Imran Khan Calls Aamir Khan’s Raja Hindustani ‘Uncomfortable To Watch’, Labels Several 90s Films As ‘Problematic’

Imran Khan—known for his boy-next-door roles in the late 2000s and early 2010s—has opened up about his hiatus, his admiration for uncle Aamir Khan, and how certain 90s films don't hold up by today’s standards.

Imran Khan pointed out that many films from the 1990s—some even celebrated as cult classics—may not resonate well with today's audience.

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After nearly a decade away from the silver screen, actor Imran Khan—known for his boy-next-door roles in the late 2000s and early 2010s—has opened up about his hiatus, his admiration for uncle Aamir Khan, and how certain 90s films don't hold up by today’s standards. In an interview with Filmfare, the 'Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na' actor revisited the cinema he grew up watching and admitted that some of those films are now difficult to view through a contemporary lens.

"Raja Hindustani uncomfortable to watch"

Imran pointed out that many films from the 1990s—some even celebrated as cult classics—may not resonate well with today's audience due to changing cultural sensitivities and perspectives. “There are some of his 90s films that have not aged well, and when you look at them through a modern lens, they are kind of problematic. There are moments that are quite uncomfortable. 'Raja Hindustani', which was a staggering hit, is very uncomfortable to watch. You look at it and you go, ‘This is wrong; we are not supposed to…’ so there are a fair amount of 90s films that are uncomfortable by today’s measures,” he said.

Directed by Dharmesh Darshan, 'Raja Hindustani' was a 1996 blockbuster starring Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor. Though hugely popular at the time, the film has since sparked debate over some of its more controversial scenes and themes.

Imran on Aamir Khan's influence on him

Imran, who made a successful debut in 2008 with the romantic comedy 'Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na', also spoke at length about the influence Aamir Khan has had on his life and values. “I am tremendously led by him. Through life, whenever I am facing a dilemma, I think, ‘What would Aamir do?’ I may not exactly approach it in the same way as him; a lot of our methodologies and beliefs are different, but at its core, he has always been driven by integrity and authenticity. Your guiding principle must come from what is morally justifiable and then what is the most truthful and most authentic way that we can render this story. Those are kind of the core guiding principles which I have learnt from him, which I still adhere to,” he shared.

While fans have long been awaiting his return to acting, Imran confirmed a few months ago that a planned comeback—a spy thriller series for Disney+ Hotstar—was unfortunately shelved. However, his recent interviews and renewed presence in the public eye have sparked hope that he may be inching closer to a return.