Aamir’s ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ May Open at Just Half of Laal Singh Chaddha: Another Box Office Setback Looms?

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.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan Meets Cast of Sitaare Zameen Par on Set, Reveals Aamir Khan Called Him ‘At Least 10 Times’

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.

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📉 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.”

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💸 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

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🙌 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.

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🎬 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.

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📉 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.

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🧾 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.

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Tags: Aamir Khan, Sitaare Zameen Par, Box Office, Bollywood, Bollywood News, Bollywood Collections, RS Prasanna, Genelia D’Souza, Hindi Films 2025, Indian Cinema

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