In a time when Bollywood is leaning heavily into action franchises and mythological spectacles, Aamir Khan has once again gone against the grain. His latest film, Sitaare Zameen Par, isn’t a loud blockbuster — it’s an intimate, emotionally resonant story that dares to focus on overlooked lives and unexpected redemption.
Released in theatres nationwide this Friday, the film has stirred a quiet but steady buzz. Despite a sluggish first half that draws heavily on familiar tropes, the movie makes a surprisingly heartfelt comeback in its latter chapters — ultimately delivering one of Aamir Khan’s most earnest performances in years.
A Coach, a Court, and a Chance at Redemption
Set against the backdrop of a basketball court rather than a classroom, Sitaare Zameen Par is directed by RS Prasanna and serves as a spiritual successor to Khan’s own 2007 cult classic Taare Zameen Par. But while that film dealt with childhood dyslexia through the lens of compassion and understanding, Sitaare takes a slightly more rugged path.
Khan plays Gulshan Arora, a hot-headed assistant basketball coach whose career nosedives after an angry outburst ends in suspension. His next blunder—a drunk driving incident—earns him court-mandated community service. His task? Train a ragtag team of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the art of basketball.
What begins as an ego-clash between an arrogant coach and his unconventional team slowly blossoms into a portrait of mutual growth and discovery. But the journey there is not without its potholes.
A Faltering Start Finds Its Rhythm
The opening hour is a slog. Arora's brooding, his deteriorating marriage with Sunita (played gracefully by Genelia Deshmukh), and his resistance to coaching the team are drawn out with repetitive emotional beats. The writing—by Divy Nidhi Sharma—teeters dangerously close to predictability, and the jokes fall flat too often.
But something remarkable happens after intermission. It’s as if the film exhales — and invites the audience to breathe with it. Characters begin to flesh out beyond caricature. The humor becomes sharper, warmer. Brijendra Kala nearly steals the show in a brief but uproarious scene. And most importantly, the film dials into its core theme: understanding that dignity doesn’t come from ability, but from how we’re seen — and how we see ourselves.
Performance
Aamir Khan's performance as Gulshan Arora is restrained and perfect. While he falters in the early parts of the story, he shows his acting chops in the latter part.
Genelia Deshmukh brings emotional texture to her role, steering clear of the thankless "worried wife" trope. But it’s the ensemble of actors portraying the basketball team that makes Sitaare Zameen Par a memorable experience.
Ashish Pendse’s Sunil delivers a standout moment of stillness and poignancy in a locker room scene that reportedly left audiences teary-eyed. Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Vedant Sharma, and the rest of the cast of differently-abled characters are never reduced to symbols. Instead, they are given humor, flaws, agency — and most importantly, joy.
The authenticity of these portrayals is a direct result of inclusive casting and careful direction. It’s a gamble that pays off. These aren't side characters in their own lives — they're stars.
Not Quite Taare, But Still Bright
Comparisons to Taare Zameen Par are inevitable, but perhaps unfair. That film was a revelation in its time — a quiet rebellion in a cinema culture that didn’t talk about neurodivergence. Sitaare walks a different path, less revolutionary, more redemptive. It doesn’t aim to shock the viewer with its subject matter, but to normalize it.
The film is adapted from the 2018 Spanish film Campeones, but RS Prasanna localizes it with care. The backdrop of Mumbai’s working-class neighborhoods, the boisterous indoor court settings, and a grounded Indian family drama all help ground the story in familiar soil.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music doesn’t soar the way Taare’s iconic soundtrack did, but it does pulse with energy. Tracks like "Jeetenge Hum" and "Kya Farak Padta Hai" add momentum to the film’s final act.
The Real Victory
What ultimately sets Sitaare Zameen Par apart is its refusal to play to the gallery. There are no cheap emotional shortcuts, no manipulative montages. Instead, it invites the viewer to sit with discomfort, witness quiet dignity, and celebrate the unlikeliest of heroes.
As India continues to grapple with issues of inclusion and representation, especially in mainstream entertainment, Sitaare is a small but significant step in the right direction. It challenges audiences to unlearn what they think they know about ability — and leaves them with more than just a lump in the throat.
Final Verdict
Sitaare Zameen Par isn’t flawless. But then again, neither are its characters — and that’s the point. It's a film that starts slow, stumbles occasionally, but finds its voice when it matters most. Aamir Khan has crafted a movie that, despite its rough edges, resonates deeply with audiences willing to stay the course.
In a crowded year of big-ticket releases, Sitaare Zameen Par might just be the underdog story we didn’t know we needed.
Rating: ★★★½ (3.5/5)
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