Alive but not kicking.

By now y’all must have heard various accounts of my injury so I won’t bore you with one more. Especially since there is no particularly death defying moment in it. It was quite a boring injury, no anecdotal value or excitement whatsoever. Roll camera, action, run into frame, grab heavy goon, slam him against wall, lift him and throw him against second wall, shout in pain, hop on one leg, wave arm to call for cut, limp off to nearest chair. End result is that I had injured the adductor muscle in my right thigh. Which in layman terms means my inner thigh. There have been many more exciting injuries I have received in my career but again let me spare you the gory details. Importantly I’m recovering well and have restarted shooting with muscle supports and belts.

I had mentioned sometime back that I would like to meet with some of you whenever I travel to some city. I am currently in Hyderabad and should be here till the 1st week of May. So those of you who would like to meet up should post your contact details and I will try my best to arrange a get together with a bunch of you picked randomly. All this depends of course on my shooting schedule allowing it.

In the meantime I am readying my self for my next release. JAANE TU.

When I say ‘my’ I mean Aamir Khan Productions’. After Lagaan and Taare Zameen Par this will be our third release and I am keen to complete a hat-trick. We completed our test screenings end of March, and Rahman has almost finished the background score. Today the first promo breaks on TV. It should be up on the website as well, www.jaanetu.com

This will be the first film of my nephew Imran, I think I’ll post a photo of him. Tell me what you think of the promo, and him.
Jaane Tu is the debut not only of Imran but also Abbas Tyrewala who has written and directed the film. Abbas who has is an established writer having written films like Munna Bhai MBBS, Maqbool, and Main Hoon Na among others has done a great job as a director. While I was busy with TZP he was doing JT, and when I saw the completed film it was an excellent translation onto screen of the script, which for me is the most imp yardstick for any filmmaker.

But the biggest news about JT is the return of Mansoor Khan!!!

Yes, I finally managed to lure Mansoor out of his hiding place. When I took over as director of TZP I needed a hands-on producer on JT so I requested Mansoor. To his credit despite his reluctance he did not hesitate to step in. I would like to think it was because of me but I suspect it was because of Nasir Sahab. Both Mansoor and I know that Nasir Sahab would have wanted the two of us to stand by Imran at this important juncture in his career. So Mansoor makes a return, albeit as Producer.

Meanwhile for those of you who want me to accept awards, I received one on the 24th at the august hands of Lata Mangeshkar. This is an award that the hugely talented Mangeshkar family has instituted in the name of their father Dinanath Mangeshkar. It was indeed an honour to be felicitated by the Dinanath Mangeshkar Trust and to be in such august company as the other winners. Especially since the only two male Hindi film actors to win this honour before me, if I''m not mistaken, are Dilip Kumar and Amithji.

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Olympic Torch Relay.

Dear all,

Over the last few days I have received several requests not to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay. Requests through members of my family, personal friends, people who are associated with the Tibetan struggle, and my blog. I have gone through and read each and every letter, message and post pertaining to this issue.

I would like to state that I have the highest regard and respect for the struggle that the people of Tibet are going through. I completely empathize with them. Similarly, I have the highest respect and regard for the struggle that the people of Iraq, Kashmiri Pundits who have been displaced, Kashmiris in general, and the people of Palestine, are going through. I have named above just a few instances of human rights violations. Across the world, and indeed within our own country too, there are several instances and examples of atrocities and human rights violation, which are still continuing. I categorically state that I am absolutely against any form of violence, and certainly I am deeply upset whenever the basic rights of human beings are violated anywhere in the world.

However, I feel that the Olympic Games do not belong to China.

In fact if we were to try and find on this planet a place to hold the Olympic Games where the government of that place has not been responsible for human rights violations (in one way or the other), then I suspect that we would be left with very few options, if any at all. If I am not mistaken almost all societies have been responsible for human rights violation either directly or indirectly, sometimes in seen ways and sometimes in unseen ways, sometimes physically, sometimes economically.

