Two years after the 2014 blockbuster PK, Aamir Khan is back with his new film, Dangal. Talking about his journey from fat to fit, Aamir also reveals why he is thankful to Salman for the film.
The Dangal poster shows you as an old man with graying hair surrounded by four daughters. Didn’t you want the younger Aamir to be on the poster?
In all our films, we try to portray the story. We had a young look also, and we could have used that instead of this fat and elderly one. But, that isn’t the truth of the story. The main idea is that a man has four daughters and is proud of them. This one image tells you the heart of the story.
Is the shooting of the film over?
Thank God, the shoot is complete. I started the film being very heavy and then cut down my weight to look young as the film starts with me as a young man.
It must have been a challenge to work on your body...
Weight gaining is easy. I was free to have everything tasty those 6-8 months. I have never felt so free. From January 10, I started my weight loss. I trained under Rakesh, who is Salman’s trainer, and when he had to leave to train Salman for Sultan, I was trained under Rohit. Later, Rakesh joined again.
Which of your myriad looks do you like the most?
Kiran (Rao, his wife) jokes with me and says, “The man I have been married to for 10 years has changed so many looks that I can’t recollect his original look.” Even I have forgotten. But right now I like this elderly, fat and grey-haired look very much. It’s a great look and I think it goes with the film and character.
Which look does your wife like the most?
Kiranji also likes this look the most. Now if I hold her lovingly, she says your body has become very hard now (laughs) but before it used to be soft like a pillow.
There was news that you were considering casting another actor to play your younger version..
When every film is about to be completed, I feel if something happens to me our hard work will go waste. If I die seven days before or something… (laughs). This thought comes to me because I think about what can be done practically in this situation. In this film I told Niteshji when my fat portion — 80% of the film — was done and only 10-15% was left for the younger part: “Khudana khaasta, mujhe kuchh ho gaya toh aap kisi aur ko cast kar lena, who will play the younger Mahavir. 80% of our film shouldn’t go waste.