What an Idiot!!

I became a proud fan of that tall-six feet-heavy-voiced man when I was...hmm...ah...forget it. I don’t even remember my age when I started following the superstar of the millennium. It was a custom to discuss his movies at every get together I had been to during my childhood. And why only childhood. Even today!! No one can ever equate the power that “Shahenshah of Bollywood” command over the audience. But this piece is not about him. Its about someone else who is slowly and steadily reaching the heights which cannot be termed anything other than greatness.

I was 5 or 6 when I started singing my favorite song of that time at every other occasion: be it at school or at home. The song was “Papa kehte hai...” from the latest bollywood blockbuster called QSQT. It was filmed on a debutante who defied all the norms of being a “hero” of any hindi movie. He was labelled, as usual, a chocolate hero who will (or should) do only romantic movies. Which he did for next few years. Some of them successful, others not. And that was the time when Indian audience saw the rise of many other “chocolate” heroes as well.

After doing some routine dancing-around-the-trees-with-the-heroine movies, he came in a movie where he enacted the role of a school boy. Now that was different. I mean it was ok for us (the audience) to see a college-going hero. But a school boy? Anyway, I liked the movie because it had a sports theme. And more so because he played the role of a boy who didn’t like to study. Just like many of us. Movie was JJWS. I was waiting for his next “different” flick.

Two years later, he delivered a comedy movie which, today, is considered to be a cult movie. I liked it so much that I started saying that I’m now a fan of two heroes. The movie was AAA.

Since then, I’ve become his admirer from being just a fan. I’m not his admirer because he has delivered many hits. But I’m his admirer because he has always challenged (and changed) the rules of the game for better. He was the one who did movies differently. He started the concept of doing only “one movie at a time” in bollywood. And he started doing this at a time when others were indulged in signing movies just to encash on their recent successful movie.

He has always given priority to perfection over mediocrity. Some of his movies bombed at the box office but the sincere effort was always palpable. His movies, though not always, have been full of messages as well. Be it about friendship (DCH), fighting the mighty for justice (Lagaan), patriotism (Sarfarosh and RDB), being understanding parents (TZP), reforming higher education(3I) etc. Sometimes he did different things and sometimes he just did the same things differently (remember Ghajini?). And he has delivered most of the times what was promised. Entertainment. Sometimes enlightenment as well.

Its rare and heartening to see that someone in a position that he is in, prefers to tread a different path altogether. He does not bore you with selling 20 products. Neither does he dance at a wedding party for money. Nor does he come on page 3 every month inaugurating something or the other.

Recently I read a story about another “superstar” charging 40 lakhs to release a book. And then I also read that my superstar agreed to release a book of an author on one condition. Only if he likes it. And charges? Nil.

That is why we like you Mr. Aamir Khan. The Perfectionist. An idiot. And I wish you keep entertaining us the way you have so far. And may the next generation get the membership of your fan club in legacy.

-From a Junior idiot to a senior idiot