Aamir Khan's film, "Sitaare Zameen Par," had a slow start, grossing ₹11.7 crore on its opening day, falling short of the anticipated ₹30 crore. Khan had rejected a ₹120 crore OTT deal, demonstrating his faith in theatrical release. All eyes are now on the weekend collections.
Sitaare Zameen Par: Aamir Khan, Bollywood's "Mr. Perfectionist," saw his highly anticipated film "Sitaare Zameen Par" finally hit theaters. While the film has received praise for its b cast and emotional content, its box office performance has been underwhelming.
Opening Day Earnings Surprise
This film, considered a spiritual sequel to Khan's 2007 hit "Taare Zameen Par," earned a mere ₹11.7 crore on its first day. This indicates that despite Khan's name and the film's buzz, audience turnout was lower than expected.
According to early trends from Seknillk, the film recorded a 17.73% occupancy in Hindi, with morning shows at 16.74%, afternoon shows at 16.25%, and evening shows reaching 20.21%. Jaipur saw the highest viewership, with a theater occupancy of 29.33%.
Expected ₹30 Crore Opening
Given the film's promotion and Aamir Khan's brand value, trade experts anticipated that "Sitaare Zameen Par" would earn at least ₹30 crore on its opening day. The failure to reach this figure is not only a concern for Khan but also raises questions about whether audiences now prioritize franchises and entertainment value over content.
Emotional Content
Directed by RS Prasanna and produced under Aamir Khan Productions, the film features 10 new actors: Aarush Datta, Gopi Krishna Verma, Sanvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhasali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahni, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar. The film depicts the world of children, their emotions, and mental pressures, once again captivating the audience.
Did Rejecting the OTT Deal Backfire?
Another significant aspect of the discussion is Aamir Khan's rejection of a ₹120 crore OTT deal. Khan himself revealed on India TV's "Aap Ki Adalat" that he received a substantial offer for the film's digital release but declined it, prioritizing his loyalty to theaters.
Khan stated, "I want to maintain loyalty with cinema halls. I can't abandon theaters." However, with the film's underwhelming opening, social media is questioning whether Khan should have accepted the deal.
Eyes on the Weekend
Despite the slow opening, the film is receiving positive word-of-mouth from critics and audiences. Trade analysts expect the film to see a significant increase in collections on Saturday and Sunday.
Failure to do so could be a major setback for Aamir Khan, questioning not only his box office popularity but also raising concerns about the theatrical model for the film.
Mixed Reactions
Social media reactions to the film have been mixed. Some call it a "heart-touching film," while others question its slow pace and predictable script.
One Twitter user wrote, "Aamir Khan's acting is superb, but the film feels drawn out at times." Another user commented, "The sensitivity with which this film portrays children's perspectives is excellent."
