Actor Aamir Khan recently opened up about one of the biggest disappointments of his career, Thugs of Hindostan, and explained why he agreed to star in the ambitious film despite its poor box office performance and criticism after release.
During a conversation about his career choices, Aamir compared Thugs of Hindostan to the legendary Bollywood classic Sholay while discussing the scale and concept of the film. The actor admitted that the movie “bounced very badly” after release but revealed that he initially believed the project had the potential to become a grand cinematic entertainer.
Aamir explained that the film’s adventurous setting, larger-than-life characters, and action-packed storytelling reminded him of the experience audiences once had with Sholay. According to him, the idea of creating a massive commercial spectacle with humour, action, and drama attracted him toward the project.
Released in 2018, Thugs of Hindostan featured a huge cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, and Fatima Sana Shaikh. The film generated massive expectations before release because it marked the first on-screen collaboration between Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. However, despite record-breaking opening numbers, the movie received mixed-to-negative reviews and eventually struggled at the box office.
Aamir honestly acknowledged the film’s failure and accepted that audiences did not connect with the final product the way the makers expected. Fans online appreciated the actor’s openness while discussing the setback instead of avoiding the topic completely.
Social media users reacted strongly after his statement comparing the film to Sholay went viral. While some fans understood his perspective about the scale and ambition behind the project, others debated whether the comparison was too ambitious considering the legendary status of Sholay in Indian cinema.
Over the years, Aamir Khan has built a reputation for carefully selecting films and experimenting with storytelling. Because of that, the failure of Thugs of Hindostan became one of the most surprising moments in his career. The actor himself has previously admitted that the film did not meet audience expectations despite the massive effort involved.
Many fans also praised Aamir for taking responsibility and discussing the movie honestly years after its release. Several users commented that failures are part of filmmaking and appreciated his willingness to reflect openly on what went wrong.
Even today, Thugs of Hindostan remains one of Bollywood’s most talked-about big-budget disappointments. Aamir Khan’s latest comments have once again restarted conversations around the film and the expectations surrounding large-scale Bollywood spectacles.
