Aamir Khan almost didn't become an actor: 'Father said he would kill me if I joined films'

Though Aamir Khan hails from a family deeply entrenched in the world of cinema, his path to becoming an actor was far from straightforward. Despite being born into a household where films were part of daily life, the notion of pursuing a career in acting was not only discouraged but outright prohibited. His father, Tahir Hussain—a film producer—held a cautious view of the industry, considering it an unstable and financially insecure career. In contrast to his brother, the acclaimed filmmaker Nasir Hussain, Tahir strongly opposed the idea of his children entering this unpredictable field.

At the Waves Summit, Aamir opened up about the emotional hurdles he faced at home. He revealed that his father had explicitly warned him against joining the film industry, and Aamir feared the consequences of defying him. "Had he found out my dream, he would have flipped," Aamir said, with a nervous laugh, alluding to his father's fierce temper.

Recollecting his childhood, Aamir painted a vivid picture of growing up in a household where cinema was present but off-limits. "We were raised to respect films from a distance," he said. The topic of working in movies was taboo, and challenging his father's authority was simply not an option. “He had a short fuse. We didn’t even think of speaking up,” Aamir admitted.

Aamir illustrated this fear through a striking memory—his passion for tennis during his teenage years. At the time, he was excelling in the sport, ranking number one among Maharashtra's sub-juniors and training rigorously every day. But one academic slip-up changed everything. “I failed a couple of subjects by just a few marks,” he recalled, “and overnight, my father ordered me to quit tennis. That was the end of it.” He never picked up a racket again.

His first steps toward acting were taken in secrecy. Aamir participated in a short film, and fate intervened when acclaimed actress Shabana Azmi happened to see it. She praised his performance and was surprised to learn he was Tahir Hussain’s son. Wanting to commend him to his father, she offered to speak to Tahir—prompting panic in Aamir. “I begged her not to,” he said. “If he knew, I wouldn't live to act.”

Eventually, Aamir’s career began under the banner of his uncle’s production, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, directed by his cousin Mansoor Khan. Today, Aamir Khan is a cinematic icon, with over 36 years of impactful storytelling behind him—a journey carved in defiance, fear, and sheer passion.