The Olympic Games represent for me the coming together of different people across the world despite their differences and difficulties. It is an opportunity for sportsmen and women across the world to showcase their talent, to challenge themselves and others, and for others to watch and marvel at the achievements of the human body, mind and soul.

Are human rights violations continuing across the globe while all this is happening. I’m afraid so. And I hope and pray for the day that we can one day live in absolute peace and harmony, where human suffering is done away with.

I am no one to tell any group of people how they should conduct their struggle. I am not part of it and am not going through what they are going through. But my heart goes out to them.

I request those of you who have asked me to stay away from the Olympic Torch Relay to understand that when I do run with the torch on the 17th of April it is not in support of China. In fact it will be with a prayer in my heart for the people of Tibet, and indeed for all people across the world who are victims of human rights violations.

Sincerely.

Aamir.

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Heading home.

At Toronto airport now, in the lounge, heading out in a bit. My apologies to all of you living in Toronto who wrote in with their contact details. Unfortunately I could not make time to meet up with you. Next time hopefully. But I''m going to attempt this whenever I travel. I will try and meet with some of the bloggers of the city I travel to, time permitting.

Absolutely thrilled with the response I am getting to my new look. My ears REALLY stick out though. Big Ears, that is what I was called as a kid.

Bye for now.

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Its finally off my head!

Yes I''ve finally buzzed off most of my hair.

After Murgadoss was totally satisfied that we had got all the shots we needed with my hair, including the photoshoot etc., he gave me the go ahead. Will make sure my site support team posts a picture of me. I''m right now in Dubai airport, in transit to Toronto, so I''ll send them a text. Should be up sometime today. Thanks once again for your warm wishes on my birthday.

Would love to meet some of my bloggers from Toronto while I am there, if time permits. So if you live in Toronto and would like to meet up for a bit post in your numbers and I can call in a small group of around 10 to 15 bloggers. How does that sound?

Y''all must be wondering why my posts have been getting less frequent. Its because I am at my most demanding period in a long time. So hopefully in a few weeks, at the most one month, I''ll be more frequent... on my chat too.

Long pending is a scheduled chat.

Lots of love.

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Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

Have been reading the birthday wishes that have started coming in. Thank you folks.

Actually met a couple of bloggers today. What fun.

Got a call from my office this afternoon that there were a couple of girls who had come all the way from Russia to meet me, and who had burst into tears when they got to know that I was busy. My staff didn''t quite know what to do and called me in desperation. So I asked for them to come over to where I was recording the director''s commentary ( yes I''m doing it as a result of the number of posts wanting me to speak).

So, to my surprise, I actually met with Skorpionchik and Koncol. I was really touched with their warmth and love. Thanks both of you, and thanks to the entire team back there in Russia, who have sent their good wishes and love.

My first birthday since I began blogging.

Much love. xxx

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WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!

Turns out Ponting was right about his prediction that there would be no need for the third match to decide the finals! Congratulations to the Indian team for putting up such a good show. I really enjoyed watching the win. Needless to say that a win in Australia against arguably the world’s best team is especially joyous. At this moment let us also stop for a moment and remind ourselves that sometime back we were prepared to lynch the Indian team for not performing well. I hope the fans and a bulk of the national media who behaved so badly then are dropping their heads in shame. And a huge applause for Sachin whose last two innings were instrumental in securing our win. Also that Praveen Kumar is quite a find I must say.

I was a little disappointed though with the farewell to Adam Gilchrist . I think a player of his caliber deserved a better send off. Being a mushy emotional kind I would have also liked him to score at least a 50 in his last match. He certainly is one of the greats of International cricket.

Have been unwell the past 10-12 days, down with flu. Cold still not gone completely.

(post 3344) Devika your coconuts seem to be doing the trick.

(3326) Nice limerick Ashu.

