Aamir Khan has weighed in on the buzz surrounding the viral cameo moment featuring Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in Pathaan, while also reflecting on the evolving idea of superstardom in Hindi cinema. Speaking during a conversation with Variety India, the actor admitted he doesn’t watch many films, not even his own, but still caught wind of the widely discussed scene.
Discussing whether the age of superstars is fading, Aamir dismissed the notion that stardom belongs to the past. “According to me, every generation and every period will have its own heroes or heroines… A lot of people have been saying that the time of superstars is gone… but aisa kuch nahi hai,” he said, stressing that new icons will always emerge. He added, “Nobody’s indispensable in this world… there will always be people who are better than you… who will come in and take your place. That is the cycle of life.”
Referring to the Pathaan sequence featuring Salman and Shah Rukh’s playful exchange, Aamir explained he hadn’t watched the film but had seen the moment online. “I was told about the scene and I saw it on YouTube… It was tongue-in-cheek… usme masti, mazaak tha… and people laughed as well,” he noted, acknowledging the layered humour audiences picked up on.
He also praised the new wave of performers who are making their mark through impactful work. Without hesitation, he highlighted actors like Vicky Kaushal, Ranbir Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh as examples of the industry’s evolving talent pool. “They’re there… very capable of taking over from us… perhaps more talented than us. They are staking a claim for a rightful place,” Aamir remarked, applauding their achievements.
Emphasising that the transition is natural and healthy, the actor concluded that the new generation has responded not through words but through performances. “They’ve answered with their work… which is fantastic. I really appreciate that,” he said, underscoring his optimism about cinema’s future and its constantly renewing star power.