Bollywood icon Aamir Khan has never shied away from taking risks—and his latest move with Sitaare Zameen Par proves just that.
In a revealing conversation with entertainment journalist Matthew Belloni on The Town podcast, Aamir disclosed previously unknown financial and strategic details about the making and release of his film. The most striking revelation? Sitaare Zameen Par cost him between ₹122 crore and ₹133 crore after his production partner exited the project over creative differences.
A Bold Rejection of OTT
According to Aamir, the fallout stemmed from his decision to decline a ₹120 crore offer from Prime Video. The offer, according to trade analyst Komal Nahta, would’ve more than covered production costs. But Aamir was committed to experimenting with an alternative release model: a traditional theatrical run followed by a YouTube pay-per-view release priced at ₹100.
Aamir explained, “They didn’t like me turning down money, so they preferred that I buy them out… So the film has actually cost me about $14 million (₹122 crore).”
Worldwide Reception & Revenue
Despite initial skepticism, the film has performed impressively. Industry tracker Sacnilk reports that Sitaare Zameen Par has grossed ₹276 crore worldwide, and YouTube is now backing the release with its own marketing push. Aamir emphasized that YouTube’s support includes a dedicated marketing budget, separate from the theatrical campaign.
Aamir hinted that his revenue split with YouTube is better than the conventional 50-50 with theatres, though he didn’t reveal exact numbers.
Opening Doors for Indie Cinema
Aamir sees this as more than a personal risk—it’s a potential game-changer for Indian indie filmmakers. “This creates an opportunity for smaller films that struggle to find space in theatres. Now they can consider digital-first models with serious monetization.”
The Cast & Crew
Directed by RS Prasanna, the film stars Aamir Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, and ten debutantes: Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar.
The music is composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya.
What’s Next?
Aamir’s gamble is still unfolding. While he hasn’t made a profit yet, the performance of the YouTube release will determine whether this pay-per-view route can disrupt traditional OTT dominance. Whether it becomes a blueprint or a cautionary tale remains to be seen—but it’s undoubtedly bold.
