Bollywood and piracy typically don’t go hand in hand, but for Aamir Khan, it turned out to be a surprising career catalyst in China. The actor recently revealed that his 2009 mega-hit 3 Idiots became a huge sensation in the country, largely due to illegal downloads and word-of-mouth. Unlike its orchestrated release in India, 3 Idiots found its way to Chinese audiences through unofficial channels. However, once it hit the audience, the film’s popularity skyrocketed, making Aamir Khan a household name even before his official films began releasing there.
In an appearance at ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025, Aamir spoke candidly about how piracy played a pivotal role in his rise to stardom in China. He stated, “Piracy made me a star in China. 3 Idiots went viral there because of piracy. The credit goes to the Chinese audience for accepting a film from a different culture and giving it love and respect. It was all organic, and I had no role to play in it.”
Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, 3 Idiots hit theatres in 2009, and starred R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sharman Joshi, Ali Fazal, Omi Vaidya, and Boman Irani. This film became the stepping stone for a string of successful movies in China, including PK, Dangal, and Secret Superstar. Dangal alone earned over Rs 1,200 crore at the Chinese box office, solidifying Aamir’s status as one of the most popular Indian actors there, affectionately known as “Uncle Aamir” by his Chinese fans.
Looking ahead, Aamir Khan’s upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, which stars Darsheel Safary and is directed by RS Prasanna, is scheduled for a December 2025 release. Aamir is also set to produce Lahore 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, featuring Preity Zinta and Sunny Deol among others.
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