Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS): Filmmaker Karan Johar says actor-producer Aamir Khan is a game changer in Indian cinema, given his bouquet of unique, yet mainstream films.

"I think Aamir Khan is a game changer. Many of his decisions have made him pioneer the movement of great and yet mainstream cinema," Karan said here Friday at the screening of "Strangers In The Night", a short film by his Dharma Productions in collaboration with Chivas.

Elucidating his point, the 40-year-old said: "I think his endeavour starting from 2001 in 'Lagaan' going to the urban 'Dil Chahta Hai' to the pathbreaking 'Rang De Basanti' to his own directorial 'Taare Zameen Par', to every film he has made post that, he has always broken ground and done something different and yet catered to the mainstream."

"I think Aamir Khan is what you call the quintessential game changer of the film fraternity in India," he added.

Aamir's upcoming film is thriller "Talaash", which releases Nov 30. It also features Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji. His last film was "Dhobi Ghat" in 2011, while he was also seen in a dance number in "Delhi Belly" the same year.

As for Karan, he is happily backing his short film, directed by Shakun Batra. Karan believes technology will boost the popularity of short films.

"This is a new, interesting vertical and today, in these technological times, this concept of short films will grow," he said.