‘Dabangg’ director Abhinav Kashyap has recently stirred controversy with a bold critique of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, calling him “the most manipulative man” in the industry and questioning the actor’s so-called perfectionism, reports NDTV.
In a recent interview with Bollywood Thikana, the filmmaker shared his personal experiences of working with Aamir during ad film shoots, describing the actor as excessively controlling and exhausting to collaborate with.
“He is the smartest fox of all. Even though he’s shorter than Salman, he’s more manipulative, and the shrewdest thief. I made two or three ads with him, and working with him is draining. He interferes in everything: editing, direction, everything,” Kashyap said.
The filmmaker alleged that Aamir maintains a “strictly controlled ecosystem” around his projects, where others find little space to express themselves creatively. While acknowledging Aamir’s reputation as a perfectionist, Kashyap dismissed the idea that the actor’s meticulous process adds real value to his work.
“Aamir gives 25 takes, but his first and last are often the same. He watches every take, saying, ‘One more, a little more,’ but there’s no difference. It’s just an illusion of hard work,” he added.
Kashyap further questioned why acclaimed filmmakers continue to collaborate with Aamir despite his alleged overreach. “Rajkumar Hirani is a very strong filmmaker, he should move on and work with other actors. I respect both Hirani and Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, but why do they keep meeting at Aamir Khan’s house? What is it that he has and others don’t?” Kashyap asked.
Turning his attention beyond cinema, Kashyap also took aim at Aamir’s public persona as a socially conscious star, questioning his real-world contributions.
“Stars earn well and contribute to society. During floods, what has Aamir Khan done? ‘Dangal’ was his biggest hit, and he claimed to earn ₹2000 crore from China but what did Mahavir Phogat, whose life inspired the film, get from him?”
Abhinav Kashyap’s remarks have reignited debates around Bollywood’s power hierarchies, as well as the fine line between perfectionism and control in the film industry.
