I don't make films for awards: Aamir Khan

Jan 30, 2009 IANS

Mumbai, Jan 30 (IANS) After Aamir Khan's directorial debut "Taare Zameen Par" failed to get an Oscar nomination in the foreign film category, the superstar has said that he does not make films for "awards" but for the "audience".

"I don't make films for awards. I make films for the audience. The audience, for which I have made the film, really loved it and the audiences outside India have also loved it. What I am trying to say is that film has been well loved across the globe and that for me it is extremely heartening and something that I give very high value to," Aamir said in an interview to NDTV 24x7.

The actor who was recently in the news for his hit psychological thriller "Ghajini" was also upbeat about the film's effect on children.

On being asked about his decision to make a violent film with a U/A certificate after wielding the megaphone himself on an issue-based subject, he said: "I think the censor board gave it due thought before coming out with U/A certification, which means parental guidance.

"I feel any film which is U/A certified, parents ought to check it out before or wait till they see the review. I myself have done that. Junaid (Aamir's son) is 15 and he has seen 'Ghajini' and Aira (daughter) is 10 and she has not. As parents, Rina (first wife) and I have taken that call," he explained.

Aamir also negated the Western made Indian film controversy surrounding Danny Boyle's Oscar-nominated underdog drama "Sllumdog Millionaire".

"I don't see 'Slumdog...' as an Indian film. I think it is a film about India like 'Gandhi' (that) was made by Sir Richard Attenborough. Similarly, 'Slumdog...' is about India but it is not an Indian film.

"I hope it does well in (the) Academy (awards). I don't think it's got to do anything with India or abroad. Filmmakers are creative people and they are storytellers. They are telling us a story. I don't think 'Slumdog...' is making an attempt to show the underbelly of India or that may be its selling point," he explained.

Talking about Bollywood stars making an entry into politics, Aamir said: "I don't want to. I'll support a political partly only when I seriously believe that this is in fact a party in which I have real hope and full confidence. Otherwise, I would never endorse a political party," he said.

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