The story goes back to the filming of Aamir’s movie Dil…

Known for being selective about public appearances, Aamir Khan surprised fans by joining Kapil Sharma on his Netflix show, The Great Indian Kapil Show. The episode featured light-hearted conversations and personal stories from the Bollywood superstar.

During the show, Khan revealed a funny anecdote explaining how he earned his famous nickname “Mr Perfectionist.” He shared it all started with actress Shabana Azmi, a legendary actor in her own right, sister of his film’s cinematographer Baba Azmi.

The story goes back to the filming of the movie Dil, where they were all having a late-night discussion at the cinematographer’s house. While deeply engaged in conversations, Shabana offered Khan tea and asked about his sugar preference.

Aamir responded by asking, “How big is the glass?” Once she showed him the size of the glass, he (still engrossed) inquired, “How big is the spoon?” This meticulous approach to even adding sugar in his tea left a lasting impression. “She narrated the story to everyone. ‘If you ask him for tea or sugar, he first asks about the size of the cup and the size of the spoon’,” revealed Aamir, and explained that is how the tag of “Mr Perfectionist” came along.

Perfectionism. It conjures images of a flawlessly organised workspace, meticulously crafted presentations, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. But while striving for the best can be a powerful motivator, the quest for perfection can also have a dark side.

The upward drive: The positive side of perfectionism

There’s no denying that a healthy dose of perfectionism can be a positive force. It can fuel ambition, encourage meticulous attention to detail, and drive individuals to achieve remarkable things.

Can perfectionism be harmful?

Striving for excellence can be a positive motivator, but a 2021 study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology suggested that an unrelenting pursuit of perfection can have serious downsides. The research links perfectionism to negative outcomes such as depression, social disconnection, and feelings of not belonging.

Dr Priya Kaul, a spiritual life coach, echoes these findings. She emphasised the importance of setting goals and working towards self-improvement, but warns against the dangers of perfectionism. “While the intention behind self-improvement is positive, constantly pushing yourself to meet ever-increasing standards can take a significant toll on your mental and emotional well-being,” Dr Kaul said.

Aamir also talked about how he struggled with his mental health in the last 2 years, which is why he decided to make his first appearance on Kapil’s show in the last 11 years.