Aamir Khan Apologizes for Sitaare Zameen Par YouTube Release Stance

Bollywood superstar reveals why he chose YouTube for his latest film.. Khan defends his preference for a pay-per-view model, aiming to reach a wider audience.

July 30, 2025: Aamir Khan held a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, to announce that his recently released film, Sitaare Zameen Par, will be available for direct viewing on YouTube, skipping a traditional OTT platform release. The film, which premiered theatrically on June 20, will be available on YouTube starting August 1, 2025, for ₹100.

Also Read: Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ Not To Release On OTT, Then Where?

During the conference, Khan apologized for previously stating that the film would not be released on YouTube, explaining that he did so to protect the film’s theatrical business. “I fold my hands and apologise because I lied when I said Sitaare Zameen Par wouldn’t be released on YouTube. I did it because I had no other choice. I had to protect the film’s theatrical business,” he stated.

Khan elaborated on his preference for a pay-per-view model over the subscription model common with OTT platforms, arguing that the latter harms the film industry by devaluing individual film sales. “There is a great difference between the pay-per-view model and the subscription model. When I release a film after 8 weeks on a subscription model, people aren’t buying my film. They’re only subscribing to the OTT platform. It wouldn’t matter if someone wants to watch it or doesn’t by then. I don’t want ₹125 crore from a big company, I want ₹100 from my audience. I believe the subscription model is only causing us harm,” he said.

He also addressed the paparazzi, highlighting that OTT platforms often favor films with big stars, leaving other filmmakers with limited options. In a significant move, Aamir Khan announced that all films produced under his banner, Aamir Khan Productions, including classics like Lagaan (2001), Taare Zameen Par (2007), and Peepli Live (2010), as well as films from his late father Tahir Hussain, will eventually be uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aamir Khan Talkies, for a similar pay-per-view model.