Aamir Khan Reveals Why He Doesn't Go To Test Screenings: 'I Don't Know How To Lie'

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan recently opened up about his approach to test screenings, and why he rarely watches films himself. The actor admitted that he avoids attending screenings for other filmmakers, particularly close to a film’s release, because he finds it difficult to hide his true reactions if he dislikes a film. At Screen Academy Masterclass held at Whistling Woods International, Aamir said  that brutally honest feedback at the final stage of a film serves little purpose, since filmmakers can no longer make substantial changes and would only end up worrying more before release.

Aamir Khan On Why He Doesn’t Attend Test Screenings

“I see very few films, which is very odd. But that’s been the case since my childhood. I’ve never been a watcher.

But I read a lot, so that kind of compensates,” said Aamir. He further added, “One of the reasons I don’t see films is I don’t know how to lie. If someone asks me how the film is, I’ll say, ‘Bahut bakwas thi yaar. Pakk gaya main. (It was too awful. I got bored to death).’ It’ll show on my face.”

“They call you a week before the release. You can’t even contribute anything at the last minute. It’d only ruin their sleep,” he added.

Aamir Khan Recalls Javed Akhtar’s Advice

Aamir then recalled advice he received from Javed Akhtar, and said the veteran lyricist once jokingly suggested using the phrase “You’ve outdone yourself” as a diplomatic response to a disappointing film. “That implies you made such bad films, you’ve even outdone yourself there. It can mean anything,” said Aamir.

During the session, Aamir also advised aspiring filmmakers not to become defensive during test screenings, as audiences stop giving honest feedback the moment they sense resistance. He acknowledged that accepting criticism can be difficult, but said it is necessary for filmmakers hoping to improve their work before release.

Aamir Khan’s Work Front

Meanwhile, Aamir Khan was last seen in Sitaare Zameen Par. The actor will next be seen in the much-anticipated sequel to 3 Idiots, which will reportedly reunite him with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani. The project is presently in its pre-production phase and it has been confirmed that the original trio, Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi, are set to reprise their roles in the much-awaited follow-up.