DIVORCE, THERAPY, AND FLOPS: AAMIR KHAN RETURNS TO FILMFARE COVER AFTER 8 YEARS FOR HIS MOST UNFILTERED INTERVIEW YET

Marking a return after eight years, Aamir Khan graces the cover of Filmfare’s June 2025 issue – his first since 2017 – radiating the emotional courage and contemplative stillness that have long defined his cinematic journey. Long before Lagaan rewrote history, Aamir had already emerged as a storyteller guided by instinct, soul, and an unwavering commitment to purpose. From redefining sports dramas with Lagaan and Dangal to spotlighting education and empathy in Taare Zameen Par and 3 Idiots, his filmography is a masterclass in storytelling with substance. Whether he’s playing a rebel, a father, or a flawed hero, his choices have consistently challenged convention and sparked conversation. At 60, the superstar sheds all filters in what can only be called one of his boldest and most introspective interviews yet.

In a rare, refreshingly unfiltered conversation, Aamir looks back at 38 years in the business and opens up like never before – on parenting, past mistakes, personal healing, and the power of vulnerability. From his early decision to leave formal education behind for a life in cinema to weathering criticism for experimental choices, Aamir lays bare the lessons that shaped him. He also speaks candidly about his relationships with ex-wives Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao, his struggle with guilt over missing his children’s formative years, and the emotional spiral that followed the failure of Laal Singh Chaddha.

Looking back at the early years of his film career, Aamir recalls, “When I decided to do Lagaan, almost everyone around me said, ‘Don’t.’ Friends, colleagues, well-wishers, nobody thought it was a good idea.” But it wasn’t the first time he faced skepticism. He adds, “The same thing happened earlier, when I chose to quit formal education.”

Reflecting on the time when actors juggled dozens of films, he highlights, “At the time, actors were working on 60-plus films. Even Anil Kapoor, who had the least number, was juggling 33 projects. So, I thought, let me be practical. I signed 10 films, figuring one-third of them might actually get made.”

But it is Aamir’s frank admission about his mental health journey that stands out the most. He shares, “Therapy makes you realise so much, about yourself and about life. It’s helped me immensely. Honestly, I wish I’d known about therapy when I was 18. If I’d started then, I think my life would’ve been very different.” Today, he is learning to sit with his emotions and not run from them. “I can see red flags from a mile away now, and more importantly, I’m working on my own. Because I finally know what they are. I know what triggers me. So, I do hope therapy makes me a better person.”

Turning the lens inward, Aamir speaks about one of the most emotionally intense periods of his life – the COVID-19 pandemic. He recounts, “During COVID, for the first time in my life, I was forced to stop working. From 18 to 56, I’d been lost in the intoxicating dream of cinema. Alone at home, I began reflecting on missing Junaid and Ira’s childhoods, on how little time I’d spent with Ammi, and on giving my entire adult life to films. The guilt hit me hard, and I spiralled into depression. I decided to quit everything—acting, producing, the works… My family was stunned.”

He also discusses the failure of Laal Singh Chaddha and opens up about how much it affected him. Addressing the low phase in his life, Aamir notes, “I started working with Ira at her Agatsu Foundation. But before that, I had already committed to Prasanna’s Champions remake. I called to back out, saying I was done with films. That same morning, Ira and Junaid sat me down and said I was being extreme, always swinging between all or nothing. They urged me to find balance. Kiran was the most affected. She hadn’t cried during our divorce, but she broke down when I said I was quitting cinema. ‘If you leave films, you’re leaving us,’ she said. Then Laal Singh flopped. I sank deeper, it was the first time in years a film of mine failed to connect.” 

Speaking about his past relationships, he says with disarming honesty, “When Reena and I fought, or when Kiran and I did, steel shutters would come down. Not just one, but on all four sides. I would emotionally shut off. We’d be in the same house, going through the motions… except I wouldn’t communicate”.

Despite the trials of divorce, he holds gratitude for the enduring support of his former partners. Shedding some light on his bond with Reena & Kiran, Aamir expresses, “For a respectful, loving bond to continue after a marriage ends, both people have to want that. Reena is gracious, Kiran is gracious, and I’ve tried to be the same. Even today, if I’m in a crisis, they’d be the first to stand by me, and I’d do the same for them.”

Talking about the original Thugs Of Hindostan script, Aamir candidly shares his disillusionment, revealing, “The original Thugs Of Hindostan script I’d agreed to never got made, it kept changing. Normally, I wouldn’t accept that. But I take full responsibility, along with Victor and Adi. I told Adi, “Till here, I’m with you. But after watching the film, we’re in different boats. From where I sit, this is a disaster. I told Adi, picture paani tak nahi maangegi”.