At the Singapore Film Festival on Thursday, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan was honoured with the ‘Screen Icon Award’ by renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Chan Ho-sun. During an evening conversation with Singaporean comedian Rishi Budhrani, Khan reflected on his life, career and some of its most difficult moments.
When asked about the lowest point in his career, Khan recalled how the COVID period prompted him to reassess his priorities. “During COVID, when I was sitting and thinking, I felt that almost 30 years of my life had passed. It is fine to be completely obsessed with something, to immerse yourself entirely in your work, for a year, two years or five years. But if you continue like that for 30 years, it means you have lost your relationships. Your children have grown up. They are adults now. So, I felt a deep sense of emptiness,” he said.
Khan paused during the conversation as tears welled up in his eyes. He apologised to the audience and took a moment to compose himself, drawing applause from those present. Wiping away his tears, he explained that the experience had prompted him to make a significant change in his life. For the past four years, he has consciously made time for his family and close friends.
“I am very happy that this thought came to me at the age of 56, rather than at 86, when it would have been too late to do anything about it,” he said.
While discussing the most difficult periods of his life, Khan also revisited the early struggles that followed the success of his debut film, ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’, released in 1988. After the film became a major success, he signed nine films within six months. However, he realised his mistake once the shooting schedules began.
Khan recalled returning home and crying in front of his wife, Reena. His subsequent films failed one after another, and he was labelled a “one-film wonder”, a term used for someone who has delivered only one successful film.
Megastar #AamirKhan receives Screen Icon Award at 37th Singapore International Film Festival ❤🙏 He is the first Indian to get such an award 🙌 https://t.co/gfH86Wk0Lh
— RAJ (@AamirsDevotee) October 22, 2026
Accepting the ‘Screen Icon Award’, Khan thanked the festival and said receiving the honour at the hands of Jackie Chan made the occasion even more special. He also emphasised the collaborative nature of filmmaking, saying, “Filmmaking is a collective art, and many people contribute to each other’s work.”
Khan last attended the festival nine years ago with his production film ‘Secret Superstar’. This year, the festival has also scheduled a screening of ‘Lagaan’ to mark its 25th anniversary. The film was Khan’s first as a producer.
His emotional recollection of missed family time and the professional setbacks that followed his early success offered a glimpse into the personal experiences behind his career, while his reflections underscored the importance he now places on balancing work with relationships.
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