Bollywood's 'Mr Perfectionist' Aamir Khan turned 50 on Saturday. Since his famous debut in Yaadon Ki Baaraat (that adorable face is firmly etched in our collective consciousness) in 1974, the actor has appeared in a total of 51 films — roughly a film a year for every year he's been alive.
In recent times, Khan has had the distinction of breaking box-office records with a single release at the end of the year, which usually turns out to be the highest grossing film of that year. It started in 2008 with Ghajini, followed by 3 Idiots the next year, and so on. Three months ago, in December 2014, Aamir starred in Rajkumar Hirani's PK, which has gone on to become the highest grossing Hindi film of all time.
It's probably safe to say that most people have seen his movies. We all remember him from the '80s and '90s, too, with movies like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Dil (1990), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke (1993), and Raja Hindustani (1996).
But would you say you remember all of his films and appearances? We certainly had a tough time ourselves with:
1. The time he danced with Meenakshi Sheshadri in Damini (1993)
Khan appears in the beginning of the movie in the song 'Bin Saajan Jhula Jhulu' with Meenakshi Sheshadri, in the scene where Rishi Kapoor (playing a man named Shekhar Gupta) sets eyes on her for the first time.
2. The time he shared the screen with 'thalaivar' himself in Aatank Hi Aatank (1995)
Aamir and superstar Rajinikanth shared screen space in this Hindi remake of Hollywood classic The Godfather for the first and only time in both their careers. #NeverForget
3. The time SRK, Saif, and Aamir were all in the same (cringeworthy) scene in Pehla Nasha (1993)
If you can get over how hilariously bad this scene is, you will realise that it's a rare gem. Aamir, SRK, and Saif together in one scene, accompanied by Rahul Roy, Sudesh Berry, and Deepak Tijori? Making dreadful, pukeworthy puns about each other's successful films? Never gonna happen again, boss.
4. The time Aamir played a well-dressed gentleman in a period film within Luck By Chance (2009)
The superstar appears for only a few seconds in Zoya Akhtar's debut film, in a fake (but impressively detailed) period setting that is shown to be a movie being directed by Rajkumar Hirani.
5. The time he charmed snakes (and Juhi Chawla) in Tum Mere Ho (1990)
Okay, so some of you have probably seen the Pretentious Movie Review for this movie, but for the rest, this is an amazing specimen of a bad movie in which the superstar plays a snake-charmer, a ladies man, AND a black magician. You can't make this s**t up.