Aamir turns 60, celebrates birthday with media

It was producer Tahir Hussain’s residence on Pali Hill, Bandra, where I first saw his cute son Aamir. Aged about seven, he was sitting on a chair and apparently studying or doing his home-work. The year was 1972, and Tahir Hussain wanted me to help him get permission to shoot his new film Anamika’s first scene in my college, National College, which is situated on Linking Road. I had been a student of that college, and had held many posts, including Secretary of the Dramatics Society, so I could convince the college’s principal and Board to grant permission for the shooting. Tahir Hussain’s nephew, his sister’s son, Tariq, was also a student of the same college and a friend. It was he who took me to meet Tahir Hussain. He also offered me a bit role as the college’s Hindi Association Secretary, who receives acclaimed writer Sanjeev Kumar as a visiting invitee, to talk about his novels, and Asrani. Asrani was playing his secretary. TahirSaahab and I were talking about locations, scenes, dialogue, costume, etc.

After a few minutes, Tahir noticed that Aamir was keenly listening to our conversation and not doing any school-work. He chastises Aamir, and told him to concentrate on his studies, and not eavesdrop on filmy talk, otherwise he would be sent to the inner room. Little must Tahir have known that his little boy will become one of the topmost stars of the Indian film industry. The shooting was arranged, and my bit role as Lakshman Singh, shot almost exactly where I would have normally hung out with college-mates. You can see it in the released version. In fact, the titles were superimposed on Sanjeev Kumar, Asrani, me and others, sitting on the dais.                             

During 1972-1980, I contributed a lot to the two banners, Tahir Hussain’s TV Films’ Zakhmee and Dulha Bikta Hai, and elder brother Nasir Hussain’s Yaadon Ki Baaraat and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen. I turned down the itsy-bitsy role offered to me in Zakhmee, did the noticeable part in Dulha Bikta hai and made a solid contribution to the song-dance numbers in Yaadon Ki Baaraat and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen. These numbers turned out to be among highlights of the films. Nasir’s son Mansoor was directing Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT). He had seen how I and a group of up to 1000 boys and girls had added to the merits of the films. So, he asked his Dad to call me, to arrange the same, for QSQT’s song ‘Papa kehtey haen badaa naam karega.’

I met father and son at their Hill Road, Bandra office, and was briefed about the requirements. Since this sort of activity was not my mainstay, I had helped out Tariq and Nasir for free in Yaadon Ki Baaraat and for a token fee in Hum Kisise Kum Naheen. This time, I wanted to be paid, a decent, substantial sum. After all, the producer was minting money, and it was only fair to ask for a fee, for my services. Nasir was not willing to spend even half of what I had quoted. Mansoor was distraught and insistent, “Dad, Siraj’s boys and girls will add greatly to the impact of the song. I need them”. But Nasir had the last word, “The film is already over-budget. I cannot arrange more funds.” I left, with Mansoor still trying to convince his father, and Nasir remaining steadfast on his decision. The song still stands out, but I regret losing the opportunity to be part of it.

Since then, I met him thrice. On one of these occasions, he gave me an interview for radio, although he was then in an ‘off media’ phase. On another occasion, I met him while he was dubbing at a dubbing theatre, also located on Pali Hill. And then, I lost touch.

For many years now, ever since Amitabh Bachchan’s denial that he had ever met me, although I had met him half-a-dozen times, given him pep-talks and even made his horoscope, during his early career, I distance myself from actors who become stars. In any case, there was no reason to meet him. But recently, at the trailer launch of LoveYaPa, starring his son Junaid, he was there, and I put to him a question which was linked to our old association. To my pleasant surprise, he remembered our meetings in 1992-93! Hats off. Thank you, Aamir!

And here he was, on 13 March, thanking all his fans for the love they gave him and cutting two huge cakes on his 60^th birthday, celebrated at the Taj Land’s End, Bandra, barely 3 kms from Aamir’s parental home. Many find it hard to believe that he is 60, and older than ShahRukh and Salman, but not by much. Salman will turn 60 on the 27^th of December and ShahRukh will beat him by a few weeks, having been born on 02 November. is I find it incredible! Having seen him at age seven, and eating a piece of cake on his 60^th birthday. Interestingly, the three met recently and talked about a host of things, but age was not one of them. Asked about the rip-roaring comedy starring Aamir and Salman, Andaz Apna 2, he said the project is on, but not much progress has been made on it. Asked whether the three King Khans will ever work together, he replied that there is nothing to prevent that, and if somebody comes around with a script that appeals to all of them, why not?

Somebody asked him if he had made any resolutions on his 60^th birthday, and he answered in the negative. “I have made no resolutions, but I strongly believe in forgiving people for their mistakes and in asking for forgiveness for one’s own mistakes. Also, I strongly feel that we must not be judgmental and must give everybody a fair chance to prove themselves.” A remarkable co-incidence was the fact that Aamir was born on the same day, 13 March 1965, the first of the two days that mark the festival of Holi, and the nurse had put a tika (smeared a bit of colour, on his forehead, as part of the Holi revelry). In a revelation, he shared the fact that he had started learning music for the last two years, from a lady called Suketa/Sucheta (I was not close enough to hear perfectly) Bhattacharjee. And guess what followed? Aamir singing three songs, albeit not in full, from his own films. Particularly tuneful was ‘Raja ko Rani se pyaar ho gaya’, from Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995). And that wowed the 100 odd strong turnout. It was time for the treat, particularly of the two birthday cakes, which were large enough for the gathering to get a decent share.

Aamir has always been an accommodating person, very spontaneous, but not averse to occasional mischief. On the sets of Time Machine, an unfinished Bollywood science-fiction film which was in production in 1992, and was directed by Shekhar Kapur. It starred Aamir Khan, Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah, Raveena Tandon, Gulshan Grover and Vijay Anand, there was a struggler who had managed to sneak in. I cannot remember whether he was a writer or an actor, but he was one or the other. He hung around for a long time at the film’s set in Famous Studios where the film was being shot. After a while, he got on to the nerves of everybody, including Aamir Khan. Shekhar Kapoor was rather tense because of some technical issues and was sparing no words to condemn the persons responsible for rhe long delay in taking that shot. When the struggler came to Aamir for the umpteenth time, Aamir told him to approach Shekhar, who, he said, would give him a good hearing. The man did not know who Shekhar Kapur was, so Aamir pointed him out. What happened next is history, buried under 33 years of the time machine.

A very happy birthday to you, Aamir, for your approachability and willingness to give an interview when you were off media. May you remain healthy and happy all your life!

P.S.: This was the first time I was invited to Aamir Khan’s birthday party, although colleagues from the journalistic fraternity told me that he celebrates it every year. His Public Relations Agency, Spice, chose to invite me for the first time ever this year. If Aamir celebrates his birthday, I am sure many other film personalities do the same. Why shouldn’t I have my piece of cake and eat it too? Their PR agencies need to be more considerate.