Acting Against the Grain: Aamir Khan’s Boldest On-Screen Gambles

The perfectionist with a reputation for being finicky and nonconformist in his performances, Aamir Khan has always chosen parts that bend Bollywood conventions. From playing a forgetful tycoon to an eccentric painter, Khan's body of work is a masterclass in versatility. Here are seven of his riskiest roles that changed his life—and sometimes the industry too.

 

1. Arun in Dhobi Ghat

Aamir featured a reclusive, emotionally scarred painter in this reflective film by Kiran Rao. His subtle performance glowed in a film that explored loneliness in the city and art.

 

2. Shakti Kumar in Secret Superstar

Khan surprised as a flamboyant, former music director who mentors and guides a young girl following her dream. Offbeat and nuanced and yet comic relief and emotional support in equal measure, the role suited him perfectly.

 

3. Dil Nawaz in 1947: Earth

Khan became dark as a butcher with a tragic trajectory in Deepa Mehta's partition drama. His acting as a man torn between love and communal fury was eerily realistic.

 

4. Munna in Rangeela

As a street-smart tapori in Ram Gopal Varma's cult hit, Khan brought charm and vulnerability to a role miles away from his usual clean-cut image.

 

5. ACP Ajay Singh Rathod in Sarfarosh

Khan played a no-nonsense, gruff police officer battling cross-border terrorism. It was a career-defining role, as it established his ability to balance action with emotion.

 

6. Mahavir Singh Phogat in Dangal

Physically and emotionally transfiguring, Khan played the gruff but sensitive father and wrestling coach, shattering conventions around masculinity and fatherhood.

 

7. DJ in Rang De Basanti

As the dilettante college student who evolves into a revolutionary, Khan's performance brought to life the dawning of youth consciousness in a politicized narrative.

 

Sources: India Today, The Economic Times, WorldNews