1999 which was also moderately successful gaining an above average box office verdict, although the film was highly appreciated amongst the critics and Khan's role as a dedicated, honest and an uncorrupt cop engaged in fighting border terrorism, was well received, as did his role in Deepa Mehta's art house film Earth.
His first release for the new millennium - "Mela", in which he acted alongside his real-life brother Faisal Khan, was both a box-office and critical bomb. Khan founded his own production company, Aamir Khan Productions, to help finance his long time friend Ashutosh Gowariker's dream of making the film Lagaan. The movie was released in 2001, starring Khan as the lead actor. The film was a major critical and commercial success, and was selected as India's official entry to the 74th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
It was eventually chosen and nominated in that category along with four other foreign films, but lost to No Man's Land. Additionally, the film gathered critical acclaim at several international film festivals, apart from winning numerous Bollywood awards, including National Film Awards. Khan himself won his second Filmfare Best Actor Award and commented on loss of Lagaan at the Oscars, saying, "Certainly we were disappointed. But the thing that really kept us in our spirits was that the entire country was behind us". The success of Lagaan was followed by Dil Chahta Hai later that year, in which Khan co-starred with Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan, with Preity Zinta playing his love interest.
The film was written and directed by the then newcomer Farhan Akhtar. According to critics, the film broke new grounds by showing Indian urban youth as they really are today. The characters depicted were modern, suave and cosmopolitan. The film did moderately well and was a success mostly in urban cities. Khan then took a four year break citing personal problems, and returned in 2005 with Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey: The Rising playing the title role of a real-life sepoy and a martyr who helped spark the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or the 'First War of Indian Independence'. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's award winning, Rang De Basanti, was Khan's first release in 2006. His role was critically acclaimed, earning him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance and various nominations for Best Actor.
The film went on to become one of the highest grossing films of the year, and was selected as India's official entry to the Oscars. Although the film was not shortlisted as a nominee, it received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the "BAFTA" Awards in England. Khan's work in his next movie, Fanaa In 2006 was also appreciated, and the film went on to become one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2006.His 2007 film, Taare Zameen, which Khan produced and also starred in, marked his directorial debut. The film, which was the second offering from Aamir Khan Productions, opened to excellent responses from critics and audiences alike.
His work won him two awards at the Filmfare, the Best Movie and the Best Director awards, and established his status as a competent director and a story-teller. The film was also selected as India's official entry to the 2009 Oscars. In 2008, Khan launched his nephew Imran Khan's debut in the film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. The film was a major critical and commercial success. Also in the same year Khan appeared in the movie Ghajini. The film was a major critical and commercial success.
