"TZP makes me a proud actor, producer and a director" - Aamir Khan 
By Devansh Patel, December 18, 2007 - 18:02 IST
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After both, Lagaan in 2001 and Rang De Basanti in 2007 being nominated under the Best Foreign Language Film category for the Oscars and Bafta's respectively, Aamir Khan's to-be-released film Taare Zameen Par is loaded with lot of expectations from the audiences.
Needless to say, with his clout, he can have just about any role in any script that comes out of any word processor in Bollywood, just by expressing the slightest interest. His Taare Zameen Par too came out of something that interested him; so much so, that he went on to direct it. In this exclusive interview over the phone, Devansh Patel spoke to the quintessential Aamir Khan about his love for kids, what makes him a better father, why he doesn't want to force people to go and watch Taare Zameen Par and much more.
Now with Taare Zameen Par, is it right in saying that now Aamir Khan is on cloud nine?
Not yet. Frankly speaking, I think I am waiting for the response from the audiences and I'm hoping that the people like the film. So, once I know the response, I'll know how to react.
Tell me why and how did the title Taare Zameen Par was selected to be apt for the film?
Taare Zameen Par is a film about children and it's a film which celebrates the abilities of children. Taare Zameen Par is a title, which denotes that aspect. It's a title with a very positive feel to it. All the kids are special and wonderful. They are like stars on earth. This particular aspect gave birth to the title.
It's a film, which celebrates the abilities of children. They are like stars on earth.
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But having said that, was Taare Zameen Par the first and the last choice?
The working title was something else, and then I, Amol Gupte and Deepa Bhatia discussed what should be the most suitable title for the film. At this moment, I can't remember which one of us came up with Taare Zameen Par.
Lagaan took you to the Oscars; Rang De Basanti took you to the BAFTA's. Where do you think Taare Zameen Par is going to take you?
(Laughs) I have no idea. I hope that what we've made with so much love and care goes down well with the audience, which has always been my prime concern. I make films for my audience and for me, the audience liking it is the biggest success that I can ask for.
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The audience liking the film itself is the biggest success that I can ask for.
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Music has always been an important ingredient of Indian cinema. Don't you think Taare Zameen Par's music is restricted only to the film and not beyond that?
No, I don't think so. Taare Zameen Par has a great soundtrack. I really love the music. I think Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy have done a great job of coming up with very melodious tunes and Prasoon Joshi has written some wonderful lyrics. So I'm really happy with the music. I think that even on it's own it stands really well and I'm sure that when people see it in the cinemas, they'll love it even more.
Which is your favourite track from the film?
That's a tough one for me to decide because I like all of them. I think each one is special and each one is so appropriate for each situation.
Don't you think that as a child, Darsheel Safary who plays the central character in Taare Zameen Par would have lost his focus on studies by being a part of the film?
Well, we took a lot of care on that. I think that Darsheel is a bright kid who has done a great job in the film. But as far as his studies are concerned, we discussed that with his parents, teachers and principal in school. We actually had a tutor with him right through the shoot who was retained for a year and a half after we finished the shooting of the film to make sure that anything he may have missed, he has all the opportunity to catch up on. So, we made sure that he had personal and private attention from the tutor.
The only thing which moves Aamir Khan is the script and you've been a part of brilliantly executed scripts like Lagaan and Rang De Basanti to name a few. Then why choose to direct Taare Zameen Par when you could have directed any good script before?
All the films that you're mentioning and the films that I have done as an actor were offered to me as an actor and the individuals who directed those films were all extremely talented, experienced and well known. I was fortunate to have worked with them. Taare Zameen Par too was not meant to be directed by me. Initially, I was only producing and acting in it and eventually went down to direct it. I have no hesitation in saying that I'm very happy that I've directed Taare Zameen Par because I think it's a film that I can be proud of as an actor, producer and as a director.
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I think TZP a film that I can be proud of as an actor, producer and as a director.
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What was the crucial factor that made you decide to take over the director's role from Amol Gupte who was the original director of Taare Zameen Par?
Amol is the writer of the film and he was originally directing the film. After the first one week of shoot when I saw the rushes, I had certain reservations about the way it was being shot and I discussed it with him. As it turned out, we both had differences over some things and me being a person who is more creative than being a producer, the first thing I said to him was that if I had reservations, I should step back. In addition to that since he has worked so hard on the script that he has written with such love and care, I'd like to hand it back to him. I did what was fair and correct. Amol then gave it a thought, came back the next day, and told me that he would not like to direct this film and we sat and discussed whom to take on board as a director. Many names cropped up and finally we decided that we needed someone who could pick up from there and start shooting because we were very happy with the child and we did not want to risk delaying the film by the child growing up in the process and start looking for some other child. Taare Zameen Par is a film that can't be made without the correct casting of the child and this was the key factor in me deciding to take on the direction of the film. I jumped on to the deep end and the next day I was on set as a director.
Any fond memories you'd like to share with us while you were on the hot seat directing the film?
Well, the whole process was quite challenging and exciting. I think that working with children comes with it's own challenges. It was great fun but it can be testing at times, especially when you have forty kids with own individuality and characteristics. It was important for us to work around the children and their energy and time constraints. So we made sure that the kids were happy and comfortable. We were pretty much around for them.
