Fiercely protective of his creative space, Aamir Khan is wary of gadgets that facilitate intrusions, and unlike other stars whose life revolves around (dumb talk on) smart phones, Aamir is perfectly at ease without one as he is now, filming for '3 Idiots' in Ladakh. Photo Credit: Sawf NewsPreity P
October 11, 2008, (Sawf News) - Fiercely protective of his creative space, Aamir Khan is wary of gadgets that facilitate intrusions, and unlike other stars whose life revolves around (dumb talk on) smart phones, Aamir is perfectly at ease without one as he is now, filming for 3 Idiots in Ladakh.
Not surprisingly, Aamir, 43, was one of the last Bollywood A-listers to buy a cell phone, years after it first hit the market. The talented actor and director continued to tote a pager on his trouser belt from 1998-2001 while the world around him went cellular, though he was often chided for being technologically challenged
In those days, Aamir often expressed his disdain for mobile phones saying they killed his privacy and disturbed his focus on the set during a shoot.
Aamir eventually bought a mobile around the time his Lagaan (2001) was nearing release, more as a convenience to others than to himself. He continues to use the device sparingly and given half a chance he would use it only for emergency purposes.
Aamir's aversion to cell phones does not stem from introversion. Far from it, he is sociable and spontaneous. Many young directors and actors who have managed to impress Aamir proudly talk about the appreciative SMS that they received from him. Aamir's communications tend to be to the point and short.
When Sawf News tried to contact him on his cell phone recently, it was his secretary who took the call and informed us that Aamir did not carry his cell phone to Leh-Ladakh. He will only use it once he is back to Mumbai, the secretary added.
One reason why it must have been easy for Aamir to leave his cell phone behind in Mumbai because Kareena Kapoor was using a satellite phone. There was no way the talented Kapoor motormouth was going to depend on the patchy cellular network in the area! A girl has got to talk, you know!
When it comes to talk time, satellite phones are notoriously expensive and Kareena is notoriously effusive. A source on the set tells us she talks to beau Saif Ali Khan for hours, probably to keep track of the journos that he is in a habit of bashing up.
Though we don't know who is picking up the tab on Kareena's satellite phone usage, we do now that Aamir too was offered one by the production house.
"When the production house of 3 Idiots offered him a satellite phone to use during his schedule there, he clearly said a NO." a source tells us.
"Aamir is enjoying his mobile free days and looks more relaxed and focused on his work. His off times are mostly spent playing games with the unit members and co-stars and reading books. He doesn't seem to be missing his cell phone at all," the source concludes.
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