Aamir Khan brought the penultimate evening of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) alive as he headlined the last Fireside Chat of the festival in a packed Kala Academy auditorium. The session, titled ‘The Narrative Architect of Social Transformation and Inclusivity,’ turned into a spirited, wide-ranging conversation where the actor opened up about his cinematic instincts, creative journey and what lies ahead.

According to a press release issued by the IFFI organisers, the session was held yesterday in Goa and began with moderator and noted film critic Baradwaj Rangan paying tribute to the legendary Dharmendra. Responding emotionally, Aamir recalled how he had grown up watching the veteran actor, describing him as a “gentle giant” who excelled across genres and left behind an extraordinary artistic legacy.

From there, the conversation unfolded into what soon became “the Aamir Khan show” for the next ninety minutes. The actor traced his fascination with stories back to his childhood, reminiscing about the tales narrated by his grandmother and the charm of listening to ‘Hawa Mahal’ on the radio. “Stories were a big part of my childhood, and that fascination has guided every choice I’ve made as an actor,” he said.

Aamir spoke at length about his instinct-driven approach to cinema, emphasising that he has never chosen films based on trends or formulas. “I can’t repeat myself. Once I’ve done a certain kind of film, I want to move on,” he said, adding that most of his career decisions have been “impractical by industry standards.” Recalling the making of ‘Lagaan’, he admitted even Javed Akhtar had advised against it, yet his unconventional choices ended up resonating widely with audiences.

Despite being associated with films carrying strong social themes, Aamir clarified that such choices were never deliberate. “I never select a film thinking about which social topic to address next. I only look for scripts that excite me. If a great script carries a social message, that’s a bonus,” he explained. He attributed the impact of his films to the strength of the writers behind them, crediting them for building the worlds of ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘3 Idiots’, ‘Dangal’ and ‘Laapataa Ladies’.

“I am a complete film personality, not an activist. My primary objective is to entertain my audience,” he said, adding a layer of candour that set the tone for the evening.

In one of the session’s key revelations, Aamir announced a major shift in his career focus. Once the ongoing productions — including ‘Lahore 1947’ and ‘Happy Patel’ — are completed in the coming months, he intends to return fully to acting. “From here on, any script I hear will be only for me as an actor. It’s the right time to dedicate myself completely to acting again,” he said. He shared that he is currently listening to new scripts, with “two or three” that particularly excite him.

When asked how filmmakers could approach him with pitches, Aamir responded straightforwardly: they could contact his manager to request a narration or send the script across—adding that he is comfortable with both hearing and reading scripts.

The conversation wrapped with his reflections on direction a passion he admits he has been consciously delaying. “Direction is actually my big love. The day I consciously decide to take it up, I’ll probably stop acting,” he said, noting that filmmaking would consume him entirely once he chooses to step into that role again.

The session concluded with Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, felicitating Aamir Khan, bringing an energetic and reflective evening at IFFI to a close.