'Life itself paused': Ashoke Pandit shares nostalgic clip of Aamir Khan singing his debut hit 'Papa Kehte Hain' - Watch
ETimes | May 15, 2026 7:39 PM CST
Aamir Khan brought back memories of his early Bollywood days when he sang “Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega” at filmmaker and social activist Ashoke Pandit ’s birthday celebration. The song, from Aamir’s 1988 romantic drama ‘ Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak ,’ remains one of his most loved tracks. A video shared from the party showed the actor holding a mic and singing the classic number as guests joined the warm moment. The performance also came soon after Aamir spoke about the song’s cultural impact in an exclusive interview with Variety.
Aamir Khan sings ' Papa Kehte Hain ' at Ashoke Pandit's birthday
Ashoke Pandit shared the video on his Instagram Stories and posted an emotional note about the evening. In the clip, Aamir was seen singing “Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega” in front of the guests. The superstar kept his look simple in a casual checked shirt and black-framed glasses.
Sharing the video, Ashoke wrote, “As everyone sang that night, it felt as though life itself paused for a moment…. And in that moment, surrounded by their voices, smiles, and presence, the night stopped feeling like a celebration of a birthday… and started feeling like a celebration of belonging. From the bottom of my heart I thank every being present there who shared a part of themselves to bring joy and make my day special.”
Aamir’s performance also echoed what he recently said in an exclusive interview with Variety. When asked about songs that became cultural moments, the actor pointed to “Papa Kehte Hain,” the coming-of-age track from his debut Hindi film ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.’ He said, “Papa kehte hai, yeah, I guess.”
'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak' and Aamir Khan's upcoming films
‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ released on April 29, 1988. Directed by Mansoor Khan and produced by Nasir Hussain, the film marked the lead debut of Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla . The romantic drama followed two lovers from rival families and became a major success.
The film’s music played a big role in its popularity. Songs such as “Papa Kehte Hain,” “Gazab Ka Hai Din,” and “Akele Hain To Kya Gham Hai” became blockbuster hits. The film turned Aamir and Juhi into overnight stars and remains one of Hindi cinema's defining romantic dramas.
On the work front, Aamir was last seen in ‘ Sitaare Zameen Par ,’ which also starred Genelia D’Souza.
The actor is now gearing up for ‘ 3 Idiots Part 2 ,’ a sequel to his 2009 hit ‘3 Idiots.’ Reports say the film will retain R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi from the first installment. The sequel will reportedly take a major leap in its story.
Aamir Khan sings ' Papa Kehte Hain ' at Ashoke Pandit's birthday
Ashoke Pandit shared the video on his Instagram Stories and posted an emotional note about the evening. In the clip, Aamir was seen singing “Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega” in front of the guests. The superstar kept his look simple in a casual checked shirt and black-framed glasses.
Sharing the video, Ashoke wrote, “As everyone sang that night, it felt as though life itself paused for a moment…. And in that moment, surrounded by their voices, smiles, and presence, the night stopped feeling like a celebration of a birthday… and started feeling like a celebration of belonging. From the bottom of my heart I thank every being present there who shared a part of themselves to bring joy and make my day special.”
Aamir’s performance also echoed what he recently said in an exclusive interview with Variety. When asked about songs that became cultural moments, the actor pointed to “Papa Kehte Hain,” the coming-of-age track from his debut Hindi film ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.’ He said, “Papa kehte hai, yeah, I guess.”
'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak' and Aamir Khan's upcoming films
‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ released on April 29, 1988. Directed by Mansoor Khan and produced by Nasir Hussain, the film marked the lead debut of Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla . The romantic drama followed two lovers from rival families and became a major success.
The film’s music played a big role in its popularity. Songs such as “Papa Kehte Hain,” “Gazab Ka Hai Din,” and “Akele Hain To Kya Gham Hai” became blockbuster hits. The film turned Aamir and Juhi into overnight stars and remains one of Hindi cinema's defining romantic dramas.
On the work front, Aamir was last seen in ‘ Sitaare Zameen Par ,’ which also starred Genelia D’Souza.
The actor is now gearing up for ‘ 3 Idiots Part 2 ,’ a sequel to his 2009 hit ‘3 Idiots.’ Reports say the film will retain R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi from the first installment. The sequel will reportedly take a major leap in its story.
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