What would be your reply if I say - Having children makes you no more a parent, than having a piano makes you a pianist?
(Laughs) I know you mean that having a child doesn't mean that you are fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a parent. I think this film really addresses the above sentence. I have to confess that when I read the script for the first time I felt that it really made me more sensitive towards my own children. I think I'm a good parent to begin with, but despite that I felt that it changed the way I looked at my kids and other kids as well. So it had a very positive impact on me and I hope the same thing happens with the audiences across the world.
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This film really addresses that having a child doesn't mean that you are fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a parent.
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Does that clearly mean that you have become a better father?
Yes, I'd like to think so. I have a sincere belief that I've always been a good father and both my kids are really dear to me. I'd like to say what the film's tag line says, 'every child is special.'
You've always believed that the audiences are your number one critics. With Taare Zameen Par, are you ready to face the Parents as your second lot?
I take full responsibility for the kind of films I've made irrespective of producing, acting or directing it. So in that sense the buck stops with me. Yes, I am prepared to face the honest reaction of the audience.
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Yes, I am prepared to face the honest reaction of the audience.
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Known to be the master perfectionist, can we now say that Aamir Khan is jack of all?
I hope I'm more than that (laughs). I expect to be master of all.
Acting started with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, then you produced your first film Lagaanand now debut as a director for Taare Zameen Par. What's next in the pipeline?
I don't know. I take life as it comes along. I didn't really have any plans to produce but I ended up producing Lagaan because I felt that was what I should do at that time. Again, in the case of Taare Zameen Par, I eventually took the responsibility and directed it. So let's see what lies ahead now.
The Play station generation who love to kill or be killed in the games, have clearly proved that these things are no child's play anymore. Shocked by Tuesday's incident in which two of its Class-VIII students killed a classmate within the school premises of the Euro International School in Gurgaon, don't you think that in today's time; issues like these should be addressed in films too?
Yes certainly. There is a lot of pressure on kids today and the kind of influence they face. One thing I'd like to see change is that somewhere along the way we kind of tend to teach our kids to be really competitive rather than teach them how to be more sensitive and caring. I think it's a very important part of bringing up children. That will go a long way in shaping them in a very positive manner.
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We tend to teach our kids to be really competitive rather than teach them how to be more sensitive and caring.
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Off late, the way to promote an Indian film is to go with your cast and crew to dance and to music talent shows or come up with movie merchandise and tie up with a leading shopping mall. You seem to have taken a back seat from all this. Why?
It's important to market your film and since we have made this film with so much love and care, I'd like as many people to know about it. But I don't want to do anything which is not right for the kind of film we've made. It's a film about children and I'd like to be honest to that, I've made an effort to go on shows that are about children or have something to do with children. Other than that, I don't think any other tie-up would really connect with the film and it's subject.
Did you in your real life go through what Darsheel's character goes through in the film, that of not studying or neglecting your studies, etc?
To a certain extent, Yes. We all face some sort of difficulties in academics, sports, etc. I too, like Darsheel's character, have faced rejection and feeling of not being good enough in something and a feeling of discouragement. I think a lot of us may have gone through the same thing. As far as studies were concerned, I was an average student but I hated homework (laughs) and I loved sports, which was my passion as a kid. So, I did go through what Darsheel's character goes through in the film.
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I too, like Darsheel's character, have faced rejection and feeling of not being good enough in something and a feeling of discouragement.
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Have you taken the cast and crew of Taare Zameen Par to your own school where you studied in Mumbai to interact with the students and teachers? Don't you think that could've also helped promoting the film too?
No. I didn't feel it was necessary. All the crew have been through their childhood phase and have their own experiences of what they have gone through. Almost all of us identify with it very strongly and we all got very emotionally involved while we were working on it. Each one had their own experiences and they came with that.
Radha in Lagaan, Zoonie in Fanaa and Sue in Rang De Basanti. But this time your love interest is your association with children. Are you missing your female lead in Taare Zameen Par?
(laughs) No, I am not. I think the connect in this film on the emotional level is with the children and on lot of levels it's extremely fulfilling.
It's always seen that a child learns something from his or her parents. But let's change positions here. What have you learnt from your kids or from your co-star Darsheel Safary?
What I've learnt from my own kids and other children is to be resilient, their ability to grasp and their spirit, which is very infectious. They are very open hearted, clear and keen in their approach towards things. They don't come with any inhibitions. That's something which we all should learn.
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Children are very open hearted, clear and keen in their approach towards things. They don't come with any inhibitions. That's something which we all should learn.
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Why should one go and watch Taare Zameen Par?
I'm not the kind of person who will tell people that they will have to go and see my film. I don't do that. I make films that I believe in and if people would like to see it that would be great. It should be something like they should feel like doing. I don't want to force people to do something like this. I'm really happy with the way the film has turned out and I'll be happy if the people enjoy it.
Any parting New Year message for IndiaFM readers?
I'd like to give them my love and would like to say to them that follow your heart. I'd like to tell the kids that follow your dreams and believe in them. Do not be discouraged with momentary failure or disappointment. I'd like to tell them that it's really important to care for kids around you. You might have your friends or colleagues and kids in your class, but it's always vital to develop a sense of caring for the people around us too.
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"Yes, I have directed Taare Zameen Par" - Aamir Khan
