Fans are his golden statuettes

Aamir Khan

You look so much like Tom Hanks. Have people told you that before? And Aamir Khan blushes, lighting up instantly with a smile, nodding, acknowledging it quietly.So next we ask him about his recent charity project for the earthquake affected victims at Bhuj where he had shot for `Lagaan'. ``If I am doing charity, I think I shouldn't get publicity from it. Otherwise, it's not charity,'' he tells Sudhish Kamath.

WE HAVE heard so much about his quest for perfection. We have heard he's a thinking actor, who pushes himself hard to get that extra punch out of every character he lives on screen. He moved us to tears right in his debut flick, as Raj killed himself in `Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'.

We loved the `Munna Bhai' he was in `Rangeela'. He made us hope Raghu Jaitly got the girl in `Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin'. In `Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander', he made us hope he would win, he made us keep our fingers crossed and made cycling a craze. He transformed `Pehla Nasha' into an anthem for those in love for the first time. He took us to Khandala, flirting with `Kya Bolti Tu' so confidently.

It's well past ten in the night, but it's not pack up time for Raja Hindustani yet. Though visibly tired, Aamir was chatting with us, to oblige the organisers.In the last twelve years, Aamir has brought to life at least twelve characters, which we remember, most of them, even by name. We don't know for sure what he's called in `Lagaan'. ``Right now, I can only talk about the music of `Lagaan' since it's releasing on April 6,'' he says.

``That's because if people know everything about the film so much in advance, then there will be very little left for them to know later when the film is out,'' explains Aamir.

But then talking about the music, he slowly begins to give away a few details. ``The story is based in 1890, it's set during the days of the British Raj. So the music has influences of British Raj, but it's mostly Indian folk,'' says Aamir, soon beginning to sing praises of A. R. Rahman.

``He has given us exactly what we wanted. He has done a tremendous job, he knew exactly what we wanted-folk-based music with western influences,'' Aamir reveals.

``We shot for about six months in Kutch for `Lagaan', got pretty friendly with the locals. We used their labour force, the villagers were very helpful and we had developed close ties with the people there,'' he recollects.

And once they heard of the earthquake, ``the entire crew was worried and shocked and decided to help the people we knew in Bhuj''.

And then quickly stops from divulging more about his charity project there, officially, that is. ``Please don't ask me about `Lagaan' now. Because, it's due for release only by 1st June,'' he pleads.

Then we get talking about the Oscars, and why Indian films don't go there. ``I haven't thought about that. But I guess we do not aim at the International level. We are not competing in that International arena maybe because we don't want to compete,'' he says thoughtfully.

What about him? Doesn't Aamir Khan fancy himself climbing up the stairs to go on stage on the Academy awards night some day and deliver an Oscar acceptance speech?

``No, I do not aspire...not that I have anything against Oscar awards, but I think the best reward that I can get is from my audience and not any organisation. What matters to me is what I think of my work, what my audience thinks of my work and what people I value think of my work,'' says Aamir.

So, will he totally rule out a possibility of trying for one ? ``Maybe, if an opportunity arises,'' Aamir replies.

On to more lighter topics, we ask him how he finds Chennai. ``I have not spent much time here. But the few times I have been here, I have found people are warm and hospitable. I love South Indian food. Dosa and Idli is the first thing I do when I am here,'' says Aamir.

``Maybe I should go for the rehearsal now,'' he signs off, then goes onstage, spending the next half an hour rehearsing with Revathy and Khushboo.

After that, he says he has to get back to work on `Lagaan'. Didn't we hear the famous line on showbiz: ``The show must go on''? Well Aamir probably would add a post-script to that: ``And well''.

``I think the best reward I can get is from my audience and not any organisation. What matters to me is what I think of my work, what my audience thinks of my work and what people I value think of my work.''

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