'Sitaare Zameen Par' Review: Where Different Is Beautiful, And Stars Are Born Not In The Sky, But In Our Hearts

Sitaare Zameen Par shines as a rare constellation of emotional candour, raw authenticity, and an unabashed celebration of neurodiversity. Directed by R.S. Prasanna and produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit, this 2025 film is a deeply moving spiritual successor to the 2007 masterpiece Taare Zameen Par.

While the earlier film explored the inner world of a child with dyslexia, the latest offering takes us into the vibrant lives of ten intellectually disabled young individuals who prove to be the true heroes of this heartening sports drama. It is also the official remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions.

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Spoiler Alert:

The story begins with Gulshan Arora (Aamir Khan), a fiery, arrogant junior basketball coach, caught in a bitter clash with his senior during the National Basketball Championship.

His volatile temper leads him to physically assault the senior coach. What follows is a spiral—he drunkenly crashes his vehicle into a police van and ends up suspended from his role. The court, in a moment of poetic justice, assigns him community service: to coach a team of differently abled youth at the Sarvodaya Centre.

Initially resistant and full of contempt, Gulshan is forced to navigate this new world that doesn’t abide by the conventional norms of discipline, coordination, or even speech. But soon, he realises that these so-called “differently abled” players are, in fact, differently talented, each bearing a universe of innocence, resilience, and radiant spirit within.

The basketball team, endearingly named ‘Sitaare‘ (Stars), the debutant actors, all living with conditions such as Down Syndrome, Autism, and other cognitive disabilities, deliver soul-stirring performances. They are the film’s soul, its beating heart, and its unfiltered joy.

There are no villains here. No grand gestures of saviourism. Instead, the narrative unfolds with gentle humour, warm dialogues, and deeply personal stories of humans who work at hotels, garages, and kitchens, proving their capability every day in a world that labels them as incapable and “good for nothing.”

Parallel to the main story is Gulshan’s relationship with his wife, Suneeta (Genelia Deshmukh). Their tussles stem from Gulshan’s unresolved trauma, his father abandoned him, leaving him cynical and terrified of parenthood. In a nuptial scene, Suneeta confronts him, “You live in your world, Gulshan. You never try to see through someone else’s eyes.”

Dolly Ahluwalia plays Gulshan’s mother, Preeto, offering timely wisdom with earthy grace. Her line, “Beautiful things are different”,—summarises the very ethos of the film.

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The team, after much struggle, qualifies for the Chandigarh Tournament. Gulshan’s initial disdain transforms into fierce love and pride. When one player misses the semi-final because he couldn’t get leave from his dishwashing job, the moment hits like a punch to the gut—a painful reminder of the battles these kids fight daily, far beyond the basketball court.

In a refreshing departure from the cliché, the film offers a goosebumps-inducing moment, the stadium erupts not in triumph but in tears. “Unity,” not victory, becomes the true endgame.

Composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, with score by Ram Sampath, the music is laced with tenderness and uplifting rhythms. A standout number sung by Arijit Singh, playing over a montage of cute moments.

Here and there, scattered gently across Sitaare Zameen Par, are quiet moments that awaken something deep within the viewer—simple lines that echo like lifelong truths.

“Everyone has their own normal,” the film reminds us, challenging the rigid definitions that society clings to. “Beautiful things are different,” it whispers, shifting our perception of what deserves to be admired.

In a pivotal moment, a voice urges, “Do what you fear the most, and fear will leave you,” nudging us to confront our inner hesitations. And perhaps the most powerful of them all—“They aren’t born with less; they’re born with different”—shatters the myth of inadequacy surrounding neurodiverse individuals.

Aamir Khan delivers a nuanced performance, balancing arrogance, vulnerability, and transformation with unmatched finesse. Genelia Deshmukh is luminous in her brief but emotionally loaded role. Dolly Ahluwalia adds layers of wisdom and warmth, while Brijendra Kala and Deepraj Rana offer moments of levity and grounded realism.

R.S. Prasanna’s direction avoids melodrama. Instead, he trusts his story and lets the kids lead. His decision to cast real-life neurodiverse actors is redemptive.

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While past films like Ahaan, Rainbow Jelly, and Jalsa opened doors, this film blows them wide open. It doesn’t just “include” disabled actors—it centres them, lets them sparkle, falter, laugh, and live on screen.

The film is not about basketball. It’s about breaking barriers. It’s about the strength it takes to raise a child whom the world doesn’t understand. It’s about the beauty in difference, the courage in kindness, and the unbreakable spirit of children who have been written off, but who rise and shine.

Timeline Verdict: It is a film that will moisten your eyes, warm your soul, and make you hug your child a little tighter. To every parent of a neurodivergent child, this film is your tribute.

Cast:

• Aamir Khan as Gulshan
• Genelia Deshmukh as Suneeta
• Aroush Datta as Satbir
• Gopi Krishnan Varma as Guddu
• VedantSharmaa as Bantu
• Naman Misra as Hargovind
• Rishi Shahani as Sharmaji
• Rishabh Jain as Raju
• Ashish Pendse as Sunil Gupta
• Samvit Desai as Karim Qureshi
• Simran Mangeshkar as Golu Khan
• Aayush Bhansali as Lotus
• Dolly Ahluwalia as Preeto

Crew:

• Director: R. S. Prasanna

• Producers:

  • Aamir Khan

  • Aparna Purohit

  • Ravi Bhagchandka

  • B. Shrinivas Rao

• Writers:

  • Screenplay: Divy Nidhi Sharma

  • Based on: Champions by Javier Fesser

• Music:

  • Songs: Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy

  • Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya

  • Background Score: Ram Sampath

• Cinematography: G. Srinivas Reddy

• Editing: Charu Shree Roy

• Production Company: Aamir Khan Productions

• Music Label: Zee Music Company