(3307) Skotse White Moghuls is indeed a very enjoyable book and gives a great insight into the British presence in India. On American history I would strongly recommend a series called NARRATIVES OF EMPIRE written by Gore Vidal. It is a series of 7 books which are a fictionalized account of American history. Burr, Lincoln, 1876, Empire, Hollywood, Washington D.C., and The Golden Age. An absolutely cracking read.

(2860-2853) Zohaib, I cant make up my mind whether I should be upset with you or not.

(1381) Perdido Manuel I have made a note of your suggestions and very soon I will do the needful.

(2436) Praveer as it turns I was in Delhi on the 2nd and a good part of 3rd. Well all I can say is that you had a close call!

(3591) Did you make that yourself Devendra? Its very good. Did you use charcoal? Or pencil?

Off late what has been really troubling me is the the director’s commentary that I need to record for the TZP DVD. Personally I feel that I have said what I had to through the film. Also, I think that films should be experienced, I shouldn’t need to explain stuff. So what I want to know from y’all is do y’all really want me to do a director’s commentary for the DVD release? Also while we are at it is there something which y’all would especially like in the DVD? I’ve already put in what I think will be great extras, but maybe I’ve missed out something.

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GHAJINI resumes.

Ghajini resumes, shooting today on the roads of Bombay. My regrets for disappearing for such a long time.

Skotse, of my resolutions I have managed to stick to no smoking, my workouts have begun again, diet is also getting back slowly though sometimes I break it, and sleeping is still not totally in place though that has seen an improvement too. So getting back slowly.

Michelle sorry to hear that you are losing the chess game.

Shabana haven’t blogged in a while because among other things I had a lot of stuff waiting after TZP got over. So have been attending to a lot of unfinished and pending business.

Coolchirag, other stuff is right except the bit about award functions. I’m afraid you wont be seeing me there. And what is this stuff you are starting on facebook and orkut on me? How do I visit there?

Patnaik Vivek, I will indeed be shaving off my head for GHAJINI as around half the film requires me to. As for DVD release of TZP… work on that is progressing but a little slow. Be assured that I am working very hard to come out with the best quality and some really special extras.

Thanks Rema, though I have to say that I didn’t quite like Kite Runner.

Poonamxx you are in the right place.

Thank you Philipkotler, for your rather strong words of praise for me. Much appreciated.

Yes Sylvi the LAGAAN Collector’s Box is indeed a limited edition. 10,000 boxes in all. And I’m glad you liked it, we worked very hard on it.

Praveer, you visiting India? Want a few lessons in chess?

Mira, you made three requests to GOD. I believe two of them have been granted. One - I have indeed quit smoking. Two - yes I am doing Raju Hirani’s film being produced by Vinod Chopra tentatively titled ‘IDIOTS’. The third one of convincing me to switch to a hybrid car he/she is still working on. But don’t be sad, cause two out of three ain’t bad.

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The washer and dryer effect.

My God! The past few months have been quite a ride. And the last month the most exciting, nerve racking, exhausting, rejuvenating, draining, enriching. Am I ever going to recover? I feel like I’ve been stuffed into a washing machine which doesn’t have an off button. After this I really need to be put out to dry in the sun and left alone. But no such luck. I start shooting for GHAJINI on the 22nd. So…

Let me take baby steps towards recovery.

First things first… I have just smoked my last cigarette before sending this post. YES I HAVE FINALLY KICKED THE BAD HABIT!!! I know I know, I can already hear all of y’all scream and shout. I was supposed to give up on 31st. But I didn’t (which is one of the reasons I was avoiding posting). I tried my best… but I''m sorry I couldn’t then… but I have now… so please don’t give me grief… instead support me now.

Second step: get back to sleeping early.

Third: Work out religiously.

4th: Get back on my healthy diet.

5th: Just stick to the above 4 for a while before taking the 5th step.

