And when Aamir Khan's nephew Imran makes this statement, you can have no doubts as to who he is referring to...
Imran Khan is taller at 5'11, and he's got a leaner, softer and dreamier look. Whereas Aamir Khan, his famous uncle, well if you've seen him lately, gives every indication of going the Mike Tyson way.
He's raw energy and all chunky, rippling muscle; very intense, yet without Iron Mike's crazy killer expression.But Aamir has got into the skin of a role. He's in character for his new action film Ghajini.
And as nephew Imran, a keen follower of the Aamir Khan method of acting, puts it, "Maamu doesn't act, he understands the character, gets a grasp on what he's supposed to do, and then just flows."
Aamir has produced Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, but he's not acting in it, and nor is he launching Imran."If I wanted to present Imran with anything, I'd give him a car, not a film," says Aamir with a touch of exasperation.But, yes, Aamir is very interested in how Imran's role is shaping up.
He was generous enough to share Imran's first photograph with his fans on his blog recently. Till then, nobody outside Bollywood had seen his nephew."I thought I'd introduce him to my fans," says Aamir. The response was instantaneous.
"He has an unusual personality on screen, the camera likes him, he's got a lot of screen presence, his personality suits the script and his character," says Aamir.
How does it feel to be an actor? "I don't feel like a star, if that's what you mean," he replies. "For me, acting is just another day at work. I like my work, but acting is in the family, making films is our business."
He's grown up watching his Maamu evolve as an actor. "In his first film, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, he wasn't so good I thought. But now, he's Bollywood's best actor. What impresses me is Maamu does it with such ease, he's not really acting, but he applies himself, he gives everything he's got, there's no compromise."
So, is Aamir his favourite actor? "Hrithik also is," admits Imran, "I study everything he does, even his ads, he knows what sells, he's sincere to his craft, he has a connect with the audience, and talent — that Hrithik has 110 per cent, what a winning combo!"
Incidentally, Imran has played the young Aamir in films like Qayamat Se... and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander."You can see his butt on screen," Aamir laughs, "the scene in Jo Jeeta... has him riding a cycle and somebody pulls down his shorts!"
"Maamu was a royal pain when I was growing up," remembers Imran. "He shaved me bald in my mother's absence. She was furious."And Aamir smirks, "I used him to get dates with girls. They would find him cute and come up to pinch his cheeks. And I would chat them up!"
