Introduction
He’s known as “The Perfectionist” for a reason. Aamir Khan is not only a superstar but one of the most iconic storytellers in the Bollywood industry. He has thrown his might and talent behind some of the best movies of our time. His films have combined high-quality entertainment with social messages. His performance has enraptured the audience for decades and has been responsible for launching some of the well-known faces in the industry. The following list is in no particular order based on any criteria.
Lagaan
Plot summary
Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Lagaan is one of the most renowned historical epics in Indian cinema that captured India’s love for cricket with a dose of patriotism while fighting against a colonising force. With a century’s worth of unfair treatment and taxation behind them, the British forces come face to face with a group of villagers who revolt against them. The Britishers propose a cricket match to settle the dispute–if the villagers win, they would be exempt from taxation. The villagers, against all odds, manage to defeat the British, overcoming their non-proficiency towards the game, and win back their dignity. This movie is widely considered to be one of the best Aamir Khan movies.
Why Should You Watch It?
Lagaan was a commercial success at the box office, but it was so much more. It is one of the internationally acclaimed Indian movies of all time. The film was nominated for the Academy Award, one of the first Hindi films to receive the honour. Lagaan is a modern classic for its riveting plot, excellent performance by its cast–Aamir Khan, and Gracy Singh. The songs were also imortalised in pop culture with masterpieces such as Mitwa, O Paalanhaare, and Radha Kaise Na Jale. With so much critical appreciation and pop culture significance, this movie easily forms the top 10 Aamir Khan movies.
Dangal
Plot summary
Dangal is a sports drama starring Aamir Khan, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, based on the real-life story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, who raised his daughters to be world-class wrestlers. The family has to battle systemic problems of misogyny that women face in sports and overcome overwhelming odds. This film eventually becomes a poignant tale of women’s empowerment with a strong, supportive father figure.
Why Should You Watch It?
Dangal is widely considered to be one of the best sports dramas of the Hindi film industry. The direction and screenplay of the movie have been praised for their authenticity and portraying the struggle of both Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters. The cast with Aamir Khan as the lead, supported by Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, and Zaira Wasim, was acclaimed. The film was a commercial hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing Hindi movies of all time. It was also internationally acclaimed. Its global success makes Dangal one of the most significant movies in Aamir Khan’s filmography.
Taare Zameen Par
Plot summary
Taare Zameen Par is Aamir Khan’s directorial debut about an 8-year-old dyslexic kid struggling in school, and his art teacher helps him discover his true potential. The film is one of the first movies addressing the issue of a learning disability and how the education system is ill-equipped to provide these students the support they require. The movie also serves as a commentary on parental pressure and apathy while accentuating a loving bond between a teacher and a student.
Why Should You Watch It?
Taare Zameen Par is a deeply emotional and poignant tale about a child with dyslexia and his bonding with his teacher. The bond between Ishaan Awasthi and his teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh forms the foundation of the movie. Their chemistry was an instant hit with the cinema-going audience and became a classic. The film is also educational, not only for parents with kids with learning disabilities but also for educators dealing with such students. Taare Zameen Par gave children with learning disabilities visibility in mainstream entertainment, becoming one of the best Aamir Khan’s best movies for family.
3 Idiots
Plot summary
3 Idiots is a satirical comedy drama starring Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi in lead roles, directed by Rajkumar Hirani. The movie is a satirical take on the Indian education system, following three college friends navigating their struggles through college life. The film shifts between the past and the present, a decade apart in timeline, portraying the archaic rules of the Indian education system, parental pressure, and how it stifles creativity and innovation. 3 Idiots is an adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s “Five Point Someone.”
Why Should You Watch It?
3 Idiots is one of India’s most beloved Hindi films of all time. Its portrayal of the Indian education system and its repressive tactics found acceptance and relatability among the young audience of the country. The movie is packed with humour, heart, and endlessly memorable quotes that have become an integral part of the Internet meme culture. 3 Idiots is a cultural milestone inspiring students to follow their passion over laid-down paths and question the education system. The movie is also praised for its criticism of the hyper competitiveness of the education system.
PK
Plot summary
PK is a science-fiction comedy directed by Rajkumar Hirani, starring Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, and Sushant Singh Rajput. The movie revolves around PK, a humanoid alien who lands on Earth and begins questioning religious tradition, superstitions, and pseudoprophets. PK is meant to represent the outsider who questions the hypocrisy of the institution of religion. Anushka Sharma portrays a journalist who is tasked with spreading the message of PK and confronting the godman played by Saurabh Shukla. The movie won praise and was a commercial success, making it one of the biggest Aamir Khan Hit Movies.
Why Should You Watch It?
PK was an immediate blockbuster upon release and enraptured the audience with its bold and controversial theme. The movie accurately and satirically addressed religious hypocrisy and superstition. PK also became iconic for Aamir Khan’s quirky and hilarious performance as the titular character. Khan aptly captured the child-like innocence and awkwardness of a character that is a fish out of water. The movie managed to start an important conversation about blind faith, making it one of the iconic and best Aamir Khan movies.
