Aamir Ali has often been known for his charm on Indian television, but recently, he opened up about a deeply personal chapter from his teenage years that shaped his thoughts in unexpected ways. In a candid conversation, Aamir reflected on an uncomfortable experience that stayed with him for years and influenced his early perceptions of same-sex attraction.
The actor recalled being just 14 when something unsettling happened while commuting on a local train in Mumbai. The incident involved inappropriate physical contact from a stranger, something that left him so disturbed that he stopped using trains altogether. He explained that the experience left a mark on how he viewed men who were attracted to other men. He began to form internal biases, though he would later work through them as he matured.
He remembered the moment clearly. Aamir shared how during that train ride, he began keeping his bag close to his back, hoping to avoid being touched again. “Then one day, someone stole books from my bag and I was like ‘Who steals books?’ And I decided I won’t travel in a train,” he said. That moment was the final push. He gave up on public trains, associating them with discomfort and unease.
His early experience led him to develop what he described as “reservations.” He admitted that, at the time, he was too young to process what had happened. The feelings of confusion and fear translated into judgment, something he later regretted. Over the years, his perspective started to shift when people close to him came out with their truth.
It was through friendship that Aamir found clarity. He had a couple of male friends who confided in him about their feelings for other men. He saw them like brothers. “Then, I had a couple of friends who came out and said that they have feelings for a man, and I know them so well. They are like my brothers. I can sleep with them on the same bed,” Aamir shared. Their honesty helped him confront his own bias and let go of it. He realised that one experience couldn’t represent an entire community.
He acknowledged how growth brings change. “When they came out, then I felt like that just because of a couple of experiences, I can’t judge the whole world. When you mature, you understand, your thoughts change,” he explained. His journey from pain to understanding highlights how powerful personal evolution can be.
Aamir’s openness, whether about past trauma, friendships, or relationships, paints a picture of someone who’s learning, evolving, and healing. His willingness to share uncomfortable truths makes his story not just relatable but also important. It’s a reminder that healing isn’t linear, and empathy often begins with unlearning what fear once taught us.