To do list:
1. Work on the DVD of TZP.
2. Work on the release plan of JAANE TU… AKP’s next release.
3. Supervise prep on DELHI BELLY which starts shoot in March.
4. Start prep work on the other one that AKP is producing later this year yet untitled.
(all this while I shoot for GHAJINI. And you guys complain I don’t do enough work.)
5. Make innovations and progress on this site.
6. Clean my study, clean my cupboard. So much junk has piled up in my rooms. Everyday I look at the mess and promise myself I’ll get down to it at some point.

I really have to get back some order in my life.

In the meantime let us celebrate India’s win over Australia. What a glorious win! Sweet and well deserved. We would have won the earlier test as well had it not been for remarkably bad luck with the umpiring. All the more satisfying because we beat a team which is unfortunately very arrogant and decidedly badly behaved on the cricket field. My sincere apologies to any fans of Australian Cricket but I fail to understand why arguably the best team in the world has to behave so badly on the field. Or why this team feels the need to use excessively aggressive heckling to try and win a match. Cant they just play better? I mean I don’t see Federer or Roddick misbehaving with each other or anyone. Well each to his own I guess. I just wish the Indian team didn’t get influenced by this childish display and respond in kind. We should just quietly play better and win… or lose, as the case may be. But play with dignity.

While on behavior and dignity, I am deeply disappointed with those of you who have watched TZP on a pirated DVD/VCD, or when illegally shown on cable, or on websites which have illegally uploaded the film. How can you be my fans, or fans of Indian Cinema, or any cinema for that matter if you steal from us? Sad.

To the rest of you, first of all I want to thank you for the respect and regard you have shown by watching the film through honest means. Your heartfelt responses to TZP are absolutely overwhelming and have left me speechless, with a warm glow within me. Cant describe it any better. Have made notes over the past few weeks in response to specific posts, but have abandoned that exercise. Maybe I’ll get into that later. Just want to thank all of you for expressing yourselves with so much generosity and sensitivity.

Having been so supportive of the film y’all will be happy to know that TZP has crossed to business of RDB.

At this point I would like to publicly thank the cast and crew of TZP for being so supportive to me in my debut film. I would not have been able to achieve the film without the hard work and commitment from all who have been involved in the entire process. Right from the research to the release.

Much love.

xxx

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Darsheel's words.

Hello, hi and a host of warm wishes for the new year. While I have a lot to share with you I must step back for a bit and give space to Darsheel to have a word with y’all.

It is Sunday and Kiran and I are over at Darsheel house for lunch. After spending hours pouring over the posts Darsheel takes over my laptop to write to you.

While you read and respond to Darsh, I want you to know that I am absolutely thrilled with what I have been reading through your posts. Every stress and every pain filled moment that I may have gone through to make TZP feels worth it after reading your responses. I am humbled with your generosity, and I feel stronger and filled with courage to do better and more challenging work. More later, now over to Darsheel.

Love.

Aamir.




Hello everyone.

Aamir uncle showed me his blog and I was very happy when I read it. I would like to thank every one for liking my role, and I am happy that you liked the movie.

I would like to share of my memories during my shooting that when I was shooting for bum bum bole ,as you people know that I am a product of Shiamak’s school and I am a nice dancer and every one in bum bum bole was dancing excluding me. I was very upset during it so when it would be a retake I would start dancing.

Acting with Tanay and Sachet was great fun and partying with them was amazing fun.

Thanks

Darsheel.



Well a man of few words as it turns out but I wish y''all could have seen his face as he read the posts.

Aamir.

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EID MUBARAK and MERRY CHRISTMAS from CLOUD 9!!!

You know when a director is thinking about his film before the release he often goes through amazing highs and major lows. One sec we feel that the film is not going to connect with people, another we day dream that it will get into the blood stream of the audience like no film before. The response that I have got for my very first film is like a dream response. I couldn’t have imagined a better response and all my day dreams have come true. Gladly all my pinching is in vain and I am still awake.

I am so moved by the response I am unable to express myself properly. I feel at a loss for words.

Thank you.

I have gone through each and every post. And I’m going to go through it again. And 20 years later I will still go through these very pages and warmth will fill my heart. So well you all have expressed yourselves. And such generosity and support. I am touched. I feel blessed.

