In a rare moment of public introspection, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has opened up about the consecutive box office failures that halted his nearly two-decade-long winning streak. The actor-producer candidly admitted that personal overconfidence and a departure from his own financial principles led to the significant losses faced by his 2022 film, Laal Singh Chaddha.
The Admission of Overconfidence
Speaking on film trade analyst Komal Nahta's YouTube show Game Changers, Aamir Khan reflected on the period following hits like 3 Idiots, PK, Ghajini, and Dangal. "Main overconfident ho gaya. Meri itni filmein ek ke baad ek hit chali. Mujhe laga tha ki itna toh kar hi legi. Woh galat kiya maine," the actor confessed. This mindset, he suggested, set the stage for the disappointments of Thugs of Hindostan (2018) and Laal Singh Chaddha (2022).
Khan revealed he had always employed a personal "economic filter" for his productions, ensuring a film would not incur a financial loss even if it wasn't a record-breaker. However, this crucial safeguard was ignored for Laal Singh Chaddha.
The ₹200 Crore Financial Misstep
Breaking down the specific error, Aamir Khan provided a stark financial analysis. He explained that if a film's expected revenue is around ₹120 crore, the budget should ideally be capped at ₹50-60 crore, with a maximum of ₹80 crore. "However, we ended up spending ₹200 crore," he stated, highlighting the scale of the miscalculation.
Compounding this was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic during production. "Ek toh filter nahi lagaya, doosra hum log ko problem aa gaye the, Covid aa gaya tha beech mein," he said. Despite the halt, Khan, as a producer, chose to continue payments to his workers to support their households, which further escalated costs. "As a producer mujhe laga ki jo workers hain unka ghar bhi chalna chahiye. Usse humara cost badh gaya tha," he added.
The Psychological Pitfall and Path to Recovery
While Aamir's reflections are rooted in cinema, the lessons on overconfidence resonate across professions. Senior psychologist Neha Cadabam of Cadabam’s Hospitals explains that repeated success can create an "illusion of control," where individuals overestimate their influence on outcomes. This state leads to selective memory of wins and clouds judgment, shifting decision-making from careful evaluation to assumptions of automatic success.
To avoid such costly missteps, Cadabam recommends structured reflection and seeking diverse perspectives before major decisions. This acts as a safeguard against personal blind spots.
For recovery after a major setback, the expert advises:
- Acknowledge the mistake without harsh self-criticism, reframing failure as feedback.
- Analyse what went wrong and identify the specific role overconfidence played.
- Rebuild resilience by engaging with small, achievable goals to restore confidence gradually.
Aamir Khan's frank admission serves as a powerful case study on the perils of success and the importance of maintaining disciplined checks and balances, both in the glamorous world of Bollywood and in everyday professional life.
