Aamir restricted his work

He is regarded in the industry as the Tom Hanks of India as critics compare his perfectionism to the Hollywood icon.

Actor Aamir Khan is known to get so consumed with his work when he has a project up his sleeve that he does not even have time for himself.

He now shockingly says he wants to cut down on work to give more time to his family. Aamir reveals that his father’s (Tahir Hussain) death has got him reflective.

“That’s how I’m built. That’s what is in my DNA. That’s a constant struggle. I continuously feel that I’m not spending time with people whom I love - my family and friends.

I felt that more sharply when my father passed away. Since then I have been thinking about it more seriously. People jump when I say this but I really want to cut down my work because that’s how I will only get time for myself and my loved ones.

I’m struggling to find balance and work for 8-10 hours, take Sundays off or Saturday-Sundays off. I need to withdraw a bit.

When I’m working, the concept of eight hours doesn’t work for me.

No one is putting a gun on my head but the thing is that’s how I’m made,” the numero uno actor tells DNA.

The actor, who delivered the highest grossing movie made in Bollywood (3 Idiots) to date and also has acted in the second highest earning film (Ghajini), reveals that he is learning Marathi.

This is another way of bonding with his family. “I have been doing it with my kids and Kiran (Rao). Through all these mad times one thing that hasn’t shifted is my Marathi classes. Twice a week we sit together and do it,” he says.

Aamir has gone through two big personal losses (his father’s demise and his wife Kiran’s miscarriage). He says the family is recuperating from the loss.

“We are doing well by and large. It’s been tough but I’m happy that the family is doing fine. If what you have lost is of great value to you then it deserves that kind of grief. Kiran is just the same,” he says.

Like many of his movies, his next production (Aamir is producing it, not acting) is also issue based. The movie is about empowerment and the state of farmers.

“I’m necessarily not actively looking at films that have an issue. If you look at Ghajini or Jaane Tu, they were not issue based but yes, as a conscious individual things happening around me affect me,” he says.

The maverick actor who has lived life on his own terms that also reflect the kind of work that he has done, surprises us by saying, “All through my career I have never done anything that would make me successful.

I often sit back and think how on earth I have achieved the kind of success that I have because I have done all the things ulta.

Someone up there is looking out for me. So, it’s a miracle that I have survived.”