Sitaare Zameen Par: Only Big B supported Aamir to release film in theatres

At one point in our interview, Aamir Khan candidly says, “I’m not known for my practicality.” We’d disagree. After all, the actor and producer is one of the sharpest business minds in the Indian film industry. That explains why the industry is looking to him as he tries what could well be a gamble with his upcoming release, Sitaare Zameen Par. 

Khan has announced that the slice-of-life film, directed by RS Prasanna, won’t be available on OTT after its theatrical release, defying the current business model of the industry. 

To some, it’s a risky move. To him, it’s a matter of loyalty. “I’m a loyalist of cinema. I have reached here because of theatres, and I won’t turn my back on them. Secondly, I have faith in my audience. We keep saying that the audience doesn’t come to theatres. It’s common sense that I cannot sell the same thing twice. That’s why I am coming only in theatres,” explains Khan, while also refuting rumours that he is opting for a pay-per-view model on YouTube for the film.

A still from Sitaare Zameen Par

Making the unusual decision was admittedly scary. Scarier even was that no one in the industry endorsed the move. The superstar recalls, “Some of my friends said that I was taking too big a risk. I was in a dilemma because, of course, I also get scared.” But one person showed faith in him, when nobody else did. “One person put me on the track — Mr [Amitabh] Bachchan. During a dinner at his house, I told him my problem. He said, ‘You always take risks. You are known to be a risk taker. You should do it.’ When a person like Amitji backed me to do it, I became confident. The next day, I told my team, ‘Amitji has told us. We are not releasing anywhere, only in 
theatres.’”

The superstar knows that with Sitaare Zameen Par — which also stars Genelia Deshmukh, and tells a heartfelt story of how 10 neurodivergent kids inspire an ill-mannered basketball coach to change for the better — he is changing the norms of the industry. But he insists he is doing what feels right to him. 

Khan says, “No production house is green-lighting a film until you pre-sell it digitally. So, you’ve shown that you won’t make a film without OTT. I’ve made it clear that I won’t make a film with OTT. I have no problem with streamers, but I don’t think it’s logical that a film streams so soon after its release. Show my film on OTT after six months, I won’t mind it. But OTT platforms told me, ‘If you are not streaming it within eight weeks of release, then we don’t want it.’ I said no to that. I’m losing a lot of money. If a film of mine without presale from OTT doesn’t do well in theatres, I’m finished.”

A still from Sitaare Zameen Par

The question then is: How did streamers become so powerful to dictate the business in Bollywood? “We’ve taken the wrong step. We are responsible,” admits Khan.

Now, as he is hoping to undo the practice, the actor believes he couldn’t have asked for a better film. He remembers being touched by the story — an adaptation of the Spanish film, Campeones (2018) — when Prasanna approached him with it in 2022. The actor’s only hesitation was that the character of Gulshan, a politically incorrect guy, was far from him. “I told RS Prasanna that the character is politically incorrect, rude, and arrogant. There are a lot of people in the industry who will suit him. Why don’t we go to them? I even suggested the name,” he laughs. But the director was clear that he wanted Khan in the role, and the superstar agreed. 

Khan’s excitement regarding the film, however, turned into desolation after Laal Singh Chaddha (2022) tanked at the box office within days of its release. “When Laal Singh didn’t do well, I was heartbroken. We were to start Sitaare… I called Prasanna and said, ‘I am in depression. How will I work in depression? I won’t be able to do it. I don’t want to leave the house right now. My crying hasn’t ended yet.’ I told him to make it with someone else,” recounts the actor. Prasanna respected his wishes, and chose two actors to lead the film that was to be made in two languages, at that time. Khan reveals, “We finalised Farhan Akhtar for Hindi and Sivakarthikeyan for the Tamil version. Dates were locked.” However, just before going into prep, the superstar started having a change of heart. “In that one week [of fine-tuning the script], as Divy Nidhi Sharma [writer] was reading it, I suddenly felt, ‘Why am I not doing this film? It’s such a good script.’ As the week ended, I told them how I was feeling. I said that of course, nothing could be done as the bullet had left the gun.”

While Prasanna was happy to know that Khan, his first choice, wished to lead the film, he requested the superstar to talk to Akhtar and Sivakarthikeyan. After much pressure from his collaborators, when Khan spoke to the two actors, they were graceful about the turn of events. He remembers, “Farhan was disappointed. He really loved the role, but he understood. Sivakarthikeyan said, ‘Why are you saying sorry, sir? Please do the film. It’s yours.’”

Did you know?

Aamir Khan’s mother Zeenat Hussain and sister Nikhat Hegde have cameos in Sitaare Zameen Par. When Hussain visited the movie set one day, director RS Prasanna decided to cast her in the title song that plays at the end of the film. Hegde features in another scene.

Source