Some of you have expressed a fear of the opening not being good enough. Please relax. The opening is much higher that I expected. Let me quickly put your fears and anxieties to rest by sharing with you a text that I received today from the distribution team of PVR:
– Good evening Khan Saab, film is headed to be the BIGGEST GROSSERS of the year. –

Even in smaller centres where I would expect a film of this nature to open weak it has opened to double my expectations and the collections have been only rising with EACH show.

The only place where the opening is below expectations is the U.K. I have no explanations for that. However the audience response from there is equally strong as elsewhere so I expect to see the collections there rising very soon.

Now let me give you an idea of what the theatre response all over is. And mind you I am saying all this because I can see an anxiety in some of you as to how well the film is doing at the box office.

It is getting a standing ovation!!! Something that only happened if I remember correctly during LAGAAN!!! Everyone is loving it. Parents, children, youth, teenagers, grandparents, everyone. People from different ecomonic and social backgrounds, industry collegues, everyone. Taporis included. The best response one of my team got is from the gatekeeper from one of the theatres. He said – “I really need to see the film. What is there in it that everyone is loving it so much”. -

So just relax and enjoy the ride. Do not be disheartened by half baked and ill informed reports. The figures are infront of me, and I am in constant touch the distribution team and trade experts.

You know before the release I had two doubts. Will kids and teenagers like it? And will people want to see it more than once? For a film to become really huge and go into ‘super duper’ category these two points are of prime importance. I am happy and relieved to say that both these questions have been strongly answered in the affirmative. The youth are loving it, and repeat viewings began on day one itself! Like in my day dream people are wanting to see the film again and again.

Let me add that, unlike my distribution team, I am extremely conservative by nature and I would hesitate to say so early in the day that TZP will go on to become the BIGGEST GROSSERS of the year. That is a big claim indeed and I would wait for the end of the second/third week before I confirm that.

For now I just want to thank all of you for such a heart warming reaction. And keep it going it, it feels like I am breathing pure oxygen.

And now I want to get back to reading your posts for the nth time.

Darsheel in the meantime, who has been reading your posts with me, is smiling as big as the final painting. He sends you his love, a warm hug and a very toothy grin. I’m going to try and get him to post one blog.

Much love. xxx

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Reactions.

All right give it to me.

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DONE!!!

Have finally crossed all the ''''t''''s and dotted all the ''''i''''s... I think.

Have just reached home after completing the last bit of work on the film. I cannot believe it is finally over. Will be checking the print in a couple days, I hope there wont be any technical delays. The last one month has been killing. Can''t wait for it to release now.

In response to some of the queries that have been coming up;

TZP is a film about children, NOT a children''s film. It is aimed primarily at parents, and potential parents. Youngsters who in a few years will become parents. Of coure since it is about an 9 year old boy I expect that kids around 8 years and above will identify with the boy and find the film engaging, moving and uplifting. I have no idea how kids below 8 years will react to the film. Sure there are some fun moments for them like a couple of animation sequences, and the BUM BUM BOLE song, which I believe is a hot favourite with little kids, but in esssence the film speaks to an 8 years and above audience.

In my oplnion it is THE most important film on children to come out of India. I mean in its content. How you all will like it I have no idea, but what I can say is that it has changed the way that I looked at my kids. And mind you, I think that I am a good father. In fact it changed the way that I look at all children.

As we take on the burdens of adulthood we often gradually distance ourselves from our children, even our own childhood. This script brought it all back into sharp focus for me.

I hope it does the same for you.

And now I am going to sleep. I mean serious sleep.

Love.

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Thanks for the drubbing on my smoking.

Have stepped out of the mixing room for a bit and was checking my blog. I have to say that my family, especially my kids, are really happy with the kid of bashing I recieved from you all for my smoking. I completely agree that it is the worst thing anyone can do to damage one''''s health. Cough, cough. Point taken and will be acted upon.

