Aamir Khan’s Bollywood Film Sitaare Zameen Par Faces Copying Backlash 

Aamir Khan’s Bollywood Film Sitaare Zameen Par Faces Copying Backlash 

RMN News Story Highlights

• Sitaare Zameen Par is accused of copying its plot from the 2023 Hollywood film Champions.

• Aamir Khan is criticised, claiming he is old and obsolete and fails to realise he is not suitable for movies.

• Bollywood is a loose term lifted from Hollywood to artificially raise the stature of Hindi language films. 

• Bollywood industry faces issues with inflated box office numbers being reported, often in nexus with media companies.

By Rakesh Raman

The trailer for the upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, starring Aamir Khan and produced under his banner, was recently unveiled. The three-minute preview introduces a disgraced former basketball coach who is court-ordered to train a group of individuals on the autism spectrum, in addition to paying a monetary penalty. Genelia Deshmukh features as Khan’s romantic interest. 

A significant section of internet users has accused Sitaare Zameen Par of copying its plot from the 2023 Hollywood film Champions, sparking widespread backlash on social media. Critics allege that the film shows a perceived lack of originality.

They point out striking similarities between the two movies, claiming Sitaare Zameen Par offers little fresh storytelling. Allegations intensified after the trailer’s release, with users suggesting the storyline was lifted without unique adaptation or a creative twist. Some users have issued warnings, stating they would skip the film if it doesn’t deliver something new. One comment questioned Bollywood’s ability to make good movies, even after copying.

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This controversy has reignited debates about remakes in Bollywood, particularly following the “underwhelming response” to Aamir Khan’s previous adaptation of Forrest Gump, Laal Singh Chaddha. It is observed that Bollywood filmmakers are so bad they cannot make a good movie even after copying from Hollywood movies.

Aamir Khan is also criticised, claiming he is old and obsolete and fails to realise he is not suitable for movies because he lacks screen presence and does not look like a hero. His presence in Bollywood movies is attributed to his family connections.

More broadly, there is a context to the Bollywood industry, noting that Bollywood is a loose term lifted from Hollywood to artificially raise the stature of Hindi language films. 

Filmmakers in the industry have been described as copycats. Bollywood is often run like a family fiefdom by a few traditional families, where relatives of old actors work for low remuneration, making it difficult for independent artists to enter or flourish.

[ Also Read: 10 Reasons Why I Like Bollywood Movies ]

[ Video: सलमान खान की बॉलीवुड फिल्म सिकंदर फ्लॉप रही। पेड रिव्यू और झूठे बॉक्स ऑफिस आंकड़ों पर भरोसा न करें ]

This lack of competition from professional filmmakers contributes to low-quality films. Bollywood operates at pathetically low performance parameters, with films often made on shoestring budgets targeting poor or lower-income groups who lack other entertainment options. 

Films often follow a formula with irrelevant songs, crude dances, foolish fight scenes, and avoidable hijinks, lacking a proper story. The industry also faces issues with inflated box office numbers being reported, sometimes in excess of Rs. 100 crore, often in nexus with media companies through what is described as paid news.

Sitaare Zameen Par, meaning ‘Stars on Earth’, is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language sports comedy drama film. It is directed by R. S. Prasanna and produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit. The film is described as a spiritual successor to Khan’s 2007 film Taare Zameen Par. 

It stars Aamir Khan and Genelia Deshmukh. Sitaare Zameen Par is believed to be a remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions. The film was announced in October 2023. Principal photography took place in India over four months and was completed in June 2024. Sitaare Zameen Par is scheduled to be released on 20 June 2025.

By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.