Aamir Khan's Unique Holi Memories

Amidst the glitz and glamour of Bollywood, if we were to talk about a star whose life story begins with the festival of colors, it's Aamir Khan. His family still fondly recounts the story of the day when he was born. It was the day of Holi celebrations and there was huge crowd outside the hospital and on the streets playing with color . Shortly after Aamir was born on March 14, 1965, a nurse came running inside the ward and applied a small round perfect dot of gulal (colourful powder) to little Aamir's cheeks and forehead as a token of good luck. Family members jokingly say that perhaps this is why Aamir strives for perfection in every film and work, as his very beginnings were surrounded by colors.

But the most interesting thing is that the artist, born in the midst of Holi, was quite scared of this festival as a child. Aamir Khan himself says that as a child, he hated anyone suddenly throwing colors on him or drenching him with water. When he was a kid his little friends would make noise in the streets of Bandra playing holi. Aamir would quietly watch the scenery outside his window. He had a hesitation about colors, which persisted for many years. But as he grew older and his circle of friends expanded, this fear diminished. 

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By adolescence, he too began to join the rowdy Holi crowd but his approach was always a little different and elegant.

There is a sweet anecdote about Aamir Khan's childhood Holi celebrations which people near his Bandra home, 'Marina' still remember. In reality, Aamir wasn't as calm as he appeared to be. He had a large courtyard near his house where he, along with his cousins, would form his "Holi arm team. (Aamir Khan Holi connection)

A special habit of Aamir Khan was to wake up very early on Holi day. His job was to mix colors in buckets and fill balloons with them, arranging them in a tall pile. His childhood friends say that Aamir's aim was so precise that he would walk away from a distance and hit a balloon near someone's feet, so that only splashes would fly and the person in front would be unharmed. Even as a child, he was careful not to hurt anyone's eyes or face. This "perfectionist" nature of his was evident in his play even then.

Even today, when he remembers those days, his eyes still sparkle with the same old sparkle.

But as soon as he became a part of the film world, his style of Holi changed completely. Now, instead of the rowdy Holi, he celebrates Holi with simplicity. He now places more importance on peace. (Aamir Khan childhood Holi memories)

According to reports, the biggest highlight of Holi at Mr. Perfectionist's home is the football match held there. It has been a tradition for years that Aamir plays a friendly match with his close friends and family on Holi. There's no pomp and show, just everyone in white kurta-pyjamas, soaked in colors, and then they take to the field. Pictures of him often appear online, unconcerned about winning or losing, chasing a football covered in mud and gulal. Fans love this desi, glamorous attitude, as he doesn't appear to be a superstar, but rather a common man.

In his Bandra home, Holi wasn't just about chaos, but a huge family gathering. Aamir's father, Tahir Hussain, and uncle, Nasir Hussain, visited each other's homes on Holi. The women of the house would be busy in the kitchen from early morning, and the aroma of ghee, gram flour, and rabri would permeate the house. Aamir loved gram flour laddus and namkeen as a child. He would often stuff his pockets with namkeen and go to the terrace, enjoying the fun in the streets below while eating.

Aamir Khan generally follows a strict dietary regimen, but on Holi, he breaks these restrictions. His mother's homemade "Puran Poli" and "Gujiya" and "Firni" are his biggest weaknesses. Aamir jokingly says, "Even though I eat boiled vegetables year-round, the sight of a plate of Gujhiya on Holi makes me lose control." Traditional dishes are also specially prepared for guests who visit his home. The gossip over Thandai and sweets is the true festival for him. (Aamir Khan Bandra Marina house)

Another interesting fact is that Aamir is more fond of dry Gulal than wet colors, and he often chooses light pink or yellow. There was a tradition in his family that the elders would first apply Tilak to the foreheads of the children, before the rest of Holi would begin. Aamir still follows this tradition. Even though he is now a major star, a tape of old songs plays at his home on Holi, and the atmosphere remains simple. (Bollywood stars and Holi celebrations)

Aamir's journey on the silver screen also began with the film "Holi," directed by Ketan Mehta.
Though it was a serious film, it marked Aamir's debut into acting. And then in films like "Mangal Pandey," he brought the energy of the festival to life through Holi songs. The song "Holi Re," filmed withRani Mukerji, is still a part of Holi playlists.
If shooting takes place during Holi festival , Aamir often plays Holi on the set to lighten the mood.

A well-known fact about Aamir Khan is that he is very serious on set, but when it comes to Holi, a different side of him is seen. The entire unit still remembers an incident from the shooting of his film "Lagaan." While the film was being shot in Bhuj, (Gujrat ), the entire team had been working for months in the scorching heat and dust. During that time the festival of Holi arrived. Aamir decided to play Holi with his entire team and the foreign actors present there.

That day, Aamir shed his perfectionist guise and like a normal playful boy, he drenched everyone in colors. It was a unique experience for the foreign actors who were there for the cricket match scene. Aamir himself brought buckets of colors and drenched everyone. It is said that there was so much fun in the village of Bhuj that day that by evening, it was difficult to distinguish who was who due to colored faces. Aamir believed that such fun relieved fatigue and strengthened the team's bond. (Aamir Khan gulal blessing at birth)

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Another true and memorable incident occurred on the set of the film "Mangal Pandey." During the shooting of the song "Dekho Aayi Holi" , the atmosphere was like that of a real Holi celebration. Aamir and Rani Mukerji had to spend several days smeared in colors. Aamir recounts that even after the song's shooting was over, he and Rani continued to throw gulal (colourful powder) on each other. Crew members present on set at the time say that Aamir was so excited that he personally covered the cameras and lights with plastic to protect them, so that the fun wouldn't damage any machinery.

Not only this, people from Aamir's  office say that he never forgets to play Holi with his staff. Once, he formed a team with his office colleagues and wouldn't let any guest enter without applying gulal (colourful) to them.

These days, Aamir Khan is very conscious about the environment and safety. He always urges his fans not to waste too much water while playing Holi and to use only organic colors. He believes that the true meaning of the festival is not to provoke anyone, but to bring everyone together. If anyone refuses to be colored, Aamir fully respects his choice. For him, respect and mutual love are more important than colors.

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This is why Aamir's Holi is celebrated with it's stories and simplicity, unlike the big Bollywood parties. From that first gulal mark applied at birth to the present day, Aamir has lived this festival in his own way. His Holi is a colorful experience filled with music, family, and a multitude of nostalgia.