The most awaited movie of 2025, Sitaare Zameen Par, has finally hit the big screens. Produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit, the film follows a self-absorbed basketball coach, Gulshan, who gets caught drunk driving. Instead of imprisoning him, the court declares a different punishment: train a team of players with special needs. For someone who is conditioned to see such people as ‘mad’, he finds himself in trouble he can’t escape. Team Sitaare has sought its name in the National Basketball League, for which they need a coach. Will he use his potential to train players with autism and Down syndrome? Will the team Sitaare win the match? Is Gulshan going to lose his ego? Does the movie live up to its hype? Here’s our review of Sitaare Zameen Par.

While I waited so long to watch this movie in theatres, I am deeply disappointed in Aamir Khan. Here are a few questions I’d like him to answer.

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Why did Aamir make a remake?

Before the release of Aamir Khan’s SZP, people were quick to judge it as another remake, questioning Bollywood’s creativity. Sitaare Zameen Par is a remake of the 2018 Spanish film Campeones (Champions). But how many people in the Indian audience have watched Campeones or plan to watch it? And that’s why such a good story needed to be remade for the Indian audience, to educate them in a way that best suited them. Sitaare Zameen Par is not original, but it has closely portrayed the stereotypes linked to people with special needs. The film depicts characters played by people affected by autism and Down syndrome, and the movie hasn’t glorified their struggles; it has simply represented them.

How is Sitaare Zameen Par such an engaging watch?

I was utterly surprised to watch a Bollywood movie, especially in recent times, that kept me hooked till the last second. Sitaare Zameen Par has got everything right. Some brutally honest jokes will make you nervously laugh as they reflect our years of conditioning. The heartwarming plot is not bereft of the much-needed gyaan. The movie centres on the need for the inclusiveness of people with special needs. It rightfully fights for it every second. But Sitaare Zameen Par also leaves room to learn and unlearn everything we normalised growing up. The movie achieves it by keeping it light-hearted, educational, and emotional. On that note, please keep some tissues handy.

Will Sitaare Zameen Par finally convince people to revisit theatres?

Honestly, as a die-hard Bollywood fan, I was too close to making peace with “the good old Bollywood era is gone” until the release of Sitaare Zameen Par. The movie not only restored my faith in Bollywood, but it has also compelled me to convince everyone, including you, not to wait for its OTT release. The cast of Sitaare Zameen Par has done some impeccable acting and deserves a theatre watch. The movie stars talented people with special needs, including Simran Mangeshkar, Naman Mishra, Vedant Sharma, Ashish Pendse, Gopi Krishna Varma, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Samvit Desai, Aroush Datta, and Ayush Bhansali. Their comic timing and craft will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions as each character brings their own story and sass that you can’t miss.

After watching endless crappy content on OTTs, you need Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music on big speakers to make you live the magic of cinemas. Genelia Deshmukh’s Bollywood comeback as the fiercely sweet Suneeta is a delight to watch in theatres. Aamir Khan’s character, Gulshan, is quite relatable and deeply layered. He reflects society’s resistance to change and its simultaneous helplessness. So, if you’re looking for a heartwarming weekend watch, get the tickets for Sitaare Zameen Par.

Can you watch Sitaare Zameen Par with your family?: Yes. The movie doesn’t contain obscene language, making it fit for a family watch.

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