Recently, more people have come to find that Bollywood movies don’t only have amazing songs, but the actors also pass across great messages. One of such is Aamir Khan, a favorite of many fans. You can’t miss the thrilling, fascinating action in his movies, which explains why almost everyone wants to indulge themselves in them.
Who Is Aamir Khan?
Aamir Khan was born Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan in Mumbai, India, in 1965. He is one of India’s top veteran actors, having starred in over 50 movies and tv shows. He is also an actor, film director, and producer, making him a big shot in India’s Bollywood.
Although his parents opposed his move to be an actor, he went ahead, refusing to be an engineer. He started as a child actor, appearing first in his uncle’s 1973 hit, Yaada Ki Baarant.
As a perfectionist dedicated to his work, Khan does everything possible to ensure his movies are excellent. This can be seen in his film Dangal, as he gains about 25 kilograms to play the part of Mahaur Singh Phogat. He has a box office star rating of 1450 points, rated as the number one with over 30 years of experience in India’s movie industry.
He has won 13 awards, four from the National Film Awards and nine from Filmfare Awards. The internationally-recognized actor has also gotten an Oscar nomination for his part in Lagaan. Aamir Khan manages to strike gold with the movies he makes each time. Here are the 13 best Aamir Khan movies you should see:
1. Dangal (2016)
Hindi English 2h 41m IMDb
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Stars: Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh
This 2016 movie tells the true-life story of Mahaur Singh Phogat(Aamir Khan), a pro wrestler who has to give up his dream of getting a gold medal for India due to family needs. He wishes his wife to give birth to a son who would fulfill his dreams.
However, his wife only gives birth to girls, which leaves him disappointed and depressed. After some years, his dreams surface when he sees potential medalists in his daughters.
He begins training his two daughters to fight and get gold medals in the Commonwealth Games, ignoring the social stigma from his family and community. Viewers have commented that Dangal is an inspiring movie filled with humor and emotional scenes.
Besides, it emphasizes dreaming big and doing what you can to achieve your dreams, regardless of what others say.
2. Idiots (2009)
Hindi English 2h 50m IMDb
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Stars: Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Mona Singh
3 Idiots is a 2009 coming-of-age comedy that follows the lives of two friends on a mission to find their third friend who disappeared right after graduation. After getting into the Imperial College of Engineering, Farhan and Raju make friends with an intelligent peer, Rancho(Aamir Khan), who encourages them to look at life differently.
While Farhan and Raju aren’t brilliant, Rancho is knowledgeable and willing to learn. This drives him to ask questions that get him and his friends on the blacklist of the Vice-Chancellor, Viru(Virus).
While Rancho seems to know already what he wants, the movie follows his other friends as they figure out what their passion lies in. To those who have seen it, 3 Idiots is a movie that focuses on the importance of friendship, good deeds, and chasing our passion.
Apart from the emotional scenes, the film is excellent for anyone who needs inspiration to pursue their dreams.
3. PK (2014)
Hindi 2h 33m IMDb
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Stars: Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, Sanjay Dutt
Released in 2014, PK is a Sci-Fi comedy that relays the story of an alien stuck on Earth. PK(Aamir Khan) is an Android alien who comes to Earth to research humans. The official trailer keeps you stuck even at first watch.
However, on his arrival on Earth, the remote control of his spaceship is stolen, and all means of communication with his kind are lost. As he searches for his remote control, he is told that only God can help him, but his ignorance of who God is has him searching for God in Delhi.
PK is portrayed as innocent and childlike, with seemingly ordinary questions that warrant catastrophic answers. Comments from critics and viewers say that PK is a movie that criticizes and questions the existence of religious superstitions. It examines the things people do and how they act, all in the name of religion.
4. Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Hindi 2h 45m IMDb
Directors: Aamir Khan, Amole Gupte(uncredited)
Stars: Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tisca Chopra
Also known in English as ‘Like Stars On Earth,’ this 2007 movie follows the story of a misunderstood 8-year-old boy considered lazy. Ishaan is a dyslexic child who finds it difficult to understand and grasp anything in class. He has a knack for art. However, his parents don’t think that is enough.
