How Aamir strikes balance between box office and critics?

Just wondering and admiring how he got evoluted so better after his first 15 years movies(good that he survived with less hits until then) post-Lagaan(2001). Pre Lagaan many of his movies are just copy/inspired from Hollywood movies(neverthless he didnt write/direct them indeed) like The Godfather, It happened one night, On the Waterfront, win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Kramer Vs Kramer, An Affair to remember. Also suprised by his feminist and out of box movies with less importance to heroism. I think he got better over the age and bangs every time on December release right from TZP.

How he catches up with international standard in film making and his script sense/aesthetics/taste. Especially when we saw him discuss with greats like James Cameroon-he sounds confident. More thoughts, so that all heroes can copy and cope in their 40's? Could the less output might have resulted in more quality(The other 2 Khans are having 100+ movies to their credit, however AK has done only 50 movies so far).