Aamir Khan Exclusive Interview on PK

December 19th 2014 is a date that many movie fans have been waiting for, as it’s the release date for one of the most anticipated films of the year, Rajkumar Hirani’s PK. The film stars one of Bollywoods most talented and much respected actors Aamir Khan, in the title role. Although Aamir Khan and the rest of the PK team have been extremely secretive about the script and characters, we did manage to squeeze a little information out of the actor when he took time out of his extremely busy schedule to speak with Punjab2000.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar who saw a special screening of PK hosted by Aamir Khan on Tuesday, stated that it was the best film and performance of Aamir’s entire career.

I asked Aamir why the character of PK and the story were so special to him that he chose it above all others.

AK “It’s a story that touch me, it moved me, it made me cry, it made me laugh. It made me ask questions to myself. It’s a very emotional experience actually going through the script and I hope that’s come into the film. I don’t think Raju and Abhijat (PK writers Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi) planned or intended for PK to somehow be very Chaplinesque as a character when I see him. That’s about all I can say.”

I also asked Aamir about the image of PK and how long it took to create the character. “PK has green eyes, so I wear lenses. He doesn’t blink so that’s one of his physical characteristics. My ears stick out in the film, I mean they stick out in real life but in the film we use that to our advantage and really make them pop out. None of the clothes were made for me. They were all clothes the costume designers picked from people off the streets. The entire process of creating the character took about six months.”

Without trying to give too much away we learn that Aamir’s character doesn’t blink throughout the film or use his arms while running. The character of PK only speaks Bhojpuri so Aamir had to study with a coach and memorise all the lines phonetically which took around three months. Getting into the head of the character was challenging for him and PK one of his toughest roles to play. “For me when I’m on camera, when I’m on set, ideally I like to be in a state of semi consciousness, where I’m conscious enough to remember instructions but lost enough to be in character and be in the moment. Often even that is difficult to achieve.”

When asked if he would have considered making the film had Rajkumar Hirani not directed it Aamir replied “Raju is integral to this film. It can be made without me in it but it can’t be made without him. He’s the force behind it not only as a writer but a director. It’s something important that he wants to say that he’s conveying through the film. Like his other three films (Munna Bhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munnabhai and 3 Idiots) what he’s saying is extremely dramatic but he chooses the vehicle of humour to convey his message. I can’t imagine someone else coming to me with the script.”

Asked about challenges left for Aamir in Bollywood, he replied that he’s not thinking outside of Indian cinema as there is a large and healthy audience that he has a deep and emotional connection to, with innumerable stories that have yet to be told.

Talking fondly about the experience of working on PK and starring alongside Sanjay Dutt, Aamir spoke about how much warmth Sanjay brought on set and to his character, with amazing energy. He explained that Sanjay had a strange mix of someone who appears extremely strong yet at the same time very vulnerable. Working with Anushka Sharma was also an amazing experience.

Aamir and the creators of PK want us to experience the same feeling that he felt when the story was first narrated to him, which he said was a beautiful journey, hence why so little about the film has been revealed.

After 25 years as an extremely successful actor and television presenter Aamir Khan still gets nervous before the release of any of his films. I’m sure PK will be a huge success so let’s hope that the film makes us both laugh and cry in the way it did the actors when they first read the script. As in Rajkumar Hirani’s films there is always a message to be told so today we’ll finally find out what that message is.

PK worldwide release December 19th 2014.