Teachers Day 2025: Bollywood’s ‘OG’ professor Aamir Khan could have replaced my moral science teacher and no one would’ve noticed

In school, even our teachers never took “moral science” seriously. Lessons on algebra were seen as far more important than lessons on kindness, forgiveness, or courage. In moral science class, they would ask a student to read a chapter while the rest of us played tic-tac-toe. But while the classroom failed to impart life lessons, the cinema hall often did — especially when Aamir Khan’s films played. These were the rare occasions when parents were more than willing to take us to the theatre, because which superstar at the time was making meaningful, family-friendly films that spoke about life itself?

Early on, Aamir became the flag-bearer of this kind of cinema with films like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, and Sarfarosh. Over time, he seemed to take it upon himself to correct the wrongdoings of the industry — to deliver a heartwarming film every once in a while, one that made you laugh, cry, and rediscover something essential about life that you may have forgotten in the act of living.

Aamir Khan in a still from Lagaan.

Whether it was fighting tyranny in Lagaan, learning to value your talents in 3 Idiots, or watching a dyslexic child shine in Taare Zameen Par, Aamir has consistently brought back that rare magic of cinema that is both entertaining and relevant.

If there is one OG “teacher” in Hindi cinema, it has to be Aamir Khan. Like a beloved small-time tuition teacher who eventually opens a full-fledged IIT coaching institute, Aamir has built an extraordinary career out of imparting life lessons — and he’s done it while entertaining millions of fans along the way.

In his pursuit of meaningful cinema, he perhaps didn’t even realise he was stumbling onto a career path that would define him. He solidified this image with Lagaan (2001), where he not only played a villager learning cricket but also a leader who teaches his people to fight colonial oppression. It was a pivotal moment in Hindi cinema and in Aamir’s career.

He later turned into a student in Rang De Basanti, but even then, the life lessons flowed naturally through his character. I still vividly remember his melancholic line as he watched his friends walk away: “College di gate de is taraf hum life ko nachate hai … te duji taraf life humko nachati hai.” Rang De Basanti was primarily about the valour of freedom fighters and the shameless, unchecked corruption plaguing our country, but the film’s deepest lesson was about the power of friendship and how profoundly it can shape an individual.

Aamir Khan played the lead role in 3 Idiots.

Then came Taare Zameen Par, where Aamir didn’t just play a teacher — he embodied a rare kind of educator who recognises when life has beaten down a perfectly happy child. He saw the struggles of a dyslexic boy and helped him rediscover his worth. The film forced parents across India to question their approach and reflect on how they viewed their so-called “misfit” children. Taare Zameen Par shattered the flimsy excuse often used by filmmakers and actors — ‘cinema doesn’t have to teach’ — proving that when it does, its impact can be both immeasurable and everlasting.

I mean see the longevity of 3 Idiots and PK. Even today, years after release, these films can be watched again and again — entertaining us while reminding us of lessons we often forget amid the chaos of social media. In PK, Aamir literally turned into an alien to deliver a message of religious harmony — something we perhaps need now more than ever. In 3 Idiots (2009), as Rancho, he became the student-cum-teacher we all wished for, challenging a grades-obsessed education system and inspiring millions to follow their hearts.

With Dangal, Aamir transformed into a father who became a better teacher, quietly fighting against gender bias by training his daughters to be wrestlers and making them compete in male-dominated dangals. Even when he stepped away from lead roles, Aamir’s instinct to teach and inspire remained intact. In Secret Superstar, he played the flamboyant yet supportive mentor guiding a young girl toward her dreams.

Aamir Khan in a still from Taare Zameen Par.

In Laal Singh Chaddha, through the story of a boy who learned to walk again, he narrated the story of a nation broken by colonial rule and partition, learning to rise again. And just when critics accused him of being ‘formulaic,’ he returned with Sitaare Zameen Par — where he became a basketball coach for neurodivergent children. This time, it wasn’t Aamir doing the teaching; it was his players who imparted the lessons. The film’s massive success in 2025 proved that audiences still crave meaningful stories.

But Aamir’s influence in this space goes beyond films. My fondest memory is tuning in to his talk show Satyamev Jayate with my family every Sunday, watching India’s biggest superstar care, empathise, and fearlessly bring taboo subjects into the mainstream — from female foeticide to domestic violence and child abuse. At a time when most actors avoided making political statements, Aamir confronted uncomfortable truths head-on, holding up a mirror to the nation.

After the failure of Laal Singh Chaddha, Aamir even contemplated quitting films altogether. But instead of stepping away, he chose to dedicate his time to supporting new voices. As he himself said, “You can’t trust life, we might die tomorrow. I am 59. Till I am 70, I hope to be productive. I want to support writers, directors, and creative people I believe in. I want to become a platform for talent before I retire at 70.”

And perhaps that is Aamir’s greatest lesson of all — that cinema, much like life, is about persistence, self-reflection, and giving back.