‘We use women as ‘items’ in films’ says Aamir Khan

Mumbai: Aamir Khan has been busy with the new season of his show-with-a-social message Satyamev Jayate. However, the actor took a few moments out of his schedule to sit down for a chat with us about his show, sexism — and Shah Rukh Khan. Excerpts from the interview:

Not doing movies for the moolah:
I don’t do films for money. If that was the case, I wouldn’t be doing just one or two films a year. With a film like Delhi Belly, I didn’t earn much money. I do films only if I like the subject and am bowled over by the script. I always choose scripts which will be liked by people the world over. We are here to entertain people. I am always conscious about being sensitive, but not sensational. People may question my choice, but I have done the films I have because I liked the story. If making money was my only motto, then I would have done many more commercial films. But filmmaking is my passion and profession.

And that’s why he won’t join politics…
Politics won’t give me happiness. I feel I can contribute more to society through my films. I feel content about serving my country through my profession.

Comfort factor:
I like to do what I feel comfortable doing. My friends advise me not to do something, when they feel I am doing something wrong. Ammi too worries about me. She wants me to sign films. She says, “Aamir sign some films. You are not doing any films!” In the past four years, I had become fat. When I met her after a gap of few months, she said, “It’s good you have become fit and slim.”

Emotional quotient:
I am very emotional. If I am happy, it instantly reflects on my face; the same goes with sadness too. If we try to control our emotions, then we become insensitive. All of us — my siblings and I — love our Ammi and are emotional about our bonding. We tell our sons: Don’t cry, be strong; are you a girl? In fact, we should be teaching them to be free from arrogance. Our sons should be sensitive enough to be able to deal with negativity, yet retain their positive instinct. We should educate our children to grow up with a positive attitude. Society will definitely be a better place (if we do that)… As (Narendra) Modiji has rightly said, “We should bring up the boy child sensibly, with all the ethical values.”
 
On sexism in Hindi films:
We use women as an “item” in Hindi films. This needs to be changed. This is an irresponsible act by filmmakers… somewhere, I am also responsible. We show boys eve-teasing girls, certain songs use insulting phrases like  “Khambe jaisi khadi hai”, “Tu cheeez badi hai mast mast” and words like “phooljhari”, “patakha” etc., insinuate that women are material objects. We (filmmakers) must stop that.

Work out:
I work out for an hour a day. I drink four-five bottles of water, eat a balanced diet if possible. When I am doing my exercise regime, I ask myself: Why am I doing it? It isn’t essential to exercise. Muscles are a symbol of strength, which we value only if we use it at the right time. If I am using this strength for my betterment, it’s fine. But if I use this strength for some good work, then it has some value.

On that note, what about SRK’s eight-pack abs for Happy New Year…
Bahut behtreen hai! Achchi body banayi hai! Whenever my peers do something good, I always SMS them or call them up to congratulate them. It is a matter of joy. But in case I haven’t liked something, I just keep mum.”
 
So, has he congratulated SRK on his abs?
[Aamir laughs and walks away]