Sitaare Zameen Par: Why is Aamir Khan being lauded by theatre owners across India?

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is drawing widespread praise from India’s multiplex industry for his decision to release his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par exclusively in theatres, according to reports.

The film, which opens on June 20, 2025, has been described as a “bold and visionary” move by cinema chains still recovering from the impact of the streaming boom.

The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) publicly thanked Khan for backing the theatrical format in an era increasingly dominated by OTT platforms.

“Aamir Khan has always been a filmmaker who puts audiences first,” said Kamal Gianchandani, MAI president and CEO of PVR-INOX on their social media handle.

“His decision to bring Sitaare Zameen Par exclusively to cinemas is a powerful show of confidence in theatres and the shared magic of the moviegoing experience.”

Cinepolis India CEO Devang Sampat echoed the sentiment, calling the release “a message of unwavering belief in cinemas.”

“It’s not just a film release — it’s a reaffirmation of the big-screen experience. We’re incredibly grateful to Aamir Khan Productions for boldly standing by theatres,” he said.

But for Khan, the decision was never about industry strategy. It was personal — and instinctive.

“This script entered my bloodstream,” Khan told Gulf News in an exclusive interview. “And once that happens, that’s all I can do. I’m not a practical person.”

In Sitaare Zameen Par, Khan plays a basketball coach to a group of neurodivergent children — a narrative that builds on the emotional DNA of his 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par, which sensitively portrayed dyslexia through the eyes of a child.

“In Taare, the teacher helped the child. In Sitaare, the children help the coach,” Khan said. “It flips the perspective — and that’s important.”

He believes the conversation around inclusion in India’s education system remains surface-level.

“When we segregate neurodivergent children into special schools, it’s a loss for everyone,” Khan explained. “Neurotypical kids lose the chance to grow up with empathy and understanding.”

Unlike the emotionally heavy tone of Taare Zameen Par, this new film leans into humour. “Laughter is the vehicle,” Khan said. “It’s a film that says something important — but it makes us laugh.”

Sitaare Zameen Par also marks Khan’s first film since Laal Singh Chaddha, which underperformed at the box office.

“I was advised to do a big action film next,” he admitted. “But this was the story I had to tell. I believe in cinema. I believe in my audience.”

Sitaare Zameen Par, co-starring Genelia Deshmukh and directed by RS Prasanna, releases in UAE and Indian cinemas on June 20.