The Reigning Khan of Bollywood- the actor who of late has been very media-savvy spoke at length on topics close to his heart. Post the stupendous success of his last film ‘Ghajini’; Aamir is being termed as the new 'King Khan' of Bollywood. Commenting on this, the actor said, "I had absolutely no intention of kicking Shah Rukh off his pedestal. Though I have to say, I don't think, he ever was on it. In my opinion, the actor who I really look up to is Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. He is someone who's work I really liked, a fantastic actor & the kind of stardom Mr. Bachchan has seen, none of us can ever hope to see."

“Age is a number,” Aamir reminded us, “what matters is how old or young you feel.” Ditto the No 1 position in Bollywood as an actor, producer and director that he has been credited with by Filmfare — which makes him the most powerful man in the film industry. “I’m happy with the fact, of course,” he modestly admitted, “but power comes from inside you, it’s got nothing to do with fame and wealth, and it does not matter how powerful you are how you use what little power you have in trying to contribute to society is where your strengths lie.”

He has no idea, nor does he care either, whether Bollywood perceives him as a powerful player of the industry. “My relationship with my audience cannot be defined by a number, it cannot be changed no matter what anybody says, and that relationship is proved on a Friday when my films release,” said Aamir. But, yes, he is happy to be in a position where he has the freedom and strength to do the kind of work he enjoys doing. “And I wish for that to continue,” said Aamir fervently, “because to me, what is of prime importance is that I enjoy the scripts I am working on then only something good will come out of the film.”

He also shared what he felt about ‘Ghajini’ breaking all kinds of records and emerging as the highest grossing Bollywood film of all time. "You can never really tell how a film is going to perform until you see the film with the audience. For me what is important is that when I see the film once it is ready, has it turned out the way we wanted it to? If we have done that, then that makes me feel happy."

He’s working with Raju Hirani in 3 Idiots, he’s doing wife Kiran’s Dhobi Ghat, and there’s his home production Delhi Belly. “I’m not in the numbers game, and I don’t think filmmaking is a race, it’s an art form, an emotional connect with work. My thrill lies in breaking barriers, in doing unusual stuff, I lead with my heart. If I like a story, I do it. That’s how it was with Lagaan, the first film I produced, I went ahead because I liked the script and nobody else was willing to produce it. Yes, I take risks, but I’m not calculating — that’s how I’ve always been. I work with newcomers, I like experimental filmmakers, my power — yes you can say that, lies in bringing about change. My popularity, the faith that the market and my colleagues have in me, the love, support and respect of audiences these help me do things that are challenging and which excite me. They encourage me to go into areas as an actor, as a creative person, that I haven’t been before. Yes, the last year has been good for me.

“And I’m grateful. But I want to take my work to another level not seen before. I have no long-term dreams for myself. When I pick up a story, I want to achieve it to its full potential. I live for the moment and in the moment I am in. What excites me is what I am doing now.” That we could see and believe at midnight, there must be few men who would enjoy a raw salad and black coffee with no sugar. But Aamir Khan was. And asking for seconds!

The actor also expressed his views on the much talked about Oscar winning film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. "I thought the movie was well intended. It was a very sincere attempt, but it didn't touch me personally, and I suspect its because, I'm not used to watching Indians speak English, all these slum kids talking in English... it's strange."