Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan broke down in tears on stage at the Singapore International Film Festival on October 22, 2026, as he opened up about the personal cost of three decades of relentless work, admitting he had "lost relationships" and precious years with his children by working like a "madman."
Tears at Marina Bay Sands
The 61-year-old actor was in Singapore to receive the festival's Screen Icon Award, presented by renowned Hong Kong director Peter Chan Ho-sun. The emotional moment came late in the evening in the Grand Ballroom of Marina Bay Sands during a career conversation moderated by Singaporean comedian Rishi Budhrani, when Khan was asked about the weakest moment of his acting career.
Recalling his thoughts during the COVID lockdown, Khan said: "About 30 years have passed of my life. And it's okay to work like a madman, completely obsessed with what you're doing for one year, two years, five years. But if it goes on for 30 years, I mean, you've lost your relationships. Your kids have grown up; they're adults now. So I felt a deep sense of loss."
A Crowd That Rose to Applaud
According to Variety, which covered the session, Khan paused mid-answer and broke down in tears, apologising to the audience before gathering himself as the crowd erupted into applause. An audience member reportedly got up to hand the actor a box of tissues.
Wiping away tears, Khan said the realisation pushed him to make a major change, and that for the last four years he has deliberately carved out time for family and close friends. "I'm so glad that this thought occurred to me when I was 56 and not when I was 86, when it would be really too late to do anything about it," he added.
From "One-Film Wonder" to Mr. Perfectionist
Khan also revisited the earliest low point of his career: after his 1988 debut Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak became a hit, he hastily signed nine films within six months, only to watch them flop one after another and be branded a "one-film wonder" — going home in tears to his then-wife Reena Dutta. "At that time, mentally and emotionally, I felt like I was in quicksand," he said.
The conversation also touched on happier news: Khan confirmed director Rajkumar Hirani is working on a 3 Idiots sequel script and will narrate the final version in the coming weeks. He attended the festival nine years ago with Secret Superstar, and this year the festival is screening his first production Lagaan on its 25th anniversary.
The Takeaway
For a star famously known as Bollywood's "Mr. Perfectionist," Thursday night in Singapore was a striking reminder that even the most driven careers carry a hidden price. Khan's message was simple: obsession with work has an expiry date, and the people you love do not wait.
Sources: Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Free Press Journal (all reporting on the Variety-covered session, Oct 22-23, 2026)
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Silly Fun (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0