Aamir Khan

Key Speaker: Advertising That Lives Beyond Stardom

Aamir Khan is one of the most renowned actors, filmmakers and producers in Indian cinema, known for his meticulous approach to his craft and his ability to take on diverse roles, earning him the enduring moniker “Mr. Perfectionist.” 

With a career spanning nearly four decades, his work has earned numerous accolades, including four National Film Awards, nine Filmfare Awards and an AACTA Award. He has also received two of India’s prestigious civilian honours, the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010, for his contribution to the field of arts.

He made his film debut with ‘Holi’ (1984) before rising to prominence with ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ (1988). Throughout the 1990s, he went on to star in successful films including ‘Dil’, ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’, ‘Rangeela’, ‘Raja Hindustani’and ‘Sarfarosh’. In 1999, he founded Aamir Khan Productions, with its first release, Lagaan (2001), earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

Aamir Khan Productions later went on to produce highly acclaimed films including Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Rang De Basanti (2006) and Taare Zameen Par (2007), which marked his directorial debut. He continued to star in major commercially successful films including Ghajini (2008), 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014), Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017), many of which broke records in the box-office.

In 2012, Khan made his television debut as the host of Satyamev Jayate, a talk show that explored pressing and even taboo social issues in India.

Alongside his work in cinema, Khan has had a longstanding presence in Indian advertising, working with brands including Coca-Cola, Tata Sky, Titan, Dream11 and Thums Up. His narrative-driven campaigns, particularly those under Coca-Cola’s Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola, became closely associated with his character-led approach to advertising.