Indian actor Aamir Khan first appeared on screen at the age of eight in a minor role in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973). In 1983, he acted in and worked as an assistant director on Paranoia, a short film directed by Aditya Bhattacharya, following which he assisted Hussain on two of his directorial venturesManzil Manzil (1984) and Zabardast (1985). As an adult, Khan's first acting project was a brief role in the 1984 experimental social drama Holi.
Khan's first leading role came opposite Juhi Chawla in the highly successful tragic romance Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988). His performance in the film and in the thriller Raakh (1989) earned him a National Film Award – Special Mention. He went on to establish himself with roles in several lucrative films of the 1990s, including the romantic drama Dil (1990), the romantic comedy Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), the coming-of-age sports drama Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992), the comedy-drama Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), and the romance Raja Hindustani (1996). He also played against type in the Deepa Mehta-directed Canadian-Indian co-production Earth (1998). In 1999, Khan launched a production company, Aamir Khan Productions, whose first release Lagaan (2001) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and earned him the National Film Award for Best Popular Film. Also in 2001, he starred alongside Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna in the acclaimed coming-of-age drama Dil Chahta Hai. Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai are cited in the media as defining films of Hindi cinema. After a three-year hiatus, Khan portrayed the eponymous lead in Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005), a period film that underperformed at the box office, after which he played leading roles in two top-grossing films of 2006Fanaa and Rang De Basanti.
Khan made his directorial debut with Taare Zameen Par in 2007, a drama on dyslexia starring Darsheel Safary, in which Khan also played a supporting role. The film proved to be a critical and commercial success, winning him the National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare. Khan played a man with anterograde amnesia in the 2008 thriller Ghajini, after which he portrayed an engineering student in the comedy-drama 3 Idiots (2009), and a reclusive artist in the drama Dhobi Ghat (2010), which he also produced. During this period, Khan developed and featured as the host of the television talk show Satyamev Jayate (2012–2014).
Further success came when Khan played the antagonist of the adventure film Dhoom 3 (2013) and starred as the titular alien in the -grossing satire PK (2014). In 2016, Khan played the father of two young female wrestlers in the sports biopic Dangal, which earned over worldwide. Five of Khan's filmsGhajini, 3 Idiots, Dhoom 3, PK, and Dangal have held records for being the highest-grossing Indian film of all time. Khan's two subsequent releasesthe period adventure film Thugs of Hindostan (2018) and the Forrest Gump remake, Laal Singh Chaddha (2022)emerged as box-office bombs. He made a comeback in 2025 with Sitaare Zameen Par which emerged a major commercial success.
Films
+ Year Title Role Notes 1973Yaadon Ki Baaraat Young Ratan Child artist1974Madhosh Young Raj 1983Paranoia Also assistant director; silent short film 1984Holi Manzil Manzil Assistant director 1988 Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Rajveer "Raj" Singh 1989Raakh Aamir HusseinLove Love Love Amit 1990Awwal Number Sunny Tum Mere Ho Shiva Dil Raja Prasad Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin Jawani Zindabad 1991Afsana Pyaar Ka Raj Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin 1992Daulat Ki Jung Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar Isi Ka Naam Zindagi Chotu 1993Damini HimselfSpecial appearance Parampara Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke Also screenwriter Pehla Nasha Himself Special appearance 1994Andaz Apna Apna 1995Baazi Aatank Hi AatankRohan RangeelaMunnaAkele Hum Akele Tum 1996Raja Hindustani 1997Ishq 1998GhulamEarth Canadian–Indian film 1999Sarfarosh Mann 2000Mela 2001LagaanBhuvan Also producer Dil Chahta Hai 2004Madness in the DesertHimselfDocumentary 2005Mangal Pandey: The Rising 2006Rang De Basanti and Chandra Shekhar Azad Fanaa 2007Taare Zameen ParAlso director and producer 2008Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na ProducerGhajini Also screenwriter 2009Luck by ChanceHimself Cameo 3 Idiots aka Phunsukh Wangdu 2010Dhobi GhatArun Also producer Peepli Live Producer2011Big in BollywoodHimself Documentary Delhi BellyDisco Fighter Guest appearance in song "I Hate You (Like I Love You)"; also producer 2012Talaash: The Answer Lies Within Also producer 2013Bombay TalkiesHimself Special appearance in song "Apna Bombay Talkies" Dhoom 3 and Samar Khan2014PKPK 2015Dil Dhadakne DoPluto Mehra Voiceover 2016Dangal Mahavir Singh Phogat Also producer2017Secret Superstar2018Thugs of HindostanFirangi Mallah 2021Koi Jaane NaHimself Special appearance in song "Har Funn Maula" 2022Laal Singh Chaddha Laal Singh Chaddha, Veer Singh Chaddha, Jagan Singh Chaddha and Manav Singh Chaddha Also producer Salaam VenkySujata's illusionCameo2023Laapataa Ladies Producer2025Sitaare Zameen ParGulshan Arora Also producer CoolieDahaaTamil film; Special appearance2026Happy Patel: Khatarnak JasoosJimmy MarioProducer; Special appearanceEk Din Producer Batwara 1947
Television Year Title Role Creator(s) Episode(s) Notes Ref. 2012–2014 Satyamev Jayate Host Himself 3 seasons 2012 C.I.D. "Red Suitcase Murders" 2017–2018 Toofan Alaya Guest Himself Season 1 and Season 2 2019Rubaru Roshni Narrator Documentary; also producer 2023The Romantics Himself Smriti MundhraDocumentary 2024 The Great Indian Kapil Show Guest Kapil Sharma 2024 Angry Young Men Himself Namrata RaoDocumentary 2025 The Ba***ds of Bollywood Himself Aryan Khan "Movie Mafia"
Music video Year Title Performer(s) Director(s) Album Ref. 2003 "Jab Bhi Chum Leta Hoon" Roop Kumar Rathod Ashok Mehra Pyar Ka Jashn 2010 "Phir Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" Various 2022 "Rishi Kapoor Tribute Song" Various
See also Awards and nominations received by Aamir Khan
Footnotes Khan played the younger version of Tariq Khan's character in the film. Khan played the younger version of Mahendra Sandhu's character in the film. Khan played a character who portrays Chandrashekar Azad in a documentary featured in the film. Khan played a character who impersonates another man in the film. Khan performed dual roles in the film.
Khan performed four roles in the film.
References
External links
Aamir Khan on Bollywood Hungama