Aamir Khan reminisces about shooting 'Dangal' in Punjab

Aamir Khan reflected on his time shooting in Punjab for Dangal, noting how he came to understand the significance of the greeting "namast3."

During his appearance at the recent episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show, the 59-year-old actor recounted numerous anecdotes from his acting journey.

The PK actor said, "This is a story which is very close to me. We shot for Rang de Basanti in Punjab, and I really loved it there. The people, the Punjabi culture is full of love. So, when we went for the shoot of Dangal, it was a small village we were shooting in." 

"We shot for more than two months in that location and that house. You won't believe it, but when I used to reach there at around 5 or 6 in the morning, as my car entered, people would stand outside their homes just to welcome me with folded hands and 'Sat Sri Akaal.' They used to just wait to welcome me." 

"They never disturbed me, never stopped my car, nothing. After my pack-up, when I would return, they would again be standing outside their homes and would greet me 'Good Night.'"

Moreover, Aamir also mentioned that, as a Muslim, he wasn't accustomed to folding his hands and using the greeting 'namaste' to greet people.

He shared, "I belong to a Muslim family, I am not used to folding my hands in 'namaste.' I'm used to raising my hand (gesturing adaab, the way Muslims greet each other) and bowing my head." 

"After spending those two and a half months in Punjab, I understood the power of 'namaste.' It's such a wonderful emotion. People in Punjab have so much respect for everyone and do not discriminate based on stature."