A Day with Mr. Perfectionist: Aamir Khan

           My wife looked at me, I could see a hint of a smile on her face as she stood staring at me indicating that I was spending way too much time in front of the mirror today. I understood the look on her face, as if trying to tell me hello…. People are not going to watch you, so you better hurry up and leave. I shrugged off and thought she was just being jealous because I was invited to the studio and not her. An hour later I was standing in the lobby of Yash Raj studios with my colleagues, still pinching each other and trying to believe the fact that we were about to meet the ever so illusive, Mr. Perfectionist - Aamir Khan.

             It all started with a simple phone call that went somewhat like this Hello I am calling from Aamir Khan Productions and we are shooting for his TV show, as the topic of the show is very relevant to your industry would your students like to be a part of the show. Without asking too many details we jumped at the offer, a chance to meet the bollywood icon was reason enough to accept it. 

             We were given not many details of the topic but a few vague guidelines, like the name of the show was Satyamev Jayate and that it was based on social causes and knowing how Aamir  likes to keep the details close to his heart we did not ask for any further info. At the studio we were seated at the swanky set, with our cell phones safe deposited at the entrance all plans of clicking pictures were washed off. The production team were going about their chores, then suddenly at sharp 10.30 am as promised  Aamir appeared out of nowhere from behind the set. It took almost a minute or so for everybody to realize that it was actually him. Then a section of audience stood up and started clapping, we too joined in, he just stood there smiling in acknowledgement. Somebody in the audience whispered “arre ekdum same dikhta hai”… & I still thought I was watching him on a big screen TV.

               He was very graceful in his approach. He was meeting & greeting all the guests and putting everyone at ease starting from his production team to the audience & even his make-up man. We had read and heard a lot about his habit of doing re-takes for each and every shot and we braced ourselves as the shooting started, sitting straight, laughing at the light-hearted comments…. cringing and feeling angry at the atrocities by a few powerful people…..  Clapping at the heroics of a few brave hearts. The whole experience was an emotional roller coaster and the driver of this ride was Aamir himself. The transition from one topic to another seemed like a synchronized orchestra in spite of it being a live reality talk show. Never even for a moment was he disoriented from the topic and moderated the discussions like a pro. Of course there were re-takes, but they were far few and genuine.

                           The myth surrounding the bollywood icon was slowly collapsing and a common man with a unique & uncommon will power to showcase something so important & meaningful was emerging. That day I understood why he is referred to as  Mr. Perfectionist. It’s not because he pokes his nose in small nitty-gritty’s of everyday production work but because he works his heart out and does his job with complete honesty and integrity. The fact that for each episode he had a separate team working on the various issues for the past two years itself showcases his commitment toward his tasks at hand.  

                          The day ended with a heartwarming number by composer Ram Sampath.  We left the studio with a happy feeling of having achieved something good and fruitful. Next morning while sipping coffee from the souvenir mug of Satyamev Jayate I thought  that  although we were just an audience to his show, we all were full of hope of the positives that could come out of this noble initiative.

Satyamev Jayate !.

Disclaimer:

 I am in no way related with the businesses or interests of Aamir Khan Productions. The above experience is true as stated as we were invited to be the audience of the talk show.

The tentative telecast date of the above episode dealing with harmful pesticides used in growing food grains, vegetables and fruits is 24^th June 2012.