Ajit Rai/Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)

Contrary to the perception that Aamir Khan has given up on films, he is busy making a sequel to his blockbuster Tare Zameen Par.

Also, while the original film focused on the special abilities of children that most parents lack understanding of while raising the children, the sequel is a comedy.

Amir Khan disclosed this at the 4th Red Sea International Film Festival where he received a lifetime award for his contribution to films.

The annual film festival is happening in Jeddah's World Heritage Cultural Area Al Balad.

Aamir Khan at the 4th Red  Sea International Film Festival 

Speaking with the media Aamir Khan said he was waiting for a script that could be the basis of a film for the Khan troika of Bollywood – Amir Khan, Shahrukh Khan, and Salman Khan – to be featured in.

Replying to questions, Khan said he chooses a script for him only if it excites him.

While felicitating Aamir Khan, famous American actress Eva Longoria said that she has been a huge fan of his films for a long time. She said that Aamir Khan has given a new definition and identity to Indian cinema.

She said that Aamir Khan has made a big contribution to making Indian cinema reach the world level.

Thanking the Jury for the award, Aamir Khan said that this honour is also for hundreds of creative people who have supported him with their talent in the last 40 years. He also remembered classic filmmakers like Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt.

Aamir Khan receiving the Lifetime Achievement award

He said that Arab is a wonderful region that he would like to visit often. British actress Emily Blunt was also honoured on this occasion.

President of Red Sea Film Foundation Jomna Al Rashid said that this time Red Sea International Film Festival is dedicated to women filmmakers in cinema with 122 films from 85 countries.

A total of 37 women filmmakers are participating in the festival. Seven of 16 films in the competition section are made by women.

He said that this festival is the new home of cinema. With the help of the Red Sea International Film Festival, Arab cinema has made its place in the world's major film festivals like Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.

This film festival is helping to bring forward talented young filmmakers from all over the world in every way. The fourth Red Sea International Film Festival opened with the screening of Egypt's Karim Alshenawy's film 'The Tale of Dai's Family', made in collaboration with Saudi Arabia.

Jury president and famous American black filmmaker Spike Lee praised Arabia and said that the future of cinema lies there. While talking to cinema lovers from all over the world, in response to a question, Aamir Khan said that for years he has been wishing that all three Khans (Aamir, Shahrukh, and Salman) work together in a film.

He said that he met Shahrukh and Salman together last month. He also wants the three of them to work together, but he has yet to find a story for the three of them to feature in the film. 

Replying to a question about how he chooses scripts for his films, Aamir Khan said he reads scripts with full attention and rejects most of them. The reason is that he works in only one film in a year. He does not care about the genre while choosing the script. He just chooses the script that excites him from within.

Aamir Khan at the festival

Speaking on his filmmaking process, Aamir Khan said that he tries to complete the film within the stipulated budget. I do not want the person who is investing the money to take a risk. If a film can be made in ten crores then what is the need for a budget of a hundred crores?

He said that he was very influenced by many actors of his time. Actors like Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri have done a great job. The record of acting set by these actors is commendable. I have learned a lot from them.

When asked what he wants to do in the next ten years, he said that I never think in life about what to do next or make any plans. However, he said that his production house would work for the young talents of the country.

There is no dearth of young talent in the country. They need to be supported and helped. He said that he is a commercial actor. His films are big budget, but films like 'Laapta Ladies' also need to be promoted.

He said that he likes those filmmakers who take risks for good cinema. The biggest example of this is Chetan Anand's film 'Heer Ranjha'. This entire film is in verse. Even the postman speaks his dialogues in verse.

Aamir Khan with kareen kapoor-Khan at the festival

Classical filmmakers like Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, and V Shantaram took risks and made great films. They said that cinema cannot be just entertainment; it should also give a message to society. 'Three Idiots', 'Taare Zameen Par', 'Dangal' etc. are such films.

Sharing his experience with 'Paani Foundation', an NGO founded by the actor for water conservation, he said that he got the inspiration and idea for it from his television show 'Satyamev Jayate'. It was thought that first, we would try some work in Maharashtra. Then if we are successful, we will implement it in the whole country. Till now we have not reached that level to start work at the national level.

Aamir Khan recalled his childhood experiences with his mother and said that when he was a child, he used to play tennis and won state-level matches. Once he returned after winning an important tennis match, his mother asked him how the match was.

He said that he had won the match. While making tea, his mother said that the child who lost the match, his mother must have also asked him how the match was. He must have said that he lost the match. You should think about the child who lost the match to you.

“My mother has the biggest influence on me,” he said.

Aamir Khan said he remembered this lesson from his mother throughout his life. “An actor should have empathy; he should have the strength to feel the pain of others. Only then can he become a good communicator.”

When asked about the impact of AI (Artificial Intelligence) on cinema, he said that he does not know much about technology. He cannot even operate his television properly.

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On the question of making a film in Saudi Arabia, he said that he liked this country. He would like to come here again and again. If he gets a good story, he will make a film.