Right now I am so over worked that I often dont know whether it is day or night.

On my comments on BLACK, let me start by commenting that I have the highest regard for Mr Bachchan and I am very big fan of his work. Probably one of the biggest. I believe that he along with Mr Dilip Kumar are among my two favourite actors of Indian Cimema. I have no hesitation in saying that I don''t even feature on the same platform as an actor. He is also in my opinion THE biggest star that Indian Cinema has ever seen. However as any member of the audience I too have a right to my opinion. And let me also clarify that my observations were towards the film and the way it was handled not towards any of the actors. I am very aware that the key of every performance is very much determined by the director.

My big exception towards Black is the fact that a child with severe difficulties is shown being illtreated instead of being treated with love, care and understanding. I simply cannot come to terms with that no matter what the writer and director say in defence. I thought I was watching a rip off of Taming Of The Shrew!!! I take great exception to this kind of behaviour towards children being glorified and propagated through a popular mass medium as the way to deal with children with or without difficulties. I, without any hesitation, strongly condemn this kind of cinema no matter who is involved with the film, and that includes me if I ever have in the past, present or future made such an error of judgement. My creative differences with Mr Bansali are unimportant. I believe he has the potential to make a good film and I look forward to seeing his latest film SAWARIA.

In response to some of your questions regarding TZP: It is a film about children, ALL children, and is aimed at parents, children, and potential parents. In fact for everyone who is a child or has been through childhood, which pretty much covers the whole gamut of age groups.

And now I am being called back into the mixing theatre.

I haven''''t forgotten about the scheduled chat and once I''''m done with my work will pick a date and time.

Much love.

Aamir.

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Overworked and stressed.

Hello everyone.

Harresed and overworked as the release gets closer. Yes the due date for film release is confirmed for 21st of Dec.

I have sorely missed interacting with all of you on a regular basis as my work is keeping me away from my comp. There are so many things happening at the same time that sometimes I feel quite overwhelmed. The final mix, colour correction, final checks on the special effects, animation, promotions, promos, meetings with the distribution team, the list is endless. Many many deadlines to meet on a daily basis to make the 21st release possible.

Well a few quick responses.

Firstly, Amit I really liked your translation of the title track. Very very good. In fact with your permission I would like to show it to Bannerjee, the person doing the sub-titles on the film, and if he approves would like to use it. Did you do translations of the other songs as well? Would very much like to go through them.

Nat my appologies. I believe you were in Bombay and tried to reach me. I would have liked to meet you but I just could not manage it. However I will make sure I sign the photos you left and mail them to you.

Vicky I am thankfull to you for your unrelenting support.

Praveer we have a chess match pending. Enjoy yourself while you can. Post the film release I''m going to wipe the floor with you.

Bad news is that I have begun smoking. Good news is I have a new year''s resolution ready.

There is so much we can talk about, but I guess it will have to wait. Hopefully in the next few days I will be able to zero in on a date for when I can come on the chat. Long overdue.

Bye for now.

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HAPPY DIWALI.

A short note to wish all of you a very happy Diwali.

Have been going through your responses to the music. Its extremely encouraging to say the least. I''''ve got your immediate response and it is really heartening, but what I would really like is to hear your responses two weeks from now, after you have had a chance to hear the songs a few times over. Do they grow on you or do you start tiring of them?

I spent a couple hours last evening with Shammi Uncle the Elvis Presley of Indian Cinema (not as a singer but as a star). He is a close friend of my uncle Mr Nasir Husain who was himself one of the most sussessful directors of his time. I trained under Chachajaan as an assistant director for 4 years. His is not with us today but it would have been a very happy day for him. And I wanted Shammi Uncle to hear the music and wanted his blessings. Shammi Uncle is the coolest and I so enjoyed being with him. Very few people have the spirit of life that Shammi Uncle has and there is a lot to learn there. He showed me a picture that he keeps in his room of him and Chachajaan on the stes of one of the films they did together. I felt so happy and I wanted to share it with y''''all.

