As PK storms the box-office, Amin Hajee – one of Aamir Khan’s closest friends – writes about what keeps Aamir Khan going. Or as he says in the following account, ‘AK ki kameez baaki logon se safed kaise hai?’
PK has just released and everywhere I go people are abuzz with anticipation. They ask me, “How is PK?” I’m used to calling Aamir Khan AK. So I reply, “He is at it!” They laugh as they ask me the question again, “Arrey… How is PK?” and I laugh again and say, “He is at it. PK and AK are both at it!”
Now, they look confused and it’s my turn to ask them, “Why are you confused?” They look on at me as I elaborate, “Arrey… AK is PK, Perfectionist Khan, Persevering Khan and this time, he has found a partner Perfectionist Kumar Hirani and Persevering Kumar Hirani. Together, they will create – or should I say re-create – their magic for us.” The people I’ve answered this question for smile at me and shake my hand and nod as they leave. Now, I think to myself, ‘Wow. What a reputation AK has created for himself.’ The expectations are so high and people know he will never deliver a mediocre product like others do. So. I think to myself, ‘Bhalaa AK ki kameez baaki logon se safed kaise hai? My mind drifts back to Ghulam.
I’m in Filmistan studios. We are boxing against one another in the ring. The audience in the studio screams out, “Kala Tiger, Kala Tiger!” We throw punches at one another and go through the entire choreographed fight sequence and finally, director Vikram Bhatt screams ‘Cut.’ I’m exhausted and collapse on the floor. It’s very hot in the studio and I can hardly breathe. Also, I can’t deal with the constant takes and re-takes. I’m floored as I look up at AK and what do I see? AK (or should I say Sidhu) is doing barbell curls and pumping up his muscles ready for the next take. I’m stunned. I think to myself, ‘What the hell is this guy on?’ He smiles at me and says, “Chal Amin, doosra shot ready hai! C’mon Kala Tiger get up!” I look on zapped as he starts to remind me about the fourth punch that I had thrown one inch away from where it should have been and how I should not take my eyes off his face when I throw my punches and he goes on and on about how we can make the next take better. I just shut my eyes and curse myself for getting into this position and having accepted this role.
That was my first brush with Aamir and I still didn’t learn. I’ve been foolish enough to take up the other opportunities of working with him that came my way later. Next, Lagaan. Ashutosh Gowariker auditioned me for the role of Bagha, the mute temple drummer and Aamir saw the audition and luckily (or unluckily) I passed the acid test. But that was not the acid test that was nothing compared to the 4 degrees to the 46 degrees we shot Lagaan in. The Bhuj desert spares nobody and the conditions took their toll on each and every one of us. Did I say everyone? Oops! AK (Bhuvan) was in his element, yet again. While we were shooting Chale Chalo he says, ‘Chal Bagha, let’s go bare body and burn our bodies in the scorching sun. It will look fab in the film. Baar baar haan, bolo yaar haan, apni jeet ho, unki haar haan!’ Like my character in the film, I look on at him speechless. He takes off his vest and looks on at me in anticipation. I think of the time I was flat on the floor during Ghulam and curse myself for having got myself in the same position again.
He calls out to me, “Arrey Bagha, dar gaya kya? Chal!” Reluctantly I take off my vest too and we shoot bare body for the next three days and by the end of it I’m so tanned and burnt that I end up looking like someone else. Lagaan makes history and I get carried away and I make my next foolish mistake. I audition for Mangal Pandey and get chosen to play the part of the sepoy Veer Singh. Aamir grows his hair and moustache and leaves me and all the other sepoys with no choice but to follow suit.
For the next one and a half year we look like the Blues Brothers and are stopped by security at every airport in the world. If that is not all, the woolen uniforms of the sepoys drive us crazy in the Pune heat and I see AK pushing himself again to the maximum. We march alongside one another in the barracks and he asks for take after take until we get the marching in sync and look like real sepoys.
At that point in time, I swear to myself that I will never act alongside AK/PK (Perfectionist Khan, Persevering Khan) ever again.
I had finally realized that I could not keep up with AK but this PK has come a long way since. Today I think back, Dil Chahata Hai ke main uss ke saath kadam se kadam mila kar chalta, par main Basanti ban kar uss ke Rang mein rang nahi saka, main IDIOT wahan se bhag nikla aur aaj main uss AK ko officially PK banta hua dekh raha hun.
But, I don’t envy Aamir. I respect him. He is made of something else. We have gone on to become close friends. I was the Best Man at his wedding and he was mine. Now as the Best Man I am supposed to talk about the dulha and I thought and thought what I would say about AK and then I found this poem written by Javed Akthar and I made a few changes and recited this.
For me this poem sums Aamir up really well.
AJEEB AADMI HAI WOH
MUHABATOON KA GEET HAI
BAGAWATOON KA RAAG HAI
KABHI WOH SIRF PHOOL HAI
KABHI WOH SIRF AAG HAI
WOH MUFLISON SE KEHTA HAI KE DIN BADAL BHI SAKTE HAI
WOH JAGIRO SE KEHTA HAI KE TUMHARE SAR PE JO SONE KE TAJ
HAI WOH PIGHAL BHI SAKTE HAI
WOH BANDISHON SE KEHTA HAI KE TUM KO TOD SAKTA HUN MAIN
WOH SAHULATO SE KEHTA HAI KE TUM KO CHOOD SAKTA HO
AJEEB ADMI HAI WOH
MUHABATOON KA GEET HAI
BAGAWATOON KA RAAG HAI
KABHI WOH SIRF PHOOL HAI
KABHI WOH SIRF AAG HAI
AJEEB AADMI HAI WOH…
Aur main fakr se keheta hu ke yeh AK hee PK hai.
(As told to Dhiren J Trivedi)
The post Ajeeb aadmi hai woh! Amin Hajee’s humourous and heartfelt tribute to friend and PK star Aamir Khan appeared first on Bollywood Celebden.
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