Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has chosen to release his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par exclusively in theatres, rejecting lucrative offers from digital platforms for an early OTT release. Citing his deep-rooted belief in the magic of cinema and audience experiences, Aamir described the decision as risky but necessary to preserve the sanctity of theatrical storytelling.
In a recent interview, Aamir revealed that his conviction was strengthened by none other than Amitabh Bachchan. According to Khan, the veteran actor encouraged him to trust his instincts and take the bold step, reminding him of his legacy as a risk-taker. The conversation between the two took place during a dinner at Bachchan’s residence, which Aamir and his son Junaid had won while participating on Kaun Banega Crorepati.
The actor shared that while several industry friends urged him to follow the conventional route and opt for a digital release within eight weeks of the theatrical premiere, he was uncomfortable with the growing pressure from OTT platforms to shorten the window between cinema and streaming. Aamir stated that although he respects all platforms, he believes a gap of at least six months would be more reasonable.
“I am a loyalist of cinema, and I believe in it,” Aamir said. “Yes, it’s a big risk, and if the film doesn’t work, it could mean a major loss. But I want the audience to watch my film in theatres first.”
Aamir credited Bachchan’s words as the final push he needed. “When I told him about my fears and doubts, he simply asked me why I wasn’t doing it—reminding me that I’ve always taken risks. That validation meant a lot,” he said.
Directed by RS Prasanna, Sitaare Zameen Par features Aamir Khan alongside Genelia D’Souza and tells a heartfelt story involving neurodivergent children. While this theatre-first strategy applies only to this film for now, Aamir’s production house plans to evaluate future distribution models based on the film’s performance and audience response.
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has chosen to release his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par exclusively in theatres, rejecting lucrative offers from digital platforms for an early OTT release. Citing his deep-rooted belief in the magic of cinema and audience experiences, Aamir described the decision as risky but necessary to preserve the sanctity of theatrical storytelling.
In a recent interview, Aamir revealed that his conviction was strengthened by none other than Amitabh Bachchan. According to Khan, the veteran actor encouraged him to trust his instincts and take the bold step, reminding him of his legacy as a risk-taker. The conversation between the two took place during a dinner at Bachchan’s residence, which Aamir and his son Junaid had won while participating on Kaun Banega Crorepati.
The actor shared that while several industry friends urged him to follow the conventional route and opt for a digital release within eight weeks of the theatrical premiere, he was uncomfortable with the growing pressure from OTT platforms to shorten the window between cinema and streaming. Aamir stated that although he respects all platforms, he believes a gap of at least six months would be more reasonable.
“I am a loyalist of cinema, and I believe in it,” Aamir said. “Yes, it’s a big risk, and if the film doesn’t work, it could mean a major loss. But I want the audience to watch my film in theatres first.”
Aamir credited Bachchan’s words as the final push he needed. “When I told him about my fears and doubts, he simply asked me why I wasn’t doing it—reminding me that I’ve always taken risks. That validation meant a lot,” he said.
Directed by RS Prasanna, Sitaare Zameen Par features Aamir Khan alongside Genelia D’Souza and tells a heartfelt story involving neurodivergent children. While this theatre-first strategy applies only to this film for now, Aamir’s production house plans to evaluate future distribution models based on the film’s performance and audience response.