I''''m planning a sheduled chat soon and I''''ll keep you posted on that.

Take care, and have a great Diwali.

Much love.

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Petrified!!!

The music is out in stores and I am absolutely petrified. My stomach is churning and I am going weak in the knees. Even after so long I can''t get over the butterflies in the stomach. So I’m going to go hide in a hole for sometime.

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Time to move on.

The last one month has been a real test for me and my family but I think finally we have reached closure. I thank y’all for hanging in there with me. Sincerely, your words of comfort make me feel so much better.

As I write this it is past midnight in India so it’s 3rd Nov, the date the music of TZP is supposed to release. I know I’m going to get killed for this but…, I think the music might not reach the stores until the 5th!!!

I’m so sorry but it is because I rejected the final GLASS MASTER of the MASTER RECORDING 3 times as I was not happy with the quality, and as a result there was some delay in production. As far as I know our music company T-Series is still trying their very best to reach the CDs and Cassettes to stores by 3rd, but despite their best efforts they might not be able to reach ALL outlets by 3rd. I have been going through your posts and I’m aware of your anticipation, so I know I’m going to get slaughtered for this, but trust me it was so that we could all get better quality sound.

This also gives me a couple more days to write out the translations of the lyrics, which I had promised to do but have not had the time to get into. But now hopefully I should be able to give full time to TZP. By 5th night I’ll post the translations.

In case y’all are thinking this is one of my pranks its not. And I’m really really sorry for this delay.

I''m really looking forward to your reactions to the music.

Much love.

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Trying to resurface.

Hi guys. Have been going through your comments and posts over the past week or more. I would like to thank y’all for your support and good wishes to me and my family.

Also I am really overwhelmed with your responses to the Curtain Raiser of TZP. ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMED!!! I can’t tell y’all how happy I am to read that y’all have loved it. And y’all have expressed it in so many different ways. I am so glad, thanks for making the effort. It is really reassuring to me and the entire team who have worked so hard on the film. Thanks.

At this point we are all gearing up for the launch of the music on the 3rd of Nov which, incidentally, is just round the corner. My stomach is turning as I write this, I get so nervous. Well 3rd Nov the music should be available in stores across the world, and we wait with bated breath for your response to it.

Over the next few days what I plan to do is to translate the songs into English. This is for the benefit of those of you who don’t speak Hindustani, or for those who need a little help. I feel the lyrics are really special and I would like to help you enjoy them. Initially I wanted the translations to be included with the lyrics in the CD and Cassette, but we were running out of space. So, currently only the original lyrics are printed in the CD and Cassette packaging. If I do one song a day, by the 3rd I should be able to post the lot of them together. The lyrics will also be available on the TZP website.

Over the last couple of weeks I have also paid a number of surprise visits to the chat and I have enjoyed interacting with y’all. But it’s about time I fixed a scheduled chat. Let me work out my schedule and get back. This time however I would like to make a list of do’s and don’ts which should make the chat a bit less chaotic and infinitely more fun.

On the 4th of Nov our second promo breaks on TV and on the TZP website. So a scheduled chat date soon after the launch on the 3rd should be good. (are the techies listening?)

Well, talk to y''all soon.

Thanks once again.

Love. x

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Seasons Greetings.

Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous DURGASHTMI. And hoping y’all had a happy nine nights of NAVRATRI.

Peace and happiness to all.

HAPPY DUSSHERA.

Love.

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Keeping y'all posted.

My apologies friends, but my current circumstances are such that I am unable to communicate with y’all in any meaningful way. Please bear with me as these are extraordinarily difficult times for me and my family.
Will write in soon, hopefully.

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EID MUBARAK.

Sending all a warm hug.
May we invest more in peace, happiness and in the well being of all humanity.
Eid Mubarak..

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Change in plans.

