Veteran actor Aamir Khan, a prominent figure in the Indian film industry for nearly four decades, revealed in a recent interview that he had privately decided to retire from acting during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was his family who convinced him to reconsider that decision.
In 2022, following the underwhelming reception of Laal Singh Chaddha, Khan announced a break from acting to focus on his personal life. He admitted that the pressures of his career had caused him to neglect his family for years. The time off gave him a fresh perspective, and upon his return, the actor took an unprecedented step by signing six new projects—an unusual move for Khan, who is known for carefully selecting his roles.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Aamir Khan explained his rationale behind the decision to take on multiple projects at once. “I’ve never taken up six movies together in my life. This time, I had my own reason for it,” he shared. “When I decided not to leave films yet, I thought this might be the last 10 years of my active working life.” At 59, Khan expressed a sense of urgency to make his remaining years in the industry as productive as possible.
His ex-wife, Kiran Rao, who also joined the conversation, jokingly rejected the notion that Khan was nearing the end of his career, citing the example of 97-year-old actor Clint Eastwood. Khan responded with a pragmatic outlook, stating, “You can’t trust life. We might die tomorrow. So, I’m saying, I have roughly 10 years of active life left.” He added that beyond acting, he wanted to focus on supporting emerging talent in the industry, from writers to directors, before eventually stepping away from his active film career at the age of 70.
Despite his busy schedule, Khan expressed his desire to eventually experience a more relaxed lifestyle. “I would love a retired life,” he said with a smile, envisioning a future filled with reading and yoga. His daughter, however, humorously reminded him that a life of total leisure might not be practical, saying, “Papa, you can’t spend all your time with us, we’ll go crazy!”
Khan has also made his return as a producer with Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry for the Oscars 2025. He plans to continue supporting and producing unique and meaningful films, and to manage his growing vision, he recently hired Aparna Purohit as the CEO of Aamir Khan Productions.
As Aamir Khan continues to navigate his career and personal life, his focus on fostering new talent and creating impactful films signals his commitment to the industry, even as he contemplates his eventual retirement.