They decide to send him to a boarding school in hopes of helping him against his will, which leaves him depressed. He doesn’t get better in academics, and he loses all motivation to do art. He is then noticed by a teacher (Aamir Khan), who dedicates his time and patience to figure out why Ishaan is struggling.
To viewers, Taare Zameen Par carries the message of love, care, and patience. It relays the idea that you can make a lot of impact with these qualities. It also speaks to teachers, parents, and other stakeholders about listening to and understanding a child.
5. Dhoom 3 (2013)
Hindi English 2h 52m IMDb
Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya
Stars: Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Abhishek Bachchan
Aamir Khan acts as the antagonist in this 2013 action thriller. Dhoom 3 is the third movie and installment in the Dhoom series. Twenty-three years after Sahir’s (Aamir Khan) father commits suicide, the antagonist, a man trained as a circus entertainer, becomes a thief and begins stealing from different branches of the Western Bank of Chicago, the bank that caused his father’s downfall.
As his line of crimes continues, Indian duo detectives Jai and Ali are hired to take him down and end his crimes. The official trailer
of Dhoom 3 shows that Sahir is filled with fire for revenge and does all he can to take down the corrupt Chicago bank.
After much analysis, critics believe that Dhoom 3 uses sympathy, surprise, and humor elements to keep viewers entertained. In one of the best Indian Action films, Aamir Khan gets through the audience’s skin with his terrific acting.
6. Ghajini (2008)
Hindi English Urdu 3h 6m IMDb
Director: A.R. Murugadoss
Stars: Aamir Khan, Asin Thottum, kalJiah Khan
One of the connections Christopher Nolan and his works have with India is this movie. Ghajini is a 2008 film inspired by Nolan’s Memento. It stars Aamir Khan as Sanjay Singhania, a man with short-term memory loss on a mission to avenge the death of his lover.
Sanjay, who loses his memory every 15 minutes, takes photographs, notes, and tattoos to get ahold of the person responsible for his memory loss and the death of his soon-to-be wife.
Although Christopher Nolan had not watched it when he was interviewed, he confirmed that he had only heard good things about the movie from viewers. The thrilling movie speaks about love and determination, with some bits of humor.
7. Secret Superstar (2017)
Hindi 2h 30m IMDb
Director: Advait Chandan
Stars: Zaira Wasim, Meher Vij, Raj Arjun
Secret Superstar tells the story of Insia, a 15-year-old songwriter who is passionate about music and dreams of being the next big thing. However, living with an abusive father makes it difficult for her to thrive. When she records herself singing in a niqab and posts it on YouTube, she becomes an internet sensation.
Viewers, including a musician past his glory days, become intrigued by her, wishing to know who she is. Shakti Kumar, a character going through a lousy divorce played by Aamir Khan, decides to have her sing for his show.
She accepts this offer, but as things seem rosy, they come crashing down as they are hit with a wrecking ball in the form of her father, Farook. Secret Superstar is a simple story told articulately.
According to some viewers, the movie gave them the idea that everyone can dream and choose to chase their dreams no matter their condition and background.
8. Lagaan (2001)
Hindi English 3h 44m IMDb
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Stars: Aamir Khan, Raghuvir Yadav, Gracy Singh
Lagaan is a 2001 movie set in 1893, in Victoria, India. A small village is ruled by Captain Russell, a ruthless tyrant who imposes an unwarranted land tax on the citizens. This tax greatly affects the farmers, and it has Bhuvan (Aamir Khan) getting angry.
He mobilizes a mob to protest against the cruel Britains ruling over them. Captain Russell offers to remove the tax only if Bhuvan and the villagers can win him and his men in a cricket game.
While Bhuvan agrees to play this game, the problem is that they have no idea of how the game is played. Viewers have described the movie as a surprisingly overwhelming fairytale. The official trailer movie is presented with enough suspense to keep you at the edge of your seat, even before seeing the entire movie.
