Aamir Khan, the acclaimed Bollywood actor, recently shared insights into his childhood, revealing a stark contrast between his parents' personalities and disciplinary approaches. While his mother, Zeenat Hussain, was gentle and empathetic, his father, Tahir Hussain, a film producer, had a stricter, more physical approach to discipline.
Khan recounted instances where his father would slap him and his brother, Faisal Khan, with the back of his hand. He explained that his father's ring would leave an imprint on their faces, a mark that would be visible even the next day at school. This, he said, was a source of considerable embarrassment for him and his brother.
In a recent interview shared on Zee Music Company's YouTube channel, Aamir Khan spoke about how his mother's sensitive nature influenced his own empathy and understanding of social issues. He described her as someone who deeply understood the feelings of others and instilled that quality in him. He recalled a specific incident from his childhood, when he was a state-level tennis champion. After winning a match, his mother hugged him and made tea, but then she also wondered how the boy who lost the match and his mother were feeling. This concern for others, he said, has stayed with him.
However, his father's approach was markedly different. Aamir described his father as a strict disciplinarian. While Aamir says his mother would never raise her voice and the most she would say when scolding him was, "Aamir, aap aisa karenge? (Aamir, will you do this?)", his father was more prone to physical discipline.
Aamir Khan's family had a long-standing connection to the film industry. His father, Tahir Hussain, was a film producer, and his uncle, Nasir Hussain, was a renowned filmmaker. Despite this, Aamir has shared that his father was initially against him becoming an actor. In fact, he was very strict and considered acting an unstable career. Aamir even feared his father's reaction so much that he secretly pursued his passion for acting. He was once involved in a short film and begged Shabana Azmi not to tell his father about it, fearing severe repercussions. He even recalled being banned from playing tennis, a sport he excelled at, after doing poorly in a couple of subjects in school.
Aamir has also spoken about the financial struggles his family faced during his childhood. His father's films often didn't make money, leaving the family in debt and at one point, close to being homeless. Despite these hardships, Aamir maintains that he had a happy childhood.
Despite his father's initial disapproval and strict discipline, Aamir Khan eventually made his mark in the film industry. He debuted with a leading role in "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" in 1988, which was directed by his cousin Mansoor Khan. He has since established himself as one of the leading actors in Indian cinema, known for his versatility and preference for films with social relevance.