The Enduring Journey of ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ at the Box Office
RS Prasanna’s poignant coming-of-age sports comedy, “Sitaare Zameen Par,” featuring the versatile Aamir Khan, continues its unique trajectory at the global box office. Despite facing its lowest single-day earnings on its 13th day of release, the film has triumphantly sailed past the ₹130 crore mark within India alone, pushing its worldwide gross beyond the impressive ₹200 crore milestone.
This cinematic offering, a spiritual successor to Aamir Khan’s beloved 2007 directorial debut “Taare Zameen Par,” demonstrates a resilient performance. While the Wednesday collections saw a dip to ₹2.75 crore, a marginal decrease from Monday and Tuesday’s ₹3.75 crore, the film’s strong second-weekend haul of ₹12.6 crore on Saturday and ₹14.5 crore on Sunday had already propelled it past the crucial ₹100 crore benchmark.
Navigating the Domestic Box Office Landscape
According to industry reports, the current domestic net collection for “Sitaare Zameen Par” stands robustly at ₹132.9 crore. This performance solidifies its position, having recently overtaken the lifetime domestic earnings of Salman Khan’s action-packed “Sikandar,” which concluded its run at ₹129.95 crore. However, the film is still eyeing to surpass Akshay Kumar’s “Sky Force,” which had garnered ₹134.93 crore earlier in the year.
Battling New Releases: Current and Upcoming Competition
The cinematic arena is a dynamic space, and “Sitaare Zameen Par” is currently locked in a box office skirmish with Vishal Furia’s mythological horror, “Maa,” starring the acclaimed Kajol. The competition is set to intensify significantly with fresh contenders entering the fray this Friday, July 4.
Audiences will witness the release of Anurag Basu’s much-anticipated romantic anthology, “Metro… In Dino.” Adding an international flavor to the mix, the Hindi-dubbed version of “Jurassic World Rebirth,” featuring Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson, will also make its debut in Indian cinemas, promising a thrilling challenge for the existing films.
Aamir Khan’s Unwavering Commitment to Theatrical Experience
A significant factor bolstering “Sitaare Zameen Par’s” theatrical run is producer Aamir Khan’s firm resolve against an immediate Over-The-Top (OTT) platform release. This strategic decision has been widely applauded by the exhibition community.
During a special screening organized in Mumbai for differently-abled students, Aamir Khan expressed his gratitude to the Multiplex Association of India for acknowledging his stance. “Since I haven’t sold my film to OTT and it’s not coming on OTT, perhaps the theatre owners and exhibitors from all over India want to felicitate me for the step I’ve taken. I’m also very happy that they thought of this,” Khan shared with the media at the event.
The star-studded special screening also saw the esteemed presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife, singer Amruta Fadnavis, underscoring the film’s growing cultural impact.
Presidential Acclaim and a Powerful Message of Inclusion
The film’s profound social message resonated deeply, earning it a prestigious viewing at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi last month. President Droupadi Murmu herself watched “Sitaare Zameen Par,” a testament to its compelling narrative.
The President’s office highlighted the film’s significance in a post on X, emphasizing its focus on “diversity, equity and inclusion” through its portrayal of neurodivergent actors, a revolutionary step in mainstream Indian cinema.
The Heart of ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’: Mentorship and Empathy
Released on June 20, “Sitaare Zameen Par” delves into the inspiring journey of a dedicated basketball coach, portrayed by Aamir Khan, who undertakes the challenging yet rewarding task of mentoring ten differently-abled individuals. The film masterfully weaves a narrative of overcoming obstacles and celebrating unique abilities.
The ensemble cast, which authentically brings this story to life, includes talented neurodivergent actors such as Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar, making the film a truly groundbreaking and heartfelt experience.
