Aamir Khan's 'Sitaare Zameen Par' Arrives In Theatres Today: No Morning Shows, No OTT Release
Aamir Khan’s much-anticipated film Sitaare Zameen Par finally hits the big screen today, but with no morning shows and no OTT release in sight.
Directed by RS Prasanna, the film is positioned as a spiritual sequel to the 2007 classic Taare Zameen Par and co-stars Genelia Deshmukh alongside ten debutant actors.
It is the official remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions, and centres on a basketball coach who, after being suspended, is assigned community service coaching a team of players with disabilities as they train for a major tournament.
While expectations are high, marketing has been surprisingly low-key, a deliberate decision that places full reliance on Aamir Khan’s star power and the film’s content.
Industry observers were surprised to learn that Sitaare Zameen Par would not feature any early morning shows, a common strategy for Bollywood blockbusters on opening day.
Several ticket-holders reported that their morning bookings were abruptly cancelled, with theatres confirming that only noon and post-noon shows would be operational on Day 1.
This, sources say, was an intentional directive from Aamir Khan himself, who reportedly asked exhibitors to avoid early morning screenings and to maintain regular weekend ticket pricing, instead of the premium rates usually levied for big releases.
Amir Khan has reportedly rejected a ₹120 crore OTT deal from Amazon Prime Video, choosing instead to go all-in on a theatrical-only experience, a move rarely seen in today’s hybrid-release ecosystem.
Despite the unconventional approach, Sitaare Zameen Par has managed to spark notable audience interest. As per Sacnilk data, the film recorded over ₹1.6 crore in bookings, selling more than 39,000 tickets before release day. Trade insiders believe this figure could have been higher if morning shows were allowed.
Also, read| CBFC Asks Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ To Add ‘PM Modi’ Quote: Social Media Slams Political Censorship
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh projects an opening weekend collection in the ₹30 crore range, fueled largely by word-of-mouth and Aamir Khan’s legacy.
The road to release hasn’t been entirely smooth. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially cleared the film with no cuts, but later recommended a set of edits that delayed final certification. Among the changes: replacing “Michael Jackson” with “Lovebirds,” using “Business Person” instead of “Business Woman,” and removing a frame showing the word “kamal.”
Most controversially, the CBFC insisted on inserting a quote by Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately after the film’s opening disclaimer, a move that has drawn criticism on social media, with many calling it an example of political overreach and censorship.
