In a rare and emotional moment during his appearance on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Aamir Khan revealed something that few fans saw coming — he was on the verge of quitting the film industry altogether.
Famous for being amongst the most committed and perfectionist actors from Indian cinema, Aamir admitted that there was a period when he was ready to abandon filmmaking altogether. It wasn’t due to box office disappointment or creativity exhaustion. It was much more personal than that.
A Forced Break That Changed His Outlook
When the whole film industry ground to a halt during the lockdown of COVID-19, Aamir Khan, like others, was stuck at home. For someone who had been living in the cinema for so long, this sudden hiatus was not just time away from work. It was time for reflection.
“For years, I was constantly working, thinking about cinema day and night. But during the lockdown, when everything stopped, I started to realize what I had been missing,” he shared.
Guilt That Built Up Over Years
With no sets to film on, Aamir was left to spend time with his family — something he admits he hadn’t done previously enough. This awareness came with a heavy emotional weight.
“I hadn’t spent time on my mother or my children. That guilt lingered with me… it was overwhelming,” he explained.
So intense, indeed, that it prompted him to a startling choice: to retire from films after finishing his current project.
Planned Quiet Exit After Laal Singh Chaddha
Laal Singh Chaddha was in production at the time. Aamir chose that he would wrap the shoot, but afterwards, he would not act, direct, or even intervene in post-production as he normally would.
I informed my director — I will only act this time. No editing, no additional creative endeavors. I had to back off,” he clarified.
His intention was to quietly walk away, without a public announcement. “My films come out every 3-4 years, anyway. I thought, by the time everyone was waiting for the next one, I’d already be dead, and nobody would really miss it. And I was fine with that,” he said, surprisingly at peace with the notion.
His Family Changed Everything
Just when he was about to give up his lifelong hobby, Aamir’s kids and former wife intervened. But rather than pleading with him to go on for the benefit of supporters or career, they gave him something greater: insight.
“They said, ‘Don’t leave films. Just manage your life. Work like normal people — 9 to 6 — and then give us the remaining time. That’s sufficient for us.'”
This meeting was a revelation. It made Aamir realize that he didn’t need to leave cinema to be available in his family life — he just needed to rethink the way he worked.
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Aamir Khan’s Return: With New Priorities
Today, Aamir is back — but differently. He’s no longer the overboard perfectionist who loses himself in every shot. Instead, he’s finding balance, cherishing family, and still doing what he loves.
His tale is not one of a career choice — it’s one of guilt, change, and the strength of self-reinvention. A reminder that even the most colossal stars carry the same emotional baggage as everyone else. And that sometimes it only takes the right words from the right individuals to lead you home — to yourself.
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