During a session at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa on Friday, actor Aamir Khan reflected on his 30-year career, saying he became a star despite "breaking several rules of stardom."

"I don't know how I ended up becoming a star. Logically, I shouldn't have. I went against all the conventions and took impractical paths. That's why, I feel grateful for the respect and success I've received. From a practical standpoint, none of my choices were made with success in mind," the 60-year-old actor explained.

Aamir emphasised the experimental approach behind his films, including "Sarfarosh" (1999), "Lagaan" (2001), "Ghajini" (2008), "Taare Zameen Par" (2007), and "Sitaare Zameen Par" (2025).

"Honestly, with almost every film I chose, I wondered, 'Will this even work?' Movies like 'Sarfarosh' and 'Lagaan', even 'Dil Chahta Hai', which was quite unconventional for its time, and now 'Sitaare Zameen Par'—none of these were picked with guaranteed success in mind," the actor shared during the session titled The Narrative Architect of Social Transformation.

"I choose films based on my personal excitement for the story, even if it goes against the prevailing trends. When we were making Ghajini, everyone said, 'Action films aren't doing well these days,' yet Ghajini not only succeeded but also brought action back into vogue," he said.

However, Aamir clarified that he does not actively seek out projects for social causes. 

"I'm not an activist, nor do I seek out social issues to champion—that's not who I am. My focus is storytelling; my world is films. I'm very conscious that when people enter a cinema hall, they aren't there for a sociology lesson—that's what colleges are for," he explained.

The actor added that his primary responsibility is to entertain his audience.

"But entertaining doesn't just mean making people laugh. I can make you cry and still keep you engaged. My goal is to connect with the audience in some way—whether it's through a horror film that scares you, a suspense thriller, or a family drama. I like exploring different genres," Aamir explained.

He also mentioned that he is currently searching for his next film project.

Aamir's most recent film, R S Prasanna's "Sitaare Zameen Par", grossed Rs 266 crore globally during its theatrical run, becoming the fifth highest-grossing Hindi film and the tenth highest-grossing Indian film of 2025.

The 56th edition of IFFI, which began on November 20, wrapped up yesterday.