Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Aamir Khan

Discover the career path of Aamir Khan, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Aamir Khan, an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality, is celebrated as "Mr. Perfectionist" for his dedication and impactful work in Hindi cinema. With a career spanning over three decades, he's renowned for his roles in diverse genres, particularly films addressing social issues such as education and gender equality, aiming for a positive societal impact. Khan's contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including nine Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, and an AACTA Award. He has also been honored with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, as well as an honorary title from the Government of China.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1973: Child Actor Debut

In 1973, Aamir Khan made his first screen appearance as a child actor in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film Yaadon Ki Baaraat.

1984: Feature Film Debut

In 1984, Aamir Khan's first feature film role as an adult was in the film Holi.

1988: Full-Time Acting Career Begins

In 1988, Aamir Khan began a full-time acting career with a leading role in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

1988: National Film Award for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak

In 1988, Aamir Khan won a National Film Award for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak as an actor.

1988: Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Release

In 1988, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, starring Aamir Khan opposite Juhi Chawla, became a major commercial success, catapulting both actors to stardom.

1989: National Film Award for Raakh

In 1989, Aamir Khan won a National Film Award for Raakh as an actor.

1989: Raakh Release and National Film Award

In 1989, Raakh was released and received critical acclaim, and Aamir Khan was awarded a National Film Award for his performance in both Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Raakh.

1990: Commercial Success with Dil

In 1990, Aamir Khan appeared in Dil, which emerged as a blockbuster and the highest-earning film of the year.

1990: Dil Release and Success

In 1990, Aamir Khan starred in Dil opposite Madhuri Dixit, which emerged as a blockbuster and the highest-earning film of the year.

1992: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar Release

In 1992, Aamir Khan appeared in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.

1993: Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke Release

In 1993, Aamir Khan appeared in Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, for which he also wrote the screenplay.

1994: Andaz Apna Apna Release

In 1994, Aamir Khan appeared in Andaz Apna Apna, which gained cult status over the years.

1995: Rangeela Release

In 1995, Aamir Khan appeared in Rangeela.

1995: Appearing in Rangeela

In 1995, Aamir Khan appeared in the commercially successful film Rangeela.

1996: Raja Hindustani Release and Filmfare Award

In 1996, Aamir Khan starred in Raja Hindustani and won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor after seven previous nominations. The film went on to become the biggest hit of the year.

1996: Filmfare Award for Raja Hindustani

In 1996, Aamir Khan won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his role in Raja Hindustani.

1996: Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Raja Hindustani)

In 1996, Aamir Khan won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his role in Raja Hindustani.

1997: Ishq Release

In 1997, Aamir Khan acted in Ishq, which proved to be another blockbuster for him.

1998: Earth Release and International Acclaim

In 1998, Aamir Khan starred in Deepa Mehta's Canadian-Indian art house film Earth, which was internationally acclaimed.

1999: Aamir Khan Productions Established

In 1999, Aamir Khan established Aamir Khan Productions, with 'Lagaan' being its first film. This marked the beginning of his journey as a producer in the film industry.

1999: Sarfarosh Release and Appreciation

In 1999, Aamir Khan starred in Sarfarosh, which was commercially successful, and both the film and Khan were highly appreciated by movie critics.

1999: Sarfarosh Release

In 1999, Aamir Khan starred in the commercially successful film Sarfarosh.

2001: Lagaan Nomination

In 2001, Aamir Khan produced and starred in Lagaan, which received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards and earned him his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

2001: Filmfare Award for Best Actor and Best Film (Lagaan)

In 2001, Aamir Khan won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Film for Lagaan.

2001: Dil Chahta Hai Release

In 2001, Lagaan's success was followed by Dil Chahta Hai, which was written and directed by Farhan Akhtar.

2002: Attendance at the Academy Awards

In 2002, Aamir Khan made an exception to his policy of avoiding Indian film ceremonies and attended the Academy Awards, so Lagaan could reach a wider audience.

2002: Oscar Nomination for Lagaan

In 2002, Lagaan earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards.

2003: Awarded Padma Shri

In 2003, Aamir Khan was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

2004: National Film Award for Madness in the Desert

In 2004, Aamir Khan won a National Film Award for Madness in the Desert as producer.

2005: Mangal Pandey: The Rising Release

In 2005, Aamir Khan made a comeback as the lead in Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey: The Rising, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

April 2006: Participation in Narmada Bachao Andolan demonstrations

In April 2006, Aamir Khan participated in demonstrations organized by the Narmada Bachao Andolan committee after the Gujarat government's decision to raise the height of the Narmada dam, supporting the adivasis who might be displaced.

2006: Rang De Basanti and Fanaa Releases

In 2006, Aamir Khan starred in Rang De Basanti and Fanaa.

2006: Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) for Rang De Basanti

In 2006, Aamir Khan won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) for his role in Rang De Basanti.

2006: Writing climax of Rang De Basanti

In 2006, Aamir Khan wrote the climax of Rang De Basanti, which he also starred in, adding another layer to his contributions in the film industry.

