'I Was Rebellious When I Decided to Become an Actor,' Says Aamir Khan

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan believes that all parents should support their children to achieve their dreams instead of pressurising to follow a path against their will.

Citing his upcoming film Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, which is based on father-daughter relationship and a father preparing his daughters to achieve his unfulfilled dreams, Aamir said: "I do not believe in such things. As a father, I always support my kids to do whatever they wish to do. I believe that parents should support their kids to achieve their dreams rather than decide it for them. However, the film is not based on my life!"

"Though in the beginning children go through an indecisive phase, instead of pressurising them to pursue their unfulfilled dreams, parents should help them to find a way to decide a career path. I was quite rebellious when I decided to become an actor," he said at event to launch a song of Dangal.

Aamir, a father of three children, said that he encourages the individuality of his kids and is not very strict with them.

The film, which celebrates the gender equality through a sport like wrestling, is adding the colour to the changing scenario of the society as well as the film industry, he said.

"It is a great change of perception and celebration of gender equality. This year two women won Olympic medals for our country and made us proud! Personally, neither I look at girls and boys differently nor I have grown up seeing such difference in our household. Both my sisters were treated with equality while growing up," said Aamir.

Aamir and Tiwari, who both made children-based films earlier - Taare Zameen Par and Bhoothnath Returns respectively - said that in Bollywood, children's film is an unexplored genre that needs encouragement.

"I would be more than happy to see that more filmmakers are doing children's films. The kinds of films kids are watching are not appropriate for them. Since they do not have many options, they are watching them. I wish people were making more family films like Dangal," said Aamir.

The first song of Dangal titled Hanikaarak Baapu composed by Pritam was released on Saturday. The film will hit the theatre on December 23.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)