In this episode, we dig into PK (2014) — one of Bollywood’s most famous and controversial social satires. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film stars Aamir Khan as an alien who lands in India and starts questioning the bizarre rules of human society — especially when it comes to religion, superstition, and blind faith.

Right from the start, we were cracking up at how PK mixes ridiculous slapstick comedy with bold critiques of organized religion. It’s a movie where Aamir Khan is running around naked, stealing clothes, and learning how Earth works — but then ten minutes later he’s confronting godmen, challenging religious leaders, and calling out scams that prey on vulnerable people. I joked that Aamir’s performance feels like Tom Hanks doing Mr. Bean — this kind of wide-eyed sincerity mixed with physical comedy — and honestly, that fits the vibe of this movie perfectly.

Khilli gave us a lot of insight into the cultural context of PK. When it was first released, the film caused a huge stir in India. There were protests, controversy, and angry debates about whether the movie disrespected religion or just exposed its darker side. For us as a mostly non-religious group, the movie’s themes hit especially hard — questioning faith, asking for proof, and dismantling the idea that rituals are beyond criticism.

We also talked about how rare it is for a Bollywood blockbuster to take this kind of political and social risk. Winnie picked this movie specifically because it felt fearless — tackling big ideas in a way that’s both entertaining and deeply critical of power structures. And of course, because it’s Bollywood, there are also dance numbers, romance, and a subplot about an alien learning how to love.

One thing we couldn’t help noticing is how PK feels spiritually connected to 3 Idiots. Both movies are directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Both star Aamir Khan playing a quirky outsider who challenges social norms. And both feature life lessons delivered with the emotional force of a Bollywood musical. It’s like Hirani is building his own cinematic universe of smug lifehackers.

And yes — because this is Fear of Stairs — we somehow ended up comparing PK to Nietzsche’s famous “God is Dead” quote from The Gay Science. Only on this podcast can you start with Aamir Khan doing goofy alien faces and end up talking about 19th-century German philosophy. As Adam said in the episode — “PK is basically the Bollywood version of Nietzsche for beginners.”