Loved ‘Dangal’? Watch Aamir Khan in these other movies

Aamir Khan built his reputation on meticulous preparation and a willingness to disappear inside the character. That same discipline turned him into Mahavir Singh Phogat in Dangal, and it still defines the performances worth revisiting from his earlier catalog.

His track record is uneven after 2018. Dhoom 3, Thugs of Hindostan, and Laal Singh Chaddha all landed with diminishing returns at the box office. The 2025 release Sitaare Zameen Par reversed that slide, but the earlier misfires remain useful reminders to choose carefully. The following films still hold up as the clearest examples of his range and commitment.

3 Idiots

Based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel Five Point Someone, 3 Idiots sent shockwaves through the movie halls when it released in 2009. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film follows three engineering students through campus pressure and a later reunion. Its critique of rote learning and institutional rigidity still resonates with audiences who treat it as one of the sharpest Indian films on education and friendship.

Taare Zameen Par

At a time when ableism was rarely questioned on screen, Taare Zameen Par told the story of a dyslexic child with unusual care. Ishaan struggles with academics and sports but finds release in art. Aamir plays the art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh who recognizes the boy’s needs and works to meet them. The film remains an affecting portrait of parental expectations and the quiet difference one attentive adult can make. Its themes of neurodivergence find an echo in the 2025 title Sitaare Zameen Par.

Ghajini

Ghajini placed Aamir in an uncharacteristically violent revenge story. He plays Sanjay Singhania, a businessman whose girlfriend is killed after she confronts local criminals. Retrograde amnesia leaves him piecing together the attack through notes and photographs. The performance captures the single-minded fury of a man who has lost everything and can no longer trust his own memory.

Lagaan

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Lagaan dramatizes a cricket match that decides whether a village must pay an oppressive colonial tax. The nearly four-hour runtime is offset by the blend of sports drama, comedy, and music. Recent 25th-anniversary screenings confirmed its lasting appeal as both spectacle and social commentary.

Fanaa

When it released in 2006, Fanaa stood out as a romantic thriller that shifted into political territory without warning. Rehan and Zooni meet under unlikely circumstances; she is visually impaired and he is the tourist guide who helps restore her sight. The story then pivots toward radicalism in Kashmir, revealing layers beneath Rehan’s charm. Kajol, Rishi Kapoor, Tabu, and Kirron Kher round out a strong ensemble that still draws repeat viewers.

Rang De Basanti

Rang De Basanti follows six young people cast as freedom fighters in a documentary. Their growing identification with the historical figures pushes them to confront present-day corruption. The film made patriotic feeling feel immediate again by linking 20th-century sacrifice to contemporary disillusionment.

Dil Chahta Hai

Dil Chahta Hai may show its age in places, yet its soundtrack and coastal settings retain a lasting glow. Three friends navigate love, ambition, and distance as they move from carefree youth into adult responsibilities. The film’s portrait of male friendship still influences how later directors frame coming-of-age stories.

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

The film’s final cycling race remains its most memorable sequence. Aamir’s character faces repeated setbacks before claiming the inter-college championship. The underdog arc and the physical demands of the sport keep the climax compelling decades later.

PK

PK arrived in 2014 with Rajkumar Hirani again at the helm. Aamir plays an alien dropped on Earth who uses a remote control as his only clue to human behavior. The character’s questions about organized religion and social hypocrisy reached wide audiences; the film grossed more than 7.4 billion rupees worldwide and briefly held the record for highest-grossing Indian release.

Sitaare Zameen Par

Released in June 2025, Sitaare Zameen Par marked Aamir’s return to commercial success after several disappointments. He portrays a basketball coach working with neurodivergent adults. The project grossed roughly 266 crore rupees and demonstrated that the earlier warning about recent work needed updating.

Secret Superstar

Secret Superstar gave Aamir a supporting yet pivotal role as music producer Shakti Kumar. The 2017 release centers on a teenage girl who posts songs online while hiding her identity. Audience scores remained high both in India and overseas, and the film’s focus on quiet ambition broadened the range of performances associated with the actor.

Aamir Khan as Producer

Aamir Khan Productions has backed projects that extend his interest in socially conscious stories. The banner produced Lost Ladies, which earned critical praise in 2023. Upcoming 2026 titles include Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos and Lahore 1947, both of which continue the pattern of pairing commercial viability with thematic ambition.

These selections trace the through-line from Dangal back through earlier highlights and forward to the 2025 rebound. They also show how Aamir’s production choices keep certain themes alive even when he steps away from the camera. Viewers looking for the same level of craft that defined Mahavir Singh Phogat will find it across this list.