Aamir Khan recalls rejecting Mahesh Bhatt’s film at his lowest point: ‘I had the courage to say no’

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan recently opened up about the importance of saying no in his career choices, even when faced with difficult circumstances. Speaking at an event on Sunday, Aamir revealed that he turned down a film by veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt at the lowest point of his life.
“At my worst, I had the courage to say no. That’s why I behave this way till now. If I would have compromised that day, my entire career would have been a series of compromises. I got a Mahesh Bhatt film at the worst point of my life. But I didn’t like the film. I had the courage and told this to Mahesh Bhatt,” Aamir said.
Aamir and Mahesh Bhatt previously collaborated on Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), a beloved romantic classic. However, their working relationship did not extend much further. Mahesh Bhatt has spoken about past disagreements with Aamir, particularly during Ghulam (1998), stating that their creative approaches clashed.

“Working with Aamir on Ghulam was not a pleasant experience,” Bhatt once remarked. “Aamir is a victim of his own pursuit of perfection. He believes life can be perfected like a document.” He also recalled Aamir spending 10 hours perfecting the look of his character's cap in Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, which later became a fan favorite.
Vikram Bhatt, Mahesh’s brother, also addressed the fallout, stating that Aamir wanted Mahesh to dedicate his entire life to Ghulam, something Mahesh felt he couldn’t do.

Despite this, their relationship has remained cordial in public appearances. Their interactions have been largely respectful, with Aamir acknowledging Mahesh Bhatt’s contributions to cinema.