One of the Khans of Bollywood, Aamir Khan has recently delivered a refreshing and heart-touching film Sitaare Zameen Par which was “an emotionally transforming film for him.”
The fact that all the actors who played the character of physically disabled players were specially abled in real life has made the film more attention-grabbing.
While highlighting his experience of working with ten specially-abled actors, Aamir Khan outlined that this film has changed his perspective on life, ego, and human-to-human connection. Here is a brief part of the conversation about ‘Sitaare Zameen Par.’
Casting and training of specially-abled actors must have been an exclusive experience. What did you think?
It could be the first movie in mainstream cinema where all main characters are intellectually challenged or neuro-diverse. But we did the same thing to it as any movie--its casting, workshops, and rehearsal. There are also nine actors turning to the camera for the first time. One of them has been employed in the Malayalam cinema and does not understand Hindi. Suppose I am using a language that I am not conversant with in filming; it is hard. It is a belief in the minds of people that intellectually disabled people are not able to work like us, though we had a totally different experience.
Although they might have learned something from you, what did you learn from them?
Frankly speaking, I am not aware of what they received out of me. I did learn a lot of them, however. They would change the tone of the whole set- all because they are cheerful and not egocentric, along with being very tolerant. These are qualities that are venerable even amongst professionals. Someone in most film sets ends up with a temper tantrum, either an actor, a director, or a technician, one after another, that did not happen here. No shoutings. They trained us in more than we could have trained them.
The tag of the film is Sabka Apna Apna Normal (Everyone is normal). What does that imply to you?
There are various individuals. We are similar in our emotions, but we all are unique too. Society is likely to discriminate against different people. Indeed, children with Down syndrome are usually marginalized-- nobody invites them to parties, and they are educated separately. They only grow up in the company of neurodivergent colleagues. It is not equitable. I did not have a Downs kid in my classes but had I, perhaps, would have turned out more empathetic, earthy, and less egotistical. I am a supporter of inclusive education. We shall have no separate schools; we are supposed to teach one another. That is what Sitaare Zameen Par is all about. Taare Zameen Par made us shed tears, yet this one gave us the message with comedies.
This movie is not going to be released on OTT. And will it affect its business opportunity?
I am against OTT. However, fast releases on streaming services are harmful to theatres. Just imagine that I asked you to go buy something or wait 8 months and get it home; what would you do? Those are not sustainable business models. I am a product of cinemas. I am a loyal customer of theatres.
Are you pressured to be creative when choosing a film that is socially themed?
Never. I do not pursue social themes. The stories I choose are on the basis of emotional connections. I would do it as long as the script gives me something to laugh or cry about as a viewer. So long as it has a message, it's fine. I am an entertainer, first of all. They go to college when they want to learn how to be sociable. You go to the theatres to be amused. Well, it is possible that I am naturally attracted to this kind of story, but I do not tell a writer to craft a script my way. The writer should be the source of fascinating stories.
Is there less room in this world of the South remake and formula blockbusters to present non-action films?
These are mere stages. At the time when Ghajini was about to release, people remarked that action films were dead; 3 to 4 years since an action film had been successful. The film, however, fared very well. There is always an audience for any good story, irrespective of the genre.
Sitaare Zameen Par hit the screen on June 20, 2025. In a heart-touching plot and with a strong message to take home, we see Aamir Khan back on the silver screen not as a mere actor but as a filmmaker with a movie that is likely to be an emotional roller coaster.