Salman Khan on being exhausted while shooting 15 films at once and getting irritated with Aamir Khan for arriving early on Andaz Apna Apna sets: ‘Jab iska final ho jaaye…’

Aamir, with his trademark precision, responded: “Jo time tha ussi par aata tha bhai (I used to come at the time that was scheduled),” before poking fun at Salman’s habit of catching naps on set. Salman admitted that sometimes, he simply didn’t see the point of putting in excess effort for smaller parts: “Toh usme main kaye ko energy daloon? (So why should I put my energy into that?).”

However, not all differences were overlooked. Aamir openly admitted: “Ye sach baat hai (this is the truth). Koi poochta tha toh main bolta tha ki uske saath kaam karna mushkil hai (Whenever someone asked, I used to say that working with him/her was difficult).” To this, Twinkle Khanna laughed, recalling, “remembering Aamir’s old interviews where he said just that.”

Yet, despite the friction, Aamir softened the story by recalling lighter moments, stating, “We would burst into laughter while doing a scene.” Their ability to look back with humour shows how even strained professional dynamics can evolve into mutual respect over time.

How can overcommitting to too many responsibilities impact productivity, focus, and mental well-being in everyday jobs?

Gurleen Baruah, organisational psychologist at That Culture Thing, tells indianexpress.com, “When we juggle too many tasks, the brain keeps switching tracks. That switch costs attention and memory, often referred to as ‘attention residue’. Focus weakens, small errors increase, and complex thinking declines. Sleep and recovery shrink, so cortisol levels stay high, which can lead to irritability, low energy, and foggy thinking. Over time, this looks like burnout: emotional exhaustion, feeling distant from work, and a dip in motivation, even for work once loved.” 

Practical ways to reduce friction and build smoother working relationships?

Different styles can help a team if they are managed well. Baruah suggests, “Start with self-awareness (‘this is how I work’) and other-awareness (‘this is how you work’). Then, make a small working agreement together. Let the meticulous person own standards and reviews; let the flexible person own speed, iterations, and unblocking. This divides strengths intentionally and reduces friction. Compromise here is not sacrifice; it is coordination and teamwork.”

Importance of humour and light-heartedness in diffusing workplace stress 

According to Baruah, humour and lightness at work matter more than people realise. Even when work is meaningful, it can become exhausting as deadlines, pressure, and long hours take a toll. Shared laughter or small jokes serve as a reset button, helping people release tension and connect on a deeper level beyond just tasks. 

“Research on nostalgia (Routledge et al., Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2013) shows that people tend to remember these positive, light-hearted moments more vividly than stressful ones. This shared joy builds trust and warmth, which strengthens relationships and makes collaboration smoother,” concludes Baruah.