2006: Return to Leading Roles

In 2006, after a four-year hiatus, Aamir Khan returned to appear in leading roles, notably in Fanaa and Rang De Basanti.

2007: Decline of Madame Tussauds Offer

In 2007, Aamir Khan declined an invitation to have a wax imitation of himself put on display at Madame Tussauds in London. He also endorsed several brands, including Coca-Cola, Godrej, Titan Watches, Tata Sky, Toyota Innova, Samsung, Monaco Biscuits, and Snapdeal.

2007: Directorial Debut with Taare Zameen Par

In 2007, Aamir Khan made his directorial debut with 'Taare Zameen Par', where he also played a supporting role. The film was critically acclaimed and a box office success, winning several awards, including the Filmfare Best Movie Award and the Best Director award for Khan.

2007: Filmfare Award for Best Film for Taare Zameen Par

In 2007, Aamir Khan won the Filmfare Award for Best Film for Taare Zameen Par.

2007: Taare Zameen Par Release and Directorial Debut

In 2007, Aamir Khan's film, Taare Zameen Par, which he also produced, marked his directorial debut. It was well-received by critics and audiences.

2007: Release of Taare Zameen Par

In 2007, the film Taare Zameen Par was released and became one of the highest-rated productions on Douban, gaining high regard in China.

2008: Ghajini's Commercial Success

In 2008, Aamir Khan starred in Ghajini, which became the highest-grossing Indian film.

2008: Nephew Imran Khan's Debut

In 2008, Aamir Khan's nephew, Imran Khan, debuted in the film 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na' under Aamir's production house. The film was a hit in India and earned Aamir another nomination for Best Film at Filmfare.

2008: Awards for Taare Zameen Par

In 2008, Taare Zameen Par won the Zee Cine Awards and 4th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards.

2008: Turning down Berlin Film Festival Jury Invitation

Since 2008, Aamir Khan has turned down the invitation from the Berlin Film Festival to be on the jury, until he accepted it in 2011.

2009: Release of 3 Idiots

In 2009, Aamir Khan appeared in 3 Idiots as Ranchodas Chanchad. The film became the highest-grossing Bollywood film ever at the time.

2009: 3 Idiots Release

In 2009, Aamir Khan starred in 3 Idiots, which broke the previous record set by Ghajini to become the highest-grossing Indian film.

2009: Academy Awards Entry for Taare Zameen Par

In 2009, Taare Zameen Par was initially acclaimed as India's official entry for the Academy Awards Best Foreign Film.

2009: Independent Filmmaking Approach

In a 2009 interview, Aamir Khan discussed his independent approach to filmmaking, emphasizing his focus on the process and striving to do things differently.

2010: Release of Peepli Live

In 2010, Aamir Khan released 'Peepli Live', which was selected as India's official entry for the 83rd Academy Awards' Best Foreign Film category, marking another significant achievement in his career.

2010: Awarded Padma Bhushan

In 2010, Aamir Khan was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

2010: Peepli Live as India's Oscar Submission

In 2010, Peepli Live, a Khan production, was India's submission to the Oscars.

August 2011: Support for Janlokpal Bill Movement

In August 2011, Aamir Khan lent his support to the Janlokpal Bill Movement led by Anna Hazare.

November 2011: Appointed UNICEF National Brand Ambassador

On 30 November 2011, Aamir Khan was appointed as the national brand ambassador of UNICEF to promote child nutrition and raise awareness about malnutrition.

2011: Acceptance of Berlin Film Festival Jury Invitation

In 2011, Aamir Khan accepted an invitation from the Berlin Film Festival to be on the jury, after having turned it down three times since 2008.

2011: Releases of Dhobi Ghat and Delhi Belly

In 2011, Aamir Khan released his home production 'Dhobi Ghat', an art house film directed by Rao. Also, in the same year, Khan co-produced the English language black comedy film 'Delhi Belly' which was a commercial success.

2011: Dhobi Ghat Longlisted for BAFTA Award

In 2011, Dhobi Ghat was longlisted for the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.

May 2012: 3 Idiots Released on YouTube

In May 2012, 3 Idiots was the first Indian film to be officially released on YouTube.

May 2012: Television Debut with Satyamev Jayate

On May 6, 2012, Aamir Khan made his television debut with his talk show, 'Satyamev Jayate', which addressed social issues. The show went live simultaneously on StarPlus, Star World, and Doordarshan in eight languages.

July 2012: Meeting with Prime Minister regarding manual scavenging

On 16 July 2012, Aamir Khan met with the Indian Prime Minister and the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment to discuss the plight of manual scavengers and seek the eradication of manual scavenging in the country.

September 2012: Time Asia Cover

Aamir Khan was featured on the cover of Time's Asia edition in the September 2012 issue with the title "Khan's Quest," highlighting his efforts to tackle India's social evils.

