It’s a classic hard luck story. The brother of Aamir Khan has been on the news pages but for the wrong reasons. He was undergoing treatment for schizophrenia, insisted that his brother should no longer take care of him.. the case was taken to court.

Over the weekend, the Bandra metropolitan magistrate’s court announced that he need not be in anyone’s custody and can live anywhere he wants to. Here’s Faisal Khan’s side of the story… interviewed by Vajir Singh.

Faisal, what would be the first thing that you’d like to say at this very moment?
That I’m feeling good, I’m feeling vindicated. Finally, sachai ki aur insaniyat ki jeet ho gayi. I’m thrilled that justice has prevailed.

What do you mean by sachai ki jeet?
Frankly, I was never ill.. what has been said so far was speculative and spread by my elder brother Aamir Khan and other family members. In fact, I was kidnapped.. I was under house arrest, unwanted drugs were given to me. On the judgment day, judge saab announced that I’m not suffering from any illness.. and that I’m normal and capable of handling life on my own. I should be treated as a normal person. “I was given wrong medicine, I used to sleep 20 hours a day. After 19 days in the nursing home, I was shifted to Aamir’s bungalow where at least two bodyguards would be with me. I was under house arrest, I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone.”

How did you prove this in the court?
On December 15, last year, my father Tahir Hussain withdrew his application seeking my custody. After that, I’ve been living on my own. I produced the evidence and pictures of all my appearances in public during the last two months.

Currently, I’m staying on my own at Tilak Nagar, Chembur. Although I’m fighting against my brother who’s a big star, I’m respected by my housing society’s people. I was a judge in my society at the Christmas function where I gave away awards and trophies to kids.

I even went to my native place Shahbad, district Har Doi in U P.. my ancestral property is there. I had filed a case against Aamir Khan there.

Why?
I think Aamir realised that I would prove that I’m a normal person and he wouldn’t be able to do anything. He also got to know that I’m getting into agriculture and planning to ask for my share from my ancestors’ lands.

He started negotiating with all our relatives and buying all the lands so that I loose out on all my rights. I had protested against this. Plus, I’ve also joined the Directors’ and the Writers’ associations.

I’m meeting film people to continue my career as an actor.

Why did your father withdraw his custody?
The Versova flat, where my father lives with his second wife and family is on loan. His last film (Dil Dhoondta Hai) has not found any buyers since three or four years, he’s in a bad state. “I think Aamir realised that I would prove that I’m a normal person and he wouldn’t be able to do anything. He also got to know that I’m getting into agriculture and planning to ask for my share from my ancestors’ lands.”

Aamir has signed on an agreement that if Tahir Hussain can’t payup Rs 22 lakhs then Aamir will do the needful. And in case, if Aamir fails to do this, the producers of Ghajini are entitled to take over the house after paying the amount. So my father was in a fix.

Apart from this, Aamir has also given him a car which he took back when my father took my custody. Aamir also used to give household expenses to our mother (over Rs 2 lakh per month). My mother would give some of this money to my father for his expenses. Aamir stopped this too. I’ve nothing against my father’s decision of withdrawing his custody.

I can understand that Aamir left him with no option but to ignore me.

Hasn’t there been quite a lot of conflict between Aamir Khan and your father?
He was against my father’s decision of second marriage. Even I was but.. whatever happened.. he did not leave our mother. He took care of both his wives. He has always been attached to our mother, emotionally and financially. And I want to know if Aamir is such a nice person, why did his first wife leave him?

If he was so opposed to my father’s second marriage, why did he do the same thing? I always used to ask Aamir to forgive abba and forget everything. Our father was old and an elderly person, it wasn’t nice on Aamir’s part to disown him.

Later, he helped out my father only for his personal gain.

Has anyone from your family called you after the judgment?
There’s been no news from Aamir’s side. I only spoke to my father, he has wished me luck. He told me, “I left you because of my financial problems. I’m sorry.. all my prayers and blessings are with you.”

But why should Aamir Khan be against you? Have you ever tried to find out?
I don’t know why he always tried to push me down. Why did he do so much atyachar and zulm on me? I’ve never did anything wrong to him. I’m his brother and a wellwisher. Perhaps my family members including my sister and her husband would poison Aamir’s mind. Even my own mother is against me. This may sound funny but I would not rule out professional jealousy either. He never helped me in my career. He was a big star when I made my debut with Vikram Bhatt’s Madhosh but he didn’t take any interest in it. This may sound funny but I would not rule out professional jealousy either. He never helped me in my career. He was a big star when I made my debut with Vikram Bhatt’s Madhosh but he didn’t take any interest in it.

He didn’t even hear out the film’s story when we asked him for his inputs. We did Mela together but there too he played dirty games. Producer Ratan Jain wanted to complete the film in one-and-a-half years but Aamir didn’t give the dates.. it took five long years to complete. I lost out on the most precious years of my life.

Although Mela bombed, I was still approached by several filmmakers. Most of them wanted Aamir Khan-Faisal Khan to work together again but Aamir refused. He had nothing to lose.. still he wouldn’t do this for his own brother.

What has been the genesis of this conflict?
On February 1, 2005, Aamir came to my house accompanied by one of my uncles, Imtiaz Ahmed, with 25 bodyguards. They dragged me and took me to Cosy Nursing Home in Andheri. I requested Aamir not to do this to his own brother but he wouldn’t listen to him.

I told him that this was against law and he replied, “I’ll face the consequences.” I realised this man wouldn’t listen to me. I was given wrong medicine, I used to sleep 20 hours a day. After 19 days in the nursing home, I was shifted to Aamir’s bungalow where at least two bodyguards would be with me. I was under house arrest, I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone.

They also took away my cellphone. Bahut zulm hua mujh par.

But all the family members were against you.
I had written a letter to about 25 members of my family and posted it to everyone. Maine sabki pol khol di thi including Aamir’s. I had written that what they were doing was wrong and that they should amend their ways.. after all Allah ke paas sabko jana hai. But than it was said that I’m sending threatening letters to Aamir and other family members. “I want to get into direction and acting. I’ll make commercial movies. Apart from this, I’m praying that my family improves.”

What’s your financial status?
I had several LIC policies,and I’ve taken loan against them. Same thing with my Public Provident Fund. I’m a simple person who doesn’t crave for a Mercedes or a bungalow. (Laughs) My condition is not as bad as it’s been projected.

Could you tell me why you divorced your wife?
It was again thanks to my family. I had told my wife, Shamia Kamruddin, everything about myself. Before the marriage itself she was aware that the house and even my car belonged to Aamir. She was from London, her parents poisoned her mind, saying I’m not worthy to be her husband. She left me because I was poor but that’s okay. I craved for love and support.. but.. Aap jitna bhimahal bana lo.. chhod ke jaana hai..main to Allah miyan ki bank mein apna balance banana chahta hoon.. that’s my approach to life.

What are your plans?
I want to get into direction and acting. I’ll make commercial movies. Apart from this, I’m praying that my family improves. I miss them but zakhambahut gehra aur hare bhare hain.. it will take time.

What would you like to say to Aamir Khan?
Allah se dua karta hoon ke woh mujhe itni sabar de ke in sab ko forgive kar sakun .. Aamir Khan is a great actor but how I wish he would also become a good human being, if not the best. Yeh ek chhote bhai ka chaahat bhara paighamhai.