Actor and producer Aamir Khan’s film Sitaare Zameen Par is set for a digital premiere on the streaming platform Sony LIV, months after its theatrical release.
The announcement was made on Monday by the streaming platform, which said the film would arrive on the service soon. The exact date for the digital premiere has not yet been confirmed. The release marks a notable shift from Khan’s earlier position during the film’s promotion, when he repeatedly said the movie would not be released on any OTT platform.
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A shift in the film’s digital strategy
Sitaare Zameen Par, directed by RS Prasanna, premiered in theatres in June last year and received favourable reviews from audiences and critics.
At the time of its release, Aamir Khan said the film would bypass traditional streaming platforms. Instead, he chose to release it on YouTube under a pay-per-view model several weeks after its theatrical run.
The film was made available on YouTube on August 1, where viewers could rent it for ₹100. Khan later acknowledged during a press conference in Mumbai that he had initially denied the YouTube release while promoting the film in order to protect its theatrical performance.
“I fold my hands and apologise because I lied when I said Sitaare Zameen Par wouldn’t be released on YouTube,” Khan said during the press interaction, explaining that he wanted to safeguard the film’s theatrical business.
Story and cast of the film
The film is widely described as a spiritual successor to Taare Zameen Par, the critically acclaimed drama that starred Aamir Khan and focused on the challenges faced by a child with learning difficulties.
Sitaare Zameen Par tells the story of a basketball coach who, after being charged with driving under the influence, is ordered by a court to train a team of neurodivergent individuals.
Alongside Aamir Khan, the film features Genelia Deshmukh in a key role. The cast also includes Ashish Pendse, Aroush Datta, Aayush Bhansali, Rishi Shahani, Gopikrishnan K. Varma, Rishabh Jain, Vedant Sharma, Simran Mangeshkar, Samvit Desai and Naman Misra.
Produced by Aamir Khan Productions, the film performed strongly at the box office, earning more than ₹265 crore worldwide. With the upcoming OTT release, the film will reach a wider audience months after its theatrical run.
