Early trends suggest a ₹5-6 crore opening day; film must battle low buzz and sluggish advance bookings to recover its ₹80 crore budget
Mumbai, June 19, 2025 — Aamir Khan’s long-awaited return to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par might not bring back his box office magic. Directed by RS Prasanna, the emotional sports drama is tracking for a lukewarm opening day of just ₹5-6 crore — less than half of the ₹11.7 crore Day 1 collection of his last release, Laal Singh Chaddha.
While the film tackles a noble subject — a basketball coach mentoring children with special needs — early indicators point to a slow start, both in bookings and audience excitement.
📉 Advance Bookings: Alarm Bells for Box Office
As of Thursday morning (24 hours before release), Sitaare Zameen Par had raked in only ₹1 crore in advance bookings. This is significantly lower than Laal Singh Chaddha (₹5.65 crore) and even further behind recent crowd-pullers like Housefull 5 (₹10.05 crore).
Also Read: Sitaare Zameen Par Advance Booking: Aamir Sells 3.4 Tickets A Minute – Is It Low or High?
Despite Aamir’s extensive promotional push through interviews and media appearances, the buzz appears tepid. According to film trade expert Atul Mohan, “Aamir, known as a marketing genius, seems to have been let down by his PR strategy. The core message of the film isn’t connecting.”
💸 Budget and Break-Even Challenge
With a reported budget of ₹80 crore, trade analysts estimate that the film must net at least ₹100 crore in India to be deemed a success. A subpar opening makes this an uphill climb — especially when recent mid-budget hits like Jaat and Bhool Chuk Maaf opened better but failed to cross ₹100 crore.
Also Read: CBFC Asks Sitaare Zameen Par Makers To Add PM Modi’s Quote
🙌 Can Word of Mouth Turn It Around?
There’s still a glimmer of hope. Aamir Khan’s films like Dangal and Taare Zameen Par have historically benefited from strong word-of-mouth. Dangal, for instance, opened at ₹29 crore but surged past ₹32 crore on its second Sunday.
If Sitaare Zameen Par resonates emotionally with viewers, there’s potential for an extended theatrical run — particularly since family dramas often grow over time.
🎬 About the Film
Sitaare Zameen Par stars Aamir Khan as a basketball coach who mentors a team of children with special needs. Genelia D’Souza co-stars, and the cast includes 10 debutant actors with disabilities — a rare and commendable move in commercial Hindi cinema.
While the film has a socially conscious theme, its niche appeal may limit its reach unless glowing reviews start flooding in.
📉 What Went Wrong?
- Lack of clear messaging: Despite interviews, the film’s story and appeal remain poorly communicated.
- Muted excitement: Neither the trailer nor songs have gone viral or connected with youth.
- High expectations post-sabbatical: Aamir’s three-year break raised the stakes, but the buzz didn’t match.
🧾 Conclusion
The opening day numbers may not live up to Aamir Khan’s legendary standards, but Sitaare Zameen Par still has a fighting chance — if audiences champion its message and emotional core. Until then, it looks like Aamir may have to wait longer for a true box office comeback.
Tags: Aamir Khan, Sitaare Zameen Par, Box Office, Bollywood, Bollywood News, Bollywood Collections, RS Prasanna, Genelia D’Souza, Hindi Films 2025, Indian Cinema
#AamirKhan #SitaareZameenPar #BollywoodBoxOffice #LaalSinghChaddha #HindiCinema #NewBollywoodRelease #BoxOffice2025 #AamirReturns