AAMIR ALI

To get Aamir Ali to answer our monthly Hard Talk questions proved to be quite a daunting task, as the reticent actor was inwardly scandalized with our bold choice of questions. And though he tried to duck and brush off several of these questions initially, he did very sportingly reply to them eventually (and with much probing).

After getting recognition in shows like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki and Kya Dill Mein Hain, and after showcasing his dancing histrionics alongside girlfriend Sanjeeda Sheikh in Nach Baliye 3, Aamir is finally doing his ever first comedy serial Bhaskar Bharti. You must have seen him play the well-mannered and very confused Armaan Sinha, who struggles hard to romance a man stuck in a woman's body in this show. But well, that's just the serial; in reality Aamir has got his preferences crystal clear.

Tell us about your first attraction.

I don't remember it clearly but it was when I was in school. I remember I was confused between a teacher and a classmate. You can say that my first attraction was a confusion between the two females. I had respect for my teacher and I really liked my classmate, so ultimately, I got attracted to that classmate!

What was your first date like? How far would you go on a first date?

Again, I don't remember much. It was when I was in school. It was one of those cheap rickshaw rides. I used to stay in Malad in those days. I must have gone to the beach over there. It was very expensive for me at that time. How far I would go on the date? From where I live up till five kilometers; not more then that (laughs).

What would you wear on a hot date?

I would wear my undies under my jeans! On a serious note, I will just be myself. I will probably wear jeans and a nice t-shirt.

Would you call yourself a flirt?

No. Actually I don't know. But I don't think I would call myself a flirt. Because I don't flirt with anyone anymore! I am talking about the present. I guess it's because I am hooked to someone that I am not flirting. Yet I am not sure what all the girls think about me.

What is your take on one-night-stands?

(Laughs) I would not advise it to anyone. But things do happen sometimes. Once you pass that age and phase, you have that understanding within you and such things don't happen anymore. I think it's the thought process. When you are young, you are bound to make mistakes like these. You want to explore and you don't know how and what things are. By the time you start understanding things and realize your follies, it is already late. So a one-night-stand is one of these mistakes…

Have you ever been attracted to someone of the same sex?
No. This is one thing I am pretty much sure about. I have a few good friends who get attracted towards the same sex people. But as far as I am concerned, I don't get attracted to boys. People who know me well can vouch for that. I can never be attracted to men.

Has a guy ever hit on you?

Yes, it has happened. Now, it doesn't happen so much. It had happened during my college days. It was more so during my flying days, when I was working in an airlines. There have been a lot of incidents when I have been travelling and have been on flights. Even now, whenever it happens, I always get shocked. I kept telling myself that it's okay; such things happen to everyone. But when it happens time and again with me, my eyes just pop out. When I am in such a situation, I just look straight and move out from there.

What is your take on homosexuality and bisexuality?

I think it is good for people who like doing it. Like I mentioned before, I have homosexual friends. I am okay if they are happy and that makes them happy. I just hope that in the future, they can have kids; that is they can adopt kids and have a nice family.

What turns you on in a woman?

There are a lot of things that turn me on in a woman. She must have good hair, eyes, or it could even be her beauty. Another turn-on is her attitude. She must be herself always. But she should not always talk about herself or say 'I' all the time; I just hate that. Also I hate bad breath and bad odour in a girl; it pisses me off.

How would you react, if a girl made a pass at you?

When a girl makes a pass at me, I just act dumb. I will keep acting dumb till the time she gets the hint, even if she is pursuing me vigorously. Isn't this what girls also do, when they want to avoid guys?

What are you views on pre-marital sex?

Nowadays, a lot of people have live-in relationships. When they live-in together, I am sure these things do happen. I think it's good for people who are okay doing it. In today's generation, no one cares about pre-marital sex so much. It's not taboo to not be a virgin anymore. I think our generation has crossed that phase and accepted the girls or guys who indulge in pre-marital sex. I, being a guy, will accept the girl for who she is and not wonder what she has done in the past. Yet obviously, she shouldn't have had 100-200 boyfriends before me!

Do you think men always have sex on their minds?

No. Not all the time. They do have it most times. For example, when they are working or say travelling, they are not thinking of sex. But yes, when they are not working, and in between of work, they are thinking of sex.

How much importance would you give to sex in a relationship?

It is pretty important. Actually it depends on a relationship. Sex can get two people closer. Sometimes when there are problems between a couple, it can help them get nearer. It keeps them together and bonded. Along with being compatible and trusting each other, I think sex is very important. Of course, there are a lot of other things involved in a relationship too. If the relationship is in trouble and it is going to break, sex is just one of the factors involved, as there are many more. Now that I am in a relationship, I have gotten to know about these things.

Do you see yourself in a purely physical relationship?

(Thinks for a long time) I don't want to answer this. I wish I could see myself in one. But girls don't get attracted to me. I am not that lucky in this matter. I can't even think about it now, because girls don't like me that way, so even I have stopped thinking about it. But if there is some girl who does like me, then I will take it from there…

Do you think nice guys have a tough time getting the right girl?

No yaar, these bhola bhala guys always get the nice girls. Actually the bad guys also get the good girls. I have seen good guys getting good girls and I have seen very bad boys getting nice girls. It all depends upon what the girl wants. Personally I feel, girls like being with the bad boys initially and eventually want to be with the nice guys who will take care of them after they have made all their mistakes. In the end, most of the girls want to settle with the nice boys. They date the bad ones but want to settle with the good ones.

Why do men love bitches?

I don't know about other men, but I don't like bitchy women. I have no idea why they like them. But I don't like women who are fast or who bitch. I think guys who are still young and exploring their lives are the ones who love bitches as they learn a lot from them. They want to be with them, so that they know whom to not eventually settle down with in the future!

Have you experienced the casting couch?

Yes, in the initial stages of my career when I was modeling, I did experience it. I was very clear about what I wanted. I was working in the airlines and I wasn't dying to get into the field of acting. If I got an offer, I was clear that I would get it on my own terms. I am not going to even struggle, forget compromise. I don't believe in the word struggle, though I believe in words like hard work and destiny. I will try my best from my side, but won't succumb to the couch.

Showbiz entities are assumed to be loose. How would you react to such assumptions?

You know what happens is, even if we actors are in a mall and we look at some girl casually, people point fingers at us very fast. Even a normal 'hi' can turn out to be very dangerous. Hum log nazar mein zyaada aate hain. Because we people are in the spotlight, so we are targeted easily. There are good points and bad points of being an actor. I think this assumption is one of those small bad points. I am mostly used to it as people keep talking cheap things about everyone. It's all about perception. For example, if today, I am not wearing a watch, the news will spread in such a way that by the time the tenth person hears the news he will hear that I was not wearing a shirt and was topless! It's something like Chinese whispers.

Would you take back your partner who has strayed in a relationship if she regretted it later?

I don't know. It's a very tough question to answer. I can't say what I would do at that time. This is one situation which no on wants to believe in, but when it happens, only at that point of time can you take a call and make a decision. It's a bad situation to be in. I think it all depends on the circumstances.

What is your opinion on open marriages/open relationships?

I think love is lost among such couples. When you meet someone, you first become friends, then lovers, then husband and wife. People have open marriages when they pass this last stage and come back to being friends. It's actually a step too forward in the relationship and so you are okay with whatever your spouse does. I don't think it's good.

Tell us about your wildest fantasy.

It is something I can't talk about. Please forgive me. It cannot be printed!

*By Purvaja Sawant