Some clarity on Aamir Khan's fee & intent of SMJ

I noticed a LOT of people online talking about Aamir's fees for this show and questioning his intentions for making a difference via Satyamev Jayate.

Do these people have any facts clear? Let me outline everything here and put things in perspective:

- The man Aamir Khan, charges 40 crore per film he does along with a share in film's profit [as per trade journals]. Whereas, if the reports of him getting 3 crore per episode for Satyamev Jayate are true, and there are only 13 episodes, then he's earning only 39 crore from Satyamev Jayate! This amount is way less than what he could have made had he done another big commercial film!

- Aamir has a brand value of his own and is highest paid actor in films and ad world. He risked his position as a top ranked star, took break for 3 whole years just to focus on a show on social issues which he's also producing (AKP is most successful and trusted production house in industry). He has value, AKP has its own value, so why can't they charge a fee? Why expect him to do it for free?

- Those who are tweeting shit about this show, do they know Aamir Khan himself travelled to different and remotest parts of India to conduct research for this show? The show's research alone took 2 years! So they have also SPENT a helluva lot of money in scaling the entire country, shooting at different locations, dubbing in different languages, getting STAR to give them all their channels and partnering with Doordarshan and some regional channels (like MAA TV which is not under STAR network). Do people think all this was done for free?!😲

- According to STAR TV's CEO on CNBC-TV18, they spent over 85 crore on Satyamev Jayate! Highest expenditure ever on a show in history of STAR TV in India!

The STAR guys or Aamir have also SPENT crores on this show and its massive outreach and marketing, it's not like they are only earning from this show or making profits!

They may not even earn back their investment on this show, in case this show does not succeed or sustain through the 13 episodes! 😲

Why can't Aamir Khan charge for all the work he and his team has done for making this show? Whatever he's charging, is less than what he would have earned from his routine commercial films!

- The show is not just earning profits. They are also fundraising for NGOs that work on issues taken up in each episode! So they are not just talking but also giving back and actively contributing to take action! There is the CLICK TO GIVE button Satyamev Jayate website, where donations will be generated from users' clicks (like the Hungersite.com). There are options for adding to support through Facebook apps and uploading videos. They gave details to give donations to NGOs in the show also!

And money from each SMS sent by viewers will be donated to the NGO working on the issues shown!!

Aamir Khan and Star Plus are also raising HUGE awareness and huge amount of funds for NGOs, which otherwise struggle to get attention! It is for first time that a TV show has attempted to raise funds via so many different ways on the issue and not just discussed it!

So all those people who are gossiping for the heck of it, first check facts and then talk! Atleast Aamir is doing something that will make a difference! Unlike the gossip-mongering cynics who only tweet or blog on famous people or current topics all day but have NEVER done anything for any cause.

Aamir's effort and his show is 100% times better than routine entertainers or lousy shows like Roadies or yet another starry chat show where celebs sip koffee and snigger around!👏

Here's an extract from an article on Business of Cinema:

Aamir also clarified that it costs 1 Rupee for the text, and the money generated via the text messages, after deducting the taxes will be donated to an NGO. Also that same amount will be matched by Reliance Foundation and donated to the same NGO.

Link - http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=20689

Not only the money collected from SMSes will be donated, but even Reliance Foundation will donate the same amount of money to the NGOs related to every issue the show raises!

These guys are even raising donations for NGOs in large amounts. Not merely making money. They money Aamir makes pales in comparison to the money he sacrificed for this show, the money he and his team spent on this show and the money and awareness which this show is going to raise on issues and organisations working for them!

And here is the option to fund donations for NGOs by clicks online via Satyamev Jayate website - http://www.satyamevjayate.in/smjJungleeHtml23.html [Do support it!]

[Saying Aamir should do it for free, is like questioning why teachers demand salary to teach, why doctors charge fees to help the ailing! Ha!]

Oh overall the reactions are positive only. Just a couple of cynics writing trash and making a big deal of Aamir's fee for this show or saying the show was done for publicity or is fake, sham etc., all talk, no action!

Certain haters even wrote trashy blog posts about it and are trying to get their posts go viral!

So my thread is exactly there to address useless stuff made up by this section.

Some people have also deliberately tried to diss this show by questioning Aamir's own personal life. All I would say to these guys is that NO famous person's life is away from controversy. Even Gandhi ji's personal life had its share of issues. Cynics who are laughing at Aamir today, would have laughed at MK Gandhi also for stealing his mother's jewellery as a teen to play jua but now taking path of truth or trying to be father of nation when his own son was not satisfied with him as a father!

All other celebs in India have had certain questionable records in personal and public conduct (some are accused of beating people at parties, some are accused of beating girlfriends, some are accused in worst cases like Bofors scandal etc.). So it is unfair to point out only at Aamir Khan or deliberately using rumours on his personal life against him.

It is not like Satyamev Jayate is a show on social issues so it should not be criticised. Criticism ought to be rational. And not because you have half-baked knowledge of rumours and hearsay about a star's life or don't know all facts in making of the show or its ultimate purpose!

Even certain reporters who ''reviewed'' Satyamev Jayate seemed to have done it with a pre-decided mindset to maul it, make fun of it or simply skim the surface.

Some reporter said Aamir focused only on Rajasthan whereas the issue originated in Punjab. Maybe this guy forgot that Aamir also showed map of all districts where it is prevalent, talked to boys and officials from Haryana and dedicated a whole segment to Nawanshahr, Punjab - covering three most important centers of female foeticide.

Some say the most silly things like - we already know this issue so what? Funny these guys can watch repetitive masala movies but hate discussion on a previously heard of, issue! Or that he deliberately picked issues which attract sympathy!🤢 Every issue is important! and not merely a tool to evoke emotions!

All I'd say to naysayers is that first see yourself what you have done. You can't do anything beyond writing/reading gossip columns and tweets but go ahead to insult someone else doing a good job!😡

Should everyone doing something for a cause be doubted or dismissed?We have no right to complain on senseless movies and TV shows, if we call efforts like Satyamev Jayate '''boring tool to make money'' or ''future step to politics'''! Stay satisfied with Rakhi Ka Swayamvar or the nth saas-bahu show then!

With a controversial background too (if we assume), Aamir Khan has at least done more for society than judgemental cynics (with ''clean record''🤢) sitting online to punch their keyboards!