Aamir Khan used to be Bollywood’s maverick — the thinking man’s superstar. He once defied box office trends, redefined roles, and took cinematic risks that earned him a reputation as India’s answer to the transformative actor. But that was then.
Today, the man who brought us Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par, and Dangal is barely a shadow of his former self, clinging to formulas and foreign scripts like a desperate gambler trying to win back lost glory. After the catastrophic misfire that was Laal Singh Chaddha — a Punjabi-skinned remake of Forrest Gump that flopped harder than anyone dared to predict — Aamir is back. But not with reinvention. Not with risk. Instead, he returns with another remake, Sitaare Zameen Par, this time "inspired" by the 2018 Spanish film Champions and its 2023 English-language adaptation starring Woody Harrelson.
Let’s be clear about one thing: the real stars of Sitaare Zameen Par are not the headlining actor, but the team of children with disabilities who bring heart, authenticity, and genuine spirit to the screen. Their presence is a breath of fresh air in an industry still largely unfamiliar with honest representation. These young actors are not props. They are powerful, courageous performers who deserve every bit of praise.
But sadly, their brilliance is dimmed by a lead who seems utterly uninterested in doing the work.
Aamir Khan’s portrayal in the trailer reeks of fear — the fear of another flop, the fear of taking chances, the fear of failure. Instead of reimagining the central coach character for an Indian context or adding layers that speak to local culture, he does what has now become his unfortunate signature: he copy-pastes. Woody Harrelson’s gruff, reluctant mentor is recreated almost scene-for-scene, expression-for-expression, minus the charm or credibility. There’s no originality, no nuance, no spark. Just a tired superstar going through the motions, praying that audiences will focus on the feel-good story instead of his phoned-in performance.
The irony? This is Aamir Khan we’re talking about — a man once lauded for transforming into characters so deeply that he disappeared into them. Now, he looks like an actor pretending to be a version of himself pretending to care.
The tragedy of Sitaare Zameen Par isn't the source material, nor the theme. A story about inclusion, ability, and acceptance is exactly the kind of narrative mainstream cinema needs right now. But when the leading man — who is also the producer — treats the project like a box-ticking exercise rather than a passion-fueled comeback, it insults not only the intelligence of the audience but also the dedication of the young cast he’s supposed to uplift.
This film could have been something special. It still might be — thanks to the children who light up the screen with their energy, talent, and truth. But the one man who was supposed to lead this journey appears to have lost his compass.
Aamir Khan isn’t just afraid of taking risks anymore. He’s afraid of being Aamir Khan — the risk-taker, the artist, the innovator. And if Sitaare Zameen Par is any indication, his glory days may be long behind him.