2012: Starring in Talaash

In 2012, Aamir Khan starred in Reema Kagti's neo-noir mystery film 'Talaash', which was a joint production of Excel Entertainment and Aamir Khan Productions. The film was a semi-hit in India and accumulated a worldwide gross of ₹1.74 billion.

2012: Debut of Satyamev Jayate

In 2012, Aamir Khan's television show Satyamev Jayate premiered and became one of the highest-rated productions on Douban, gaining high regard in China.

December 2013: Dhoom 3 Released Worldwide

In December 2013, Aamir Khan's film 'Dhoom 3' was released worldwide. Box Office India declared Dhoom 3 "the biggest hit of 2013" after two days of release. The film grossed ₹2 billion worldwide in three days and ₹4 billion worldwide in ten days, making it the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time.

2013: Dhoom 3 Release

In 2013, Aamir Khan starred in Dhoom 3, which held the record for being the highest-grossing Indian film.

2013: Time 100 List Appearance

In 2013, Aamir Khan's work as a social reformer earned him an appearance on the Time 100 list of most influential people in the world.

2013: China Becomes Second Largest Film Market

In 2013, China became the world's second-largest film market, contributing to Aamir Khan's box office success with films like Dhoom 3. China's rise as a major film market significantly boosted the reach and financial success of Indian films.

October 2014: Appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia

In October 2014, Aamir Khan was appointed as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia.

2014: Continuation of Satyamev Jayate

In 2014, Aamir Khan continued his television show Satyamev Jayate, which continued to gain high regard in China as one of the highest-rated productions on Douban.

2014: Appearance in PK

In 2014, Aamir Khan starred as the eponymous alien in Rajkumar Hirani's comedy-drama 'PK'. The film received critical acclaim and became the 4th highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. Khan's performance was praised, and the film won two Filmfare Awards and an award at the Tokyo Newspaper Film Awards in Japan.

2014: PK Release

In 2014, Aamir Khan starred in PK, which held the record for being the highest-grossing Indian film.

2016: Collaboration with Maharashtra Government for drought relief

In 2016, Aamir Khan collaborated with the Maharashtra government to make the state drought-free in the next five years. He is also a co-founder of Paani Foundation with Rao, an organization active in drought prevention and watershed management.

2016: Dangal's Success

In 2016, Aamir Khan produced and starred in 'Dangal' as wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, portraying him at different ages. The film received positive reviews, became the highest-grossing Bollywood film domestically, and achieved significant success in China. Aamir Khan also received two more Filmfare Awards (Best Film and his third Best Actor award).

2016: Filmfare Award for Best Actor and Best Film (Dangal)

In 2016, Aamir Khan won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Film for Dangal.

2016: Release of Dangal

In 2016, the film Dangal was released and became one of the highest-rated productions on Douban, gaining high regard in China.

October 2017: Release of Secret Superstar

In October 2017, Aamir Khan starred in a supporting role in his production 'Secret Superstar'. The film became one of the most profitable films of all time, grossing est. ₹876 crore worldwide on a limited budget and is the highest-grossing Indian film featuring a female protagonist.

2017: Invitation to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Award for National Treasure of India

In 2017, Aamir Khan was invited to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and he received an award for "National Treasure of India" from China.

2017: Dangal wins Best Asian Film award

In 2017, Dangal won the inaugural Best Asian Film award at Australia's 7th AACTA Awards, as well as Movie of the Year and Top Foreign Actor from China's Douban Film Awards.

November 2018: Thugs of Hindostan Release

In November 2018, Aamir Khan starred alongside Amitabh Bachchan in the action-adventure film 'Thugs of Hindostan'. However, the film received negative reviews from critics and, despite being one of the most expensive Bollywood films, was considered a box office failure.

March 2019: Laal Singh Chaddha Confirmation

In March 2019, on his 54th birthday, Aamir Khan confirmed he would star in 'Laal Singh Chaddha', an adaptation of 'Forrest Gump'. The film was directed by Advait Chandan, who previously directed Khan in 'Secret Superstar'.

August 2022: Laal Singh Chaddha Release

On August 11, 2022, 'Laal Singh Chaddha' was released, marking Aamir Khan's return after a four-year hiatus. However, the film opened to mixed reviews from critics and flopped at the box office, being declared a "disaster".

2023: Premiere of Laapataa Ladies at Toronto International Film Festival

In 2023, 'Laapataa Ladies', co-produced by Aamir Khan, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

December 2024: Honoured at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival

In December 2024, Aamir Khan was honoured at the opening night of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival.

2024: Laapataa Ladies Release and Success

In 2024, Aamir Khan co-produced 'Laapataa Ladies', a satire directed by Kiran Rao. The film, premiered in 2023, released theatrically in 2024, received critical praise, had further success on Netflix, and was chosen as the Indian entry for the Best International Feature Film for the 97th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.

June 2025: Lahore 1947 Release

In June 2025, Lahore 1947 which is produced by Aamir Khan will be released. The film will be directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and starred by Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta.