Sitaare Zameen Par Off to a Stellar Start at the Box Office
Few films make noise even before the weekend is out, but Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan's latest project, is already turning heads in the industry. The much-discussed sports drama raked in ₹11.7 crore on its first day in India. That figure alone was enough to secure its spot as the sixth biggest Hindi opener for 2025—a notable feat, considering the stiff competition and the rather cautious expectations surrounding the movie.
But the real surprise wasn’t the opening—it was what happened next. The film didn’t just maintain momentum on Day 2, it exploded at the box office with ₹19.9 crore, marking a staggering 86% jump. For context, most movies see marginal growth or even drop off after the initial curiosity fades. Here, positive word-of-mouth lifted Sitaare Zameen Par higher, especially in evening and night screenings. By the end of Day 2, its domestic net total had reached ₹30.6 crore, with gross figures climbing to a hefty ₹36.1 crore, hinting at a robust weekend run.
Positive Buzz and a New Direction for Aamir Khan
While Aamir Khan’s name guarantees attention, Sitaare Zameen Par wasn’t coasting solely on star power. Directed by RS Prasanna, this emotional sports drama positions Khan as a basketball coach working with intellectually disabled and neurodivergent youth. That fresh angle drew curiosity—and its ensemble cast of newcomers, including 10 debutant actors who are themselves neurodivergent, added an authenticity rarely seen in Bollywood. Fans of Taare Zameen Par might recognise the spiritual DNA here, but this film aims to stand on its own, with themes of inclusion and hope at the center.
Performance-wise, Sitaare Zameen Par outpaced some of Khan’s recent outings, like the underwhelming Laal Singh Chaddha. Yet it still sits behind his all-time smash hits like Dhoom 3 and PK—which is hardly a knock, given the current cinema climate and storyline focus. The important metric is momentum, and this film has plenty. Occupancy shot up to nearly 57% in prime-time slots, and tickets moved fast thanks to enthusiastic chatter and largely positive early reviews.
Overseas, the buzz extended far beyond Indian borders. The film collected ₹7.15 crore internationally on opening day, and weekend projections point toward a box office gross of $3.5 million. South Asian audiences overseas, especially in the Middle East, UK, and North America, seem to be picking up on the excitement as well.
By the look of it, Sitaare Zameen Par is more than just a feel-good drama—it's a refreshingly bold move for both Aamir Khan and Hindi cinema in 2025. If current trends continue, this heartwarming sports drama could end up as one of the most memorable releases of the year.