9. Thugs of Hindostan (2018)
Hindi English 2h 44m IMDb
Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya
Stars: Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif
This 2018 movie is set in the 1800s during the British rule over India. Firangi Malla(Aamir Khan) is a dubious conman who can trick anybody and acts as an informant to the British rulers.
When a troop of bandits searching for independence becomes a problem for the British, he is asked to infiltrate them and get information on Khudabaksh, the troop leader. Thugs of Hindostan are a troop of patriotic pirates against the British who use their resources to capture many of the British ships.
Although some critics have questioned and challenged the messages it passed, some viewers believe that the movie features Aamir Khan in one of his best acting moments. To them, it is a worthwhile movie to spend your money on.
10. Fanaa (2006)
Hindi Indonesian Italian 2h 48m IMDb
Director: Kunal Kohli
Stars: Aamir Khan, Kajol, Rishi Kapoor
Fanaa is a 2006 Romance and Drama film. It follows the love story between Zooni and Rehan. Zooni is a sweet but blind girl who meets a flirty tour guide, Rehan (Aamir Khan). Although her friends tell her to stay away from him and that he is only bad News, she ignores them because she wants to experience life.
Rehan shows her a side of life she has never experienced before. However, he hides a big secret from her, which could lead to their ruin.
Kunal’s Fanaa comes across to viewers and critics as a thought-provoking film that portrays raw passion and love. From the official trailer, comments have it that it is one of Aamir’s finest performances.
11. Mann (1999)
Hindi 2h 40m IMDb
Director: Indra Kumar
Stars: Aamir Khan, Manisha Koirala, Sharmila Tagore
While onboard a boat moving from Singapore to India, Priya falls in love with Dev, a playboy. They plan to meet again, but life has a way of stepping on our plans.
Priya is set to get married to Raj, a man she feels indebted for helping her when she is in need, and Dev is an aspiring painter but is in debt, so he agrees to get married to Anita, a lady from a wealthy family.
Aboard the cruise, Dev gets in Priya’s space, and even though he doesn’t get to her at first, he still manages to impress her and have her fall in love. Deciding that they both love each other, they choose to go home, sort out everything with their betrothed, and then meet up after six months to get married.
Viewers who watched the movie defined it as a beautiful romance movie and poetry in motion. It is both a sad and classic romance that you should see, starting first with the official trailer.
12. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Hindi 3h 3m IMDb
Director: Farhan Akhtar
Stars: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna
Dil Chahta Hai is a 2001 movie about three inseparable friends who just graduated from college and went to Goa for a break. There, they promise to stay friends forever. However, life has other plans as they begin to fall in and get into relationships that ultimately strain their friendship.
According to comments from fans, the movie is a great place to start if you have never watched an Indian film. It portrays the Indian youth most realistically. Here’s the official trailer:
13. Raakh (1989)
Hindi 2h 33m IMDb
Director: Aditya Bhattacharya
Stars: Aamir Khan, Supriya Pathak, Pankaj Kapur
Raakh tells the story of a man on a mission to avenge his girlfriend. Aamir(Aamir Khan), a man from a wealthy home, is in love with Neeta. Although Neeta feels the same way, she is an older woman who doesn’t share his dreams of a future.
The movie takes place when the India Police force has been centralized, and crime is the order of the day. On a particular night, as they walk together, Neeta is raped and assaulted by the members of the Karmali clan, a notorious gang with control over the city.
Consumed by rage, Aamir teams up with Kapoor, a policeman who hates the Karmali. As the official trailer portrays, Kapoor soon also becomes obsessed with taking down the clan when he loses his job because of them.
Critics have described Raakh as a movie filled with anger and violence, and it shows just how far people would go when their obsession takes over their lives.
Summary
Aamir Khan is undoubtedly one of India’s finest gems, and without a doubt why he is adored in the movie industry. Start with the list above if you are a fan of Aamir Khan and want to binge-watch as many of his movies as possible. See Aamir Khan in various roles as a villain, loverboy, patriot, and determined family man!