Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan is one of India's most formidable and durable filmmaking talents. Although the charming star is best known for his acting, Khan has proved himself as a screenwriter, director and producer as well. His first major breakthrough as an actor came in the romance "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" (1988), where he played the lead role of Raj. He won the Best Newcomer Award from Filmfare for his performance, the Indian equivalent of the Oscars. The following year he gained more praise for his role in the crime drama "Raakh" (1989), playing a man consumed by revenge and violence. Khan's stardom shined brightly throughout the 1990s, particularly due to his roles in a string of box office hits, including "Dil" (1990), "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" (1993), his first screenwriting credit, and "Raja Hindustani" (1996). His career tempered a bit with the public after the latter success, but Khan did also star in acclaimed director Deepa Mehta's "Earth" (1998), among other productions. In 2001, he produced and starred in the epic "Lagaan," a huge popular success around the world and one that was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Khan took a break from acting for a few years, but came strongly back with "Mangal Pandey: The Rising" (2005). He made his directorial debut with 2007's "Like Stars on Earth," and later, earned the distinction of appearing in one of the highest-grossing films in Bollywood history: the 2009 comedy "3 Idiots."