Indian population: One billion and counting! Scams: More than 50 in the last year alone!!Action: Most of them are being investigated!!! Retribution: Nothing!!!!! We as a nation: Watch, seethe, watch some more!!!!!That is until Aamir Khan came into our homes with the iconic Satyamev Jayate and moved the nation into awakening followed by action. As all of India watched and cried with him as scam after scam was revealed, this man awoke India’s forgotten classes – the middleclass who usually resign themselves to hopelessness, and the poor who know nothing but trouble. This man did what years and years of reporting couldn’t do – this man shook India’s conscience and informed the common man that the power of change was the need of the hour, and more importantly, he was with them.It was absolutely no surprise to read that Aamir Khan has been included in Time magazine’s Top 100 Influential People in the world, what’s more, he has made it to one of their seven covers as well! He has enthralled the world with his acting prowess for decades, stunned us with his genius of direction and been upright and bold with his choice of subject when making his films. To say that this honor of recognition was a long time coming would be an understatement.70 mmImage Credit: COMYAN/SunilKatariaAamir Khan made his Bollywood debut as a child artiste, however, the world remembers him as the adorable Raj from ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’. The film was a commercial success and catapulted Aamir into the most sought-after league. Since then, most of his films have been successes with a miniscule few worth forgetting.Take a closer look at the subjects of his films, and you’ll know exactly why this actor stands out. ‘Mangal Panday: The Rising’ highlighted the first war of the Indian independence struggle, and ‘Taare Zameen Par’ focussed on dyslexia – both issues were treated very well in the films, and the audience took to and understood the subject even better. Aamir didn’t just act – he moved people.Films such as ‘Lagaan’, ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Ghajini’, etc., have won him acclaim and a plethora of Indian and International awards. Aamir, the actor, had well and truly arrived as far back as 1988, and didn’t seem to leave (thankfully) ever since. In spite of limiting his projects and taking a four-year sabbatical in 2001, this man was unforgettable. His films were phenomena and his acting and direction, legendary. But, it seemed like the best was yet to come.India, It’s Time To Wake Up!Image Credit: Ã�� BCCLFor all of Aamir’s filmdom acclaim, he mobilised the nation when he hosted Satyamev Jayate! Last year, on 6 May, this show went live on Star World, Star Plus, and Doordarshan (in eight different languages), and India tuned in to watch the first episode that promised social change. His first show highlighted the issue of female foeticide, a problem that continues to plague this country even today. Watched by around 90 million people, the show presented facts, and people were hooked to the truth, which is a rarity to begin with.Over 13 episodes, Aamir Khan came into our homes and spoke about social ills such as child sexual abuse, discrimination against the elderly, food contamination, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, medicine scams, etc. All these issues existed and were known about before Aamir came on television – why then did a whole nation not only wake up, but respond to this man?This man did what no one has done before – besides, highlighting these ills, he offered this country solutions, and gave this country hope. But, over and above everything else, he empathised. Issues that are often hidden, mocked and ignored, were suddenly given it due seriousness. People were not responding to Aamir the actor (though his profession may have had something to do with it), people were responding to Aamir the person – the man who was now one with them, the one person who openly acknowledged what was so wrong with society, the one person who could enforce change, who could help them, the one person who listened.A nation not only watched, a nation was moved into action – and that was the power and reach of Satyamev Jayate. Aamir did what very few could ever hope to do, actually what very few even attempt doing – he became one with the common man, with you and me, and he gave us change.In a country reeling with scams and corruption, his was the voice of truth, his were actions of change.And More...Image Credit: COMYAN/DineshMeenaOf course, Aamir the actor has a plethora of awards to his credit, however, besides these, he was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2003, the Padma Bhushan in 2012, and in November, 2011, he was appointed as the National Brand Ambassador of the UNICEF to promote child nutrition.Not one to aim for awards, Aamir would much rather concentrate on social change through films and television. He shot for the TIME magazine cover in September, 2012, and the magazine inquired if he could change the nation. Going by his career as an actor, and him leveraging his popularity to reach out to India, we do believe that “actual” change is in the air, and it all started with Satyamev Jayate (Truth Alone Prevails).You may also like:Aamir Khan's Fitness RegimeStars and How Their Moms Influence ThemWorld’s 10 Most Influential Women