Sitaare Zameen Par appears to be following the classic Aamir Khan trajectory at the box office — a modest start followed by a surge powered by strong word of mouth. Despite a relatively underwhelming opening of ₹10.70 crore on Day 1, the film showed remarkable growth over the weekend, earning ₹66.50 crore domestically within its first four days. Globally, it raked in ₹96 crore during the opening weekend.
The film’s momentum, bolstered by positive audience reception and critical acclaim, has now sparked conversations of a full-fledged comeback for Aamir Khan — his first major box office success since Dangal in 2016. His previous two outings, Thugs of Hindostan (2018) and Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), failed to connect with audiences.
Aamir’s Comeback and the Return of Urban Multiplex Hits
Industry insiders are hailing the film as a “massive win” for both Aamir and the revival of urban multiplex cinema. Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR INOX Pictures, called the film “a little gem” and praised its blend of entertainment with a strong social message. “It’s a massive win for Aamir Khan. He took a bold step and audiences have rewarded that honesty. The film will have a long run in theatres,” he told PTI.
Unusually, the film is also showing stronger-than-expected weekday performance. Devang Sampat, CEO of Cinepolis India, noted that Monday footfalls may have even exceeded Friday’s. “This rare pattern reveals not just commercial success, but a deep emotional connect with viewers,” he said.
“Phoenix Rise” After Day One
Exhibitor and distributor Akshay Rathi emphasized the film’s sharp turnaround after its slow start. “The film has risen like a phoenix from day one to three,” he said. “After the pandemic, the big successes were mass entertainers like Pathaan, Jawan, Gadar 2, and Animal. Urban multiplex films were written off — but Sitaare Zameen Par has changed the narrative.”
With a large part of its business coming from metros and multiplexes, the film is expected to hold steady and possibly cross the ₹200 crore mark in its lifetime run.
About the Film
Directed by R.S. Prasanna, Sitaare Zameen Par is the official adaptation of the Spanish hit Campeones. Aamir Khan stars as a disgraced basketball coach who is court-mandated to train a team of intellectually disabled players. Genelia Deshmukh plays a key role, and the film features ten debutants — all specially-abled — including Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, and Simran Mangeshkar. It is produced by Aamir Khan Productions.
In many ways, Sitaare Zameen Par is more than just a commercial win — it’s a statement of intent, proving that heartfelt, socially relevant cinema still has a place in a market dominated by high-octane blockbusters.
