Aamir Khan turns 45 on March 14. Film celebrities who have shared a close association with him trace his evolution as an actor



Mahesh Bhatt (Director, Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin, Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke)
What I like about Aamir: Aamir is willing to walk the extra mile.
He is very enthused, committed to his work, and supportive of his team. He is wise in selecting the script and team and giving his all to it. Ultimately, he will be a filmmaker. He is a sharp learner.
It's the loudest whisper that he's a control freak. A work of art is open to subjective interpretation but you have to go by the vision of one individual who is in charge of the ship.
You should take your job seriously but not yourself so seriously. That's when you become neurotic about things going your way. Narcissism and an unabashed need for control is an attribute of most stars. In Aamir, this is more pronounced.
What I'd like him to change: He is still imprisoned in that persona that he has fashioned. When I see 3 Idiots, I don't think Aamir has evolved as an actor from the Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin days. He is efficient and sincere, looks and dresses up appropriately and gets his externals right. But there is no internal progression.

Lalit Pandit (Music composer, as part of Jatin-Lalit, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Ghulam, Fanaa)
What I like about Aamir: He is friendly, down-to-earth, intelligent and has always been a good actor. When we were working together during Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar at Mansoor's (Khan, Aamir's cousin) farm, we'd play chess every night.
I made him sing too. Bahut phook-phook ke kadam rakhnewala insaan hai. But if you reason with him as a senior technician, he takes your word for it; and gets completely involved. When Aamir consented to sing 'Aati kya Khandala?' for Ghulam, we rehearsed daily for more than a month after 10 pm. He was nominated for the Best Singer award that year.
What I'd like him to change: He takes his work too seriously... does not leave any scope for human error (laughs). I feel he should live life more. I remember once we met him when he had just returned from shooting Lagaan in Bhuj. His skin had turned dark and was peeling off. I told him, 'Kya kar raha hai yaaru00a0... tujhe koi chhatri uthanewala nahin milta wahan?'. He is torturously committed to his work, and I would like him to slow down.

Vikram Bhatt (Director, Ghulam)
What I like about Aamir: Aamir is a dream actor; directing him is like driving an automatic. People have accused him of being interfering but I think Aamir is an involved actor. He is a 'you convince me or I'll convince you' guy. He is not autocratic.
He is not the typical star actor who is just concerned about his role. He takes interest in the marketing of a film because he understands that for him to do well, the film has to do well.
I directed him in Ghulam (1998). I have to work with him again to know if he has grown as an actor. I don't know Aamir on the sets anymore.
What I'd like him to change: Aamir is extremely sensitive. I wish he'd become the kind of person who comes out and says it straight if he is hurt or upset with someone. He just keeps things within and broods and mulls over it for years.