Aamir Khan and Dalip Tahil have shared screen space in films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke (1993), Ishq (1997), Mann (1999), and many more. Ahead of Aamir’s 60th birthday, Dalip recalled shooting Ishq with the superstar, saying he had a “different approach” towards films.
Dalip said, “When we were doing scenes together, Aamir being Aamir, he would always try to probe and find out why a scene is being done in the way it’s being done. Inder Kumar also being Inder Kumar would tell him, ‘You just do what I am telling you to do, because that’s the way my characters are.’ It came to a point where he said, ‘Bhaiya, meri picture mein main jo bolta hu tu vo kar’. But, they both got along really well, still have a beautiful bond.”
He added, “When you are working with a director, you have to follow his vision. Especially with Inder Kumar, he used to have a clear vision about his style of storytelling and characters. He told Aamir jokingly 2-3 times, ‘Baba, tu apni picture bana, meri film mai jaise main bolraha hu vaise kar,’ because Aamir has a different approach. He actually went and made Lagaan after that, he made it after Ishq.”
The veteran actor also revealed that during the 1980s, Aamir Khan was not only frustrated with the lack of bound scripts but also growing weary of repetitive roles. “Aamir had been in that situation for a very long time. He was frustrated, it was happening in the earlier films also. After QSQT also, when he would ask for the scenes, people were blank. There weren’t any bound scripts at that time. It was a basic outline. I could see his frustration mounting over the years,” he shared.
Dalip continued, “People only cast Aamir because he was a bankable star, then uske baap ke role mai kaun hai? Dalip Tahil ko le lo, because that’s a combination that works. If you see that state of movies, you will realise that it was chaotic. Aamir came from a line of people who worked with completed scripts, like his uncle Nasir Hussain and father Tahir. They came from a different film background where people were organised.”
Aamir Khan always aimed to be a part of a different kind of cinema, and eventually started making films to fulfill that dream. “After 80s, it was all about putting proposals together and Aamir suffered in that system, until he started making his own movies. There were a lot of films that we did that were really good, but some were frustrating. Everyone wanted us to do the same kind of thing. Aamir was restless; he wanted to be a part of a different kind of cinema,” he concluded.
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
