Filmfare Exclusive: Aamir Khan Opens Up About His Passive-aggressive Behaviour

In an honest conversation with Filmfare, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan opened up about a deeply personal struggle, his pattern of passive-aggressive behaviour in relationships. Known as the perfectionist of Indian cinema, Aamir revealed a more vulnerable side of himself, reflecting on how emotional silence shaped his past conflicts, including with former partners Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao.

“When Reena and I fought, or when Kiran and I did, steel shutters would come down. Not just one but on all four sides,” he said, describing how he used to emotionally shut off completely. “We’d be in the same house, going through the motions, doing all the usual things… except I wouldn’t communicate. Not even eye contact. Nothing.” Aamir Khan admitted that the behaviour was often driven by ego and emotional immaturity, describing it as his “inner child acting out” and waiting for the other person to apologize or reach out first. “It’s not something I’m proud of. But it’s a part of me I’ve come to recognise and work on,” he shared.

The silence didn’t just last days, sometimes, it stretched for years. He confessed that he once didn’t speak to actress Juhi Chawla for seven years, and that even media professionals had seen this side of him. “When I get angry, I really get angry. No matter what you say, I just can’t hear it,” he said, recalling a fight with Kiran that lasted three days. Even though a part of his mind was telling him to forgive and reconnect, he found himself unable to speak. “The words just won’t leave my mouth. I’m stuck,” he added. Aamir credited therapy for helping him work through this emotional pattern, noting that things have improved in recent years.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Aamir Khan is winning praise once again with his recent theatrical release Sitaare Zameen Par, a spiritual sequel to his 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par. The new film, directed by RS Prasanna, tells the story of Gulshan (played by Aamir Khan), a disgraced basketball coach who is assigned to train a team of individuals with Down syndrome. The cast includes Genelia D’Souza, Dolly Ahluwalia, and Brijendra Kala. The film explores themes of inclusivity, redemption, and human connection, making it both emotional and socially impactful.

With Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan continues his legacy of meaningful cinema, while off-screen, he’s learning to better understand and heal the emotional patterns of his past.