Rang De Basanti
Plot summary
Rang De Basanti is a coming-of-age political drama, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, about five college students who get inspired to fight the injustice in modern India. Inspired by a British student making a documentary about five freedom fighters, the youth of the college decide to rise against corruption and political incompetence. The movie mainly revolves around the corruption scandal surrounding the malfunctioning of an Indian fighter jet, which kills the fiancé of one of the college
. The riveting themes and patriotism made it one of the iconic films in Aamir Khan’s filmography
Why Should You Watch It?
The film inspired an entire generation to stand up against injustice and taught the importance of questioning people in power. The movie seamlessly blends the past and the present, relating the country’s freedom struggle to the present political upheaval. The cast’s performances are phenomenal, with Aamir Khan and Soha Ali Khan pursuing their role with sincerity. The movie was an instant hit with the youth of the nation and became a symbol of patriotism. Rang De Basanti is a cultural milestone and amongst the top 10 Aamir Khan movies in terms of cultural impact.
Dil Chahta Hai
Plot summary
Serving as Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hai is a coming-of-age romantic movie about three college students starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshaye Khanna. The movie revolves around three inseparable youth navigating love, relationships, adulthood, and diverse perspectives towards life. The film was inspired by Farhan Akhtar’s own Goa trip, and his accounts served as the screenplay for the movie.
Why Should You Watch It?
Dil Chahta Hai is one of the first movies to depict college students with modern sensibilities, breaking the stereotype of the traditional Indian family. Though it underperformed in rural India, it was a hit among the urban audience for its modern take on love and relationships. The storyline, performances, and music were an instant hit and have since then have become a cult classic. It was one of the highest-grossing movies of the year, winning several awards at the 47th Filmfare Awards.
Ghajini
Plot summary
Ghajini is a 2008 action psychological thriller starring Aamir Khan about a man suffering from anterograde amnesia on a quest to avenge the death of his lover. A AR Murugadoss directorial, the movie is partly inspired by Nolan’s classic Memento and partially by Happy Go Lovely. The movie is unique among Aamir Khan’s Filmography because of its dark and gritty tone and violence. Aamir Khan also co-wrote this movie to make it more palatable for Hindi film audiences.
Why Should You Watch It?
The movie portrays raw emotion coupled with high-octane action at its absolute best. Aamir Khan, for the first time, played the role of a man with shades of grey avenging the death of his fiancée at the hands of an organ trafficker. The tale of twists and turns immediately caught the imagination of the audience. The movie was a blockbuster at the box office, becoming the first film to cross 100 crores in ticket sales, thus making this one of the biggest Aamir Khan’s Hit movies.
Andaz Apna Apna
Plot summary
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Andaz Apna Apna is a comedy of errors and mistaken identities. The film stars Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, and Shakti Kapoor. The film follows the lead male characters competing for the same woman, who is a wealthy heiress. The wealthy heiress switches identities with her secretary. What ensues is a slew of misadventures that bring them face to face with a comical supervillain named crime master Gogo.
Why Should You Watch It?
The comedy is remembered for its plot, characters, and memorable moments and jokes. For the first time, a Hindi movie was seen being self-referential and seemed to parody itself. The movie is replete with endless memorable and quotes scenes. Aamir Khan was also perfect in the role of Amar Manohar. Though Andaz Apna Apna was not successful at the box office, it became a cult classic later on through TV reruns.
Sarfarosh
Plot summary
Sarfarosh is an action-drama directed by John Matthew Matthan, starring Aamir Khan in the lead role. The movie is set during the time of intense arms trafficking, where Khan plays the role of a police officer. The film deals with the theme of cross-border terrorism and the duty of a police officer towards his country. Khan plays the role of Ajay Singh Rathod, an honest police officer who heads a team to reveal a conspiracy of epic proportions.
Why Should You Watch It?
Sarfarosh is a gripping tale of patriotism that is still relevant today. It is one of the rare movies that showcases Aamir Khan’s capabilities as an action hero, which is rare in his filmography. He brings humanity and subtle intensity to the character Ajay Singh Rathod. The movie also balances emotional drama with heavy action. Sarfarosh was a commercial success at the box office and won the National Award for Best Popular Movie.
Conclusion
Aamir Khan is one of the most versatile actors in the industry, known for exploring multiple genres and experimenting with new concepts that have made a mark on pop culture. The perfectionist has earned the admiration and imagination of audiences and aspiring filmmakers alike. His filmography includes coming-of-age dramas like Dil Chahta Hai and action thrillers like Ghajini. Such a diverse range of films is hard to categorize under one platform. That’s where DHOOMDB comes in. DHOOMDB is an entertainment platform where you can find movies of any genre in multiple Indian languages. No need to juggle multiple subscriptions — just sign up for DHOOMDB, and you’re all set. Enjoy Aamir Khan’s classics and biggest blockbusters whenever you want, without interruption.
