Aamir Khan gets emotional over years lost to work, regrets missing time with his children

Bollywood star Aamir Khan became emotional while reflecting on the personal cost of his decades-long career, admitting that his relentless commitment to filmmaking had left him with regrets over time missed with his children and loved ones.

Speaking at the Singapore International Film Festival, where he received the Screen Icon Award, Khan looked back on the choices that shaped his professional journey and acknowledged that his single-minded focus on work had come at the expense of important relationships.

According to Gulf News, Khan said the Covid-19 pandemic had prompted him to reconsider how much of his life he had devoted to his career.

The actor explained that intense dedication to a project could be understandable for a limited period, but maintaining that pace for decades came at a personal cost. As he reflected on his children growing into adults, he said he felt a deep sense of loss.

Khan paused as he struggled to contain his emotions, wiped away tears and apologised to those present before continuing. His remarks drew applause from the audience.

The experience prompted him to reassess his priorities. He said he had made a conscious effort over the past four years to spend more time with his family and close friends.

"It's okay to work like a madman, completely obsessed with what you're doing for one year, two years, five years. But if it goes on for 30 years, I mean, you've lost your relationships. Your kids have grown up; they're adults now. So I felt a deep sense of loss," he said.

Khan was grateful that he had recognised the need for change in his mid-50s rather than waiting until much later in life, when it might have been too late to reconnect with loved ones. "I'm so glad that this thought occurred to me when I was 56 and not when I was 86, when it would really be too late to do anything about it," he added.

The actor also revisited a difficult chapter from the beginning of his career, when the success of his 1988 film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak led him to take on numerous projects in quick succession.

Khan said he had signed nine films within six months of the film's success. The decision eventually proved overwhelming, with several of the projects failing commercially.

He recalled the emotional toll of that period and how he turned to his then-wife, Reena Dutta, for support as he struggled with mounting professional pressure. "At that time, mentally and emotionally, I felt like I was in quicksand. I was sinking slowly, and the more I struggled to get out, the deeper I was getting," he said.

Following a string of unsuccessful films, Khan said some people dismissed him as a one-film wonder. The experience left him feeling increasingly trapped, as his attempts to recover from the setbacks only added to his distress.

His account highlighted the uncertainty of the film industry, where an early breakthrough does not necessarily guarantee sustained success.

Alongside his reflections on his career and family, Khan shared an update on the proposed sequel to 3 Idiots, the popular 2009 comedy directed by Rajkumar Hirani.

According to Gulf News, Khan confirmed that Hirani was working on the screenplay and said he hoped to hear the final version within the next few weeks. "Raju is working on the script. In fact, hopefully once I'm back in the next couple of weeks, he'll narrate the final version to me. So, fingers crossed," he said.

The original film, which featured Khan alongside R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi and Kareena Kapoor Khan, became one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable comedies. It explored friendship, education and the pressure to meet societal expectations.

However, the sequel's progress remains dependent on the screenplay's development.

Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Chan Ho-sun presented Khan with the Screen Icon Award at the Singapore International Film Festival.

During his remarks, Khan acknowledged the collaborative nature of filmmaking, noting that films were shaped by the contributions of many people rather than the efforts of a single individual.

Khan last attended the festival nine years ago with Secret Superstar. This year's programme also includes a 25th-anniversary screening of Lagaan, the acclaimed 2001 sports drama that marked his debut as a film producer.

His emotional appearance offered a glimpse into the personal struggles behind a career marked by ambitious projects, commercial highs and professional setbacks. Above all, his reflections underscored how professional success can come at a cost when personal relationships are repeatedly placed second to work.