Zaira Wasim reveals her Secret Superstar co-star Aamir Khan’s biggest secret

Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Zaira Wasim, and director Advait Chandan, talk about the movie, and meet fans who’re themselves worthy of being called secret superstars. There’s laughter, tears, hugs, and dancing — just like in a movie!

Aamir Khan has that rare knack of being perfect at whatever he does — even when it comes to making people laugh, cry, and speak from their heart. It was truly a special day when Mr Perfectionist, along with the team of his film Secret Superstar, leading lady Zaira Wasim and director Advait Chandan, visited Hindustan Times House, New Delhi, to meet the winners of the HT City Stars in The City contest.

The team of the film Secret Superstar visited Hindustan Times House to meet the winners of the HT City Stars in the City contest. (Photo: Amal KS/HT)

Aamir, who plays the wacky musician Shakti Kumar, was absolutely in his element. Upon being asked whether th­­­e shady, sleazy character was based on any real-life person, he said, “You guessed it right that the character is very sleazy, but I don’t know anyone in real life who’s like that”, and winked, sending everyone into peals of laughter. “Advait has written an original character, which allowed me to be what I can’t normally be. Personally, I’ve been closer to the characters I have played before, like Rancho (3 Idiots, 2009) and Ram Shankar Nikhumbh (Taare Zameen Par, 2007),” added the 52-year old.

Zaira, who had a dream debut in Aamir’s blockbuster 2016 film Dangal, was initially shy, but went on to reveal a secret about her senior co-star: “Aamir sir doesn’t like taking baths. Also, he doesn’t like loud music!”

Keeping the theme of the film in mind, HT City had invited three real-life secret superstars.

Aamir Khan with Doris Francis and her husband.

Doris Francis, 59, has managed traffic at various intersections in Ghaziabad, a part of Delhi-NCR, after losing her daughter in a road accident in 2009.

Rahul Tyagi from Meerut enthralled the audience with his rapping skills.

Rahul Tyagi, 14, is a school boy from Meerut who performs rap numbers in Hindi, and his words have a strong message about women’s empowerment.

Tamana Chona, who teaches at the Tamana school for special needs children, was applauded by Aamir.

Tamana Chona, struck by cerebral palsy, had severely limited mobility till the age of eight, but is now a marathon runner and a teacher at one of the country’s biggest special needs schools, also called Tamana, run by herself and her mother, the veteran educationist Shyama Chona .

Aamir indulged his fans when he danced to hit songs.

Impressed by the spirit of these people, who have made their unique ways through life, Aamir posed with pleasure for selfies — which he himself clicked, naturally, to make sure the angle was perfect! — and danced with all of them to songs from his film. It was a memorable encounter for both sides: for the Bollywood superstar and for NCR’s own secret superstars.

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