Sorry everyone but due to unavoidable personal reasons I will not be able to chat live with y’all today 8pm IST as I had earlier mentioned. Will fix new date and time for my chat and keep you posted. In the meantime please continue to post your comments and reactions to the Curtain Raiser of TZP in the blog space.
Regrets.
Aamir.

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reached.

Reached folks. Will be online live on the chat any sec now.... hopefully. Fingers crossed.

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another 15 mts.

10.25pm.
I should be there in 15 mts. Thank god for this blog. At least I can keep you'll posted. am using my wirefree connection on my lap top stay online. Was using this same laptop to chat. Was not having any problem with the net connection. For some reason my chat window was hanging on me. I believe the tech team at the office are testing the chat and I am told it working from there. Almost there now.

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Still on my way.

10.15pm
Bombay traffic, sometimes it reminds me of Bangalore.

There is a bus driver in front of us who has jammed to road. Grrr.

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Technical Trouble

9.30pm
So sorry guys. Have been so looking forward to this chat, but we seem to be having some technical trouble. In fact the only time that it was working alright, I think, was when my friend Bhaga was online playing the devil. I barely got to the comp when it started to give up on me. The backend team is trying to workout how to solve the problem. Perhaps it is my comp, I told y'all machines don't like me. What I'm going to do is I am getting into a car right now and driving to the office of the tech team. So if all goes well I should be on chat in 45 mts. In the meantime I will keep updating this post from my car. Like they say when you want to make God laugh tell him your plans! See you'll soon ... God willing.
Love.
Aamir.

10pm.
In the car and on my way. Hope that the traffic is kind to me. Wait for me. Am really disappointed this happened. Sorry guys.

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Welcome

Hello hello hello.

How much I enjoyed reading all your comments to my last post on lagaandvd.com !!! I was absolutely in splits. And, I have to admit, also very touched by your responses.

As I said earlier currently I am launching my site with only two features, one is my blog which will continue as before, and the second is a chat which I am rather looking forward to. Given my time constraints I have not been able to work on other features but I’ll keep adding them as we go along. For your convenience I am repeating some of the time lines that I mentioned in my last post.

1. lagaandvd.com will cease to function sometime on 10th Oct. All the posts on this blog will carry forward into the archives of aamirkhan.com, so you can still access all the earlier posts and comments.

2. www.aamirkhan.com should have been operational from 10th Oct at 12:01am Indian Standard Time. And hopefully my first post on aamirkhan.com will be up then. (Which if you are reading then all is in order).

3. On 10th Oct, i.e. tonight, at 9pm Indian Standard Time (IST) I will come on for my first LIVE chat with y’all. I will remain live for precisely one hour 9pm to 10pm. SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REGISTERED BEFORE THAT. And feel free to use the chat even before I come on, and I’ll join you’ll at 9pm.

4. On 11th Oct I will reveal to y’all the first images of TAARE ZAMEEN PAR.
This will be through a curtain raiser that will be on the site www.taarezameenpar.com . Remember I had promised that y’all will be the first to see anything of the film. Well here it is. This curtain raiser breaks world wide in theatres on 12th Oct, but you can see it on the 11th at www.taarezameenpar.com .

5. On 12th Oct the curtain raiser breaks in theatres world wide and I would really like it if y’all could catch it on the BIG screen, 5.1 Dolby surround sound and all. And yes it will be released outside of India as well, in theatres where, I presume, Indian films are usually shown.

6. On 13th Oct I will once again come on live from 8pm to 9pm IST. By now I’ll be dying with anxiety to hear what you’ll think of the curtain raiser.

Based on the problems y’all pointed out in the earlier blog Carlton and his team from HUNGAMA.COM, Kalpendu, Nishant, Ninad, Aditya, Manesh and Tarun have made alterations. Let me know what you think. Also keep suggesting ideas for what other features I can have on this site. I have some ideas but suggestions are welcome. Also I have made note of the request by a lot of you’ll regarding bloggers who misbehave, I think we will try to address that problem as best as we can.

So welcome once again, and see you’ll on the chat at 9pm.

Love.
Aamir.

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