Never underwrite the importance of emotions. After all, look where it got Aamir Khan!

Khan, who turns 53 today, is arguably the big screen’s finest actor and a hugely successful star to boot. He is always guided by his emotions, his gut instinct. With a slew of fabulous films like Lagaan, Rang De Basanti, Taare Zameen Par, 3 Idiots, PK, Dangal and Secret Superstar to his credit, he believes it’s all a matter of following one’s heart.

“My choice of films is dictated by my emotional interest in the story and my creative interest,” is how he puts it. That connection is all important. Nothing else matters as much to the actor-producer, who has played a range of roles on the big screen and been part of some of the biggest grossers of all time.

A story that finds resonance with Aamir, invariably finds resonance with the world at large, leading to engaging cinema which captivates audiences and also finds huge success at the box office.

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He believes in simply following his heart and not worrying about the consequences. It keeps off the pressure of delivering a bigger hit each time, as well. “I don’t feel that kind of pressure. I follow my heart as far as creative decisions go… As to what I am going to do next. It’s never affected by the success of my previous films,” he explains.

When tears and emotions are generally perceived as only for the weak, the power of empathy has always been Aamir’s strongest point. The actor is known to be in very close touch with his emotions, and breaks into tears easily when moved. The nation watched, mouths agape, as he wept copiously on the small screen, touched by the real life stories on his TV show ‘Satyamev Jayate’. He cried openly again while watching his friend and superstar Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan. He was moved to tears in public yet again and cried watching his nephew Imran Khan’s Katti Batti…

None of this embarrasses him. “Why should I hide what kind of a person I am… I’m a highly emotional person and I’m not afraid to show it,” he countered.