I have benefitted greatly from therapy: Aamir Khan

Actor attends joint sessions with daughter, Ira

Aamir Khan has opened up about prioritising therapy to mend his relationship with his daughter, Ira Khan, as well as his own mental well-being. In a candid discussion for Netflix India, Aamir joined Ira and Dr Vivek Murthy to shed light on the importance of seeking help and breaking the stigma surrounding therapy in India.

Aamir admitted that his daughter Ira, from first wife Reena Dutta, played a significant role in steering him toward therapy. "Therapy is so helpful. I think she (Ira) pushed me down that path. I would strongly recommend therapy to anyone who feels the need for it. It has been helpful for me. In fact, Ira and I also have started joint therapy. The two of us go to a therapist for our own relationship – to work on how to make that better and issues which have been there for over years," he shared.

Reflecting on his own experience, the Dangal actor elaborated on why therapy is vital, regardless of intellect or life experience. "Therapy is a very powerful thing. I'm a fairly intelligent guy. I can think things through. I'm a sensible guy. If there's an issue, I believe I can sort it out for myself. But no, I can't. It doesn't matter how intelligent you are. It doesn't matter how worldly-wise you are. We know so little about our minds. A person who has a lot more knowledge really helps you in leaps and bounds to understand it," he said, addressing the stigma in India that links therapy to weakness. "It is okay to need help. I have benefited greatly from therapy," he concluded.

The actor has spent much of the last year reflecting on life and family, having stepped away from films following the release of Laal Singh Chaddha. Now, at 59, Aamir is approaching his career with renewed purpose, taking on multiple projects, including his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Aamir discussed his decision to embrace a more productive phase, rooted in the reality of ageing and mortality. While his ex-wife Kiran Rao rejected the idea of his career winding down, Aamir, ever the realist, responded, "You can't trust life; we might die tomorrow. I roughly have 10 years of active life. Till I am 70, I will hopefully be well enough to be productive."