Aamir Khan Is Not A Perfectionist, He Just Works Non-Stop!

Focus, inspiration and hard work are the mantras this young director ADVAIT CHANDAN adheres to. Starting off as an assistant producer in Tare Zameen Par and assistant director in Dhobi Ghat, he is now making his directorial debut with his upcoming musical film Secret Superstar. Growing up as a film junkie and a huge fan of Aamir Khan’s Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Advait shares details on his bond with his Guru Aamir Khan, the film and more. Read On…

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What was the inspiration behind taking up direction?

Actually, I used to watch a lot of films when I was a child. My parents used to show me movies all the time. Every Friday we would go for a film. At home I wouldn’t eat lunch without watching Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. Uski VHS thi mere pass. Every day I would put it on and watch the same thing. And the day they did not put it on, I would not have lunch. I always loved films. Anytime, anybody would ask me what I wanted to do in life I would reply that all I want do is be in films, I want to direct films. So my first ambition was to do films only.

How did you come on board with Aamir Khan and how has the journey been?

I was a production assistant in Tare Zameen Par and that’s where I met Aamir Sir. I used to report to Kiran Ma’am. After Taare Zameen Par released, Kiran Ma’am was starting her film and she called me to assist her and that was a very big deal for me because they liked my work and they were calling me again for Dhobi Ghat. I worked on Dhobi Ghat for three years, I was the casting director, I found locations to shoot on and also shot some parts of Dhobi Ghat. I was the first assistant director, I was also in the post-production and directed the making of Dhobi Ghat. After that Aamir Sir asked me if I wanted to manage him. So, while managing him. I wrote this film Secret Superstar. I have been very fortunate and blessed. I got this very big opportunity at the age of 18 to be a production assistant in Taare Zameen Par. After that Kiran gave me another opportunity in Dhobi Ghat , Aamir Sir gave me another opportunity to manage him and then again, they gave me one more opportunity to direct this film. So, frankly, I have been very lucky itna chance mila mujhe har bar.