Aamir Khan's ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ Won’t Be Free on OTT, Faces Backlash for Lack of Originality

Aamir Khan’s much-anticipated film Sitaare Zameen Par is generating buzz for more than one reason. Scheduled for theatrical release on June 20, 2025, the film is being labeled as a spiritual successor to his critically acclaimed 2007 hit, Taare Zameen Par. However, this time around, the conversation surrounding the movie is less about its message and more about its distribution model and originality.

Unlike most recent films that head to Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms shortly after their theatrical run, Sitaare Zameen Par will not be made freely available to streaming subscribers. Instead, Aamir Khan has opted for a pay-per-view model. The movie will be accessible via YouTube around eight weeks after its theatrical debut, but viewers will have to pay to watch it. This decision marks a clear shift from the prevailing trend where films are added to OTT platforms for free streaming as part of the subscription packages.

According to sources close to the production, this strategy is intentional. Khan wants audiences to return to cinemas and re-establish the communal experience of watching movies on the big screen. He believes that a pay-per-view release post-theatrically gives producers more control over pricing, viewer engagement, and data — aspects often lost in the subscription-based OTT model.

However, this move hasn’t gone down well with everyone. Social media users and film enthusiasts have expressed frustration, questioning why they should pay extra to watch a movie that many believe lacks originality. Several critics and users online pointed out that Sitaare Zameen Par appears to be heavily inspired by the Spanish movie Champions, which revolves around a basketball coach training a team of individuals with intellectual disabilities. While Khan’s film adapts this premise for an Indian audience, netizens argue that simply changing the context does not make it a unique offering.

This criticism has sparked a wider debate about Bollywood's current trend of remakes and adaptations. Viewers are increasingly demanding original content and storytelling. The backlash intensified when some online users sarcastically remarked that the movie “won’t be free on OTT — not like it’s an original story anyway.”

Despite the criticism, Aamir Khan remains confident about the film’s potential. Known for tackling sensitive topics and bringing out emotional narratives, he hopes that Sitaare Zameen Par will resonate with viewers just as Taare Zameen Par did. The earlier film, which focused on a dyslexic child’s struggle and triumph, received widespread acclaim for its storytelling and social relevance. Whether the new film can live up to that legacy remains to be seen.

With a new distribution model and the weight of comparisons to both international cinema and Khan’s own past success, Sitaare Zameen Par has set high expectations. Only time will tell if audiences embrace this film with the same enthusiasm or if the backlash overshadows its message.