Bollywood’s Mr. Perfectionist is switching gears and screen counts! Aamir Khan’s next release, Sitaare Zameen Par, a sports comedy-drama directed by RS Prasanna, is now set for a wide theatrical release on June 20, much to the relief of cinema owners and fans alike.
Inspired by the Spanish hit Champions, the film features Genelia Deshmukh in a key role and is said to blend heart, humor, and sport, a rare combo that Bollywood rarely gets right. Initially, Aamir had planned a limited release strategy, launching the film on just 1,000–1,500 screens. His idea? Let word of mouth do the heavy lifting and expand slowly based on audience reaction.
According to Pink Villa, cinema exhibitors weren’t having it. Concerned about missing out on a crowd-puller, single-screen and smaller multiplex owners reportedly pushed back. They urged Aamir to go big, and he listened. Now, the film will open on 3,000–3,500 screens across India, giving it a fighting chance to win the box office game from day one.
Aamir’s hesitation came from a post-pandemic shift in audience behavior and his desire to avoid an OTT release altogether. But with little buzz and no streaming backup, the small start could have hurt the film’s performance and, perhaps, Aamir Khan’s box office standing.
Now with the wider release locked in, Sitaare Zameen Par is back in the race. It may not have set social media on fire yet, but with Aamir in the lead and strong content backing it, this underdog story could very well turn into a surprise crowd favorite.
The ball’s in the audience’s court now. Will Aamir hit a six or settle for a single? We’ll find out soon.