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Aamir Khan`s Sitaare Zameen Par Faces Boycott Calls After Trailer Release
Updated on: 14 May, 2025 07:08 PM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Sitaare Zameen Par
The much-anticipated trailer for Aamir Khan`s latest venture, "Sitaare Zameen Par," dropped online, and within hours, calls to boycott the film began gaining momentum on the social media platform `X`. This marks the Bollywood perfectionist`s return after his 2022 film "Laal Singh Chaddha", a Hindi adaptation of "Forrest Gump", which didn`t resonate strongly with audiences.
Sitaare Zameen Par is being described as a "spiritual" successor to the beloved 2007 film "Taare Zameen Par," which sensitively portrayed the life of a boy with undiagnosed learning difficulties. In this new film, Khan transitions from a teacher to a basketball coach, court-mandated to train a team of intellectually disabled players.
A significant trigger for the backlash appears to be old photographs of Aamir Khan with Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdogan from his visit in 2020. Khan was in Turkey to film portions of "Laal Singh Chaddha" and faced criticism even then due to Turkey`s amicable relations with Pakistan. One user on `X` explicitly linked the 2020 meeting to the current boycott call, stating, "Remember when Aamir Khan had gone to Turkey & Met the Turkish First Lady?? So Now you know what has to be done with his latest movie Sitare Zameen Par".
The timing of this resurfaced image is crucial. Anti-Turkey sentiment has been palpable among some Indian citizens after Turkey publicly supported Pakistan following "Operation Sindoor." This Indian military operation on May 7 involved missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, a response to the tragic massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. These ongoing tensions have also seen online campaigns like "Boycott Turkish Airlines".
Some netizens also accused Aamir Khan of opportunism. After Aamir Khan Productions posted a message praising "Operation Sindoor", many felt it was a publicity stunt, especially as Khan had initially been silent on the India-Pakistan tensions before making a later statement. One comment read, “Amir Khan made a show called Satyamev Jayate and ended up being a person who he criticised on his show. Can`t say a word for his country and soldiers in case it affects his upcoming movie. Now is the time people need to boycott Sitare Zameen Par (sic).”
Also Read: Trolling Begins: Aamir`s "Sitaare Zameen Par" Looks Familiar to `Champions`
On Monday, Aamir Khan`s production house also issued a message: "Salute to the heroes of Operation Sindoor. Heartfelt gratitude to our armed forces for their courage, bravery, and unwavering commitment to the security of our nation. Thank you to the Honourable Prime Minister for his leadership and determination. Jai Hind."
Also Read: Sitaare Zameen Par: Aamir Khan Reveals First Poster of His Most Awaited Film
Others highlighted the film`s emotional resonance and potential for social impact. A parent shared, “My Daughter is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Film like this so inspiring for parents like us... Thank you Amir sir for bringing focus and awareness on this topic. Child is not disabled, they are just different and very very special, (sic)".
Another echoed this sentiment: “My son is on autism spectrum , the trailer made me cry and laugh at the same time. Hope this movie brings some awareness and respect for children’s and individuals who are with special needs .. all the best, (sic)". A witty comment observed the thematic shift: “1st PART: A student gets fixed by an extraordinary teacher. 2nd PART: A teacher gets fixed by some extraordinary Students,".
As Sitaare Zameen Par heads towards its July 20 release, it navigates a landscape of both fervent support for its message and significant controversy stemming from geopolitical sensitivities and past associations.
Also Read: 7 Powerful Bollywood Films That Sparked Social Conversations
Sitaare Zameen Par is being described as a "spiritual" successor to the beloved 2007 film "Taare Zameen Par," which sensitively portrayed the life of a boy with undiagnosed learning difficulties. In this new film, Khan transitions from a teacher to a basketball coach, court-mandated to train a team of intellectually disabled players.
The Social Media Storm: #BoycottSitaareZameenPar
Despite the film`s seemingly positive message, it quickly ran into turbulence. On `X`, images featuring the word “Boycott" superimposed on the movie`s poster, accompanied by the trending hashtag #BoycottSitaareZameenPar, began circulating widely.A significant trigger for the backlash appears to be old photographs of Aamir Khan with Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdogan from his visit in 2020. Khan was in Turkey to film portions of "Laal Singh Chaddha" and faced criticism even then due to Turkey`s amicable relations with Pakistan. One user on `X` explicitly linked the 2020 meeting to the current boycott call, stating, "Remember when Aamir Khan had gone to Turkey & Met the Turkish First Lady?? So Now you know what has to be done with his latest movie Sitare Zameen Par".
The timing of this resurfaced image is crucial. Anti-Turkey sentiment has been palpable among some Indian citizens after Turkey publicly supported Pakistan following "Operation Sindoor." This Indian military operation on May 7 involved missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, a response to the tragic massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. These ongoing tensions have also seen online campaigns like "Boycott Turkish Airlines".
Some netizens also accused Aamir Khan of opportunism. After Aamir Khan Productions posted a message praising "Operation Sindoor", many felt it was a publicity stunt, especially as Khan had initially been silent on the India-Pakistan tensions before making a later statement. One comment read, “Amir Khan made a show called Satyamev Jayate and ended up being a person who he criticised on his show. Can`t say a word for his country and soldiers in case it affects his upcoming movie. Now is the time people need to boycott Sitare Zameen Par (sic).”
Also Read: Trolling Begins: Aamir`s "Sitaare Zameen Par" Looks Familiar to `Champions`
Aamir Khan and His Production House Speak Out
Breaking his silence on the Pahalgam attack, Aamir Khan stated, “Humein justice chahiye… Aur hum chahte hain ki aage aisa na ho, toh uske liye kadam uthaya jaaye (We want justice… and we want steps to be taken to ensure that this does not happen again)." He further added, “Mujhe yakeen hai ki sarkar aise saare kadam uthayegi jahan humein justice mile. Jinhone ye jo galat kaam kiya hai, they should be brought to justice (I am sure that the government will take all the necessary steps so that we get justice. Those who have done the wrong, they should be brought to justice)."On Monday, Aamir Khan`s production house also issued a message: "Salute to the heroes of Operation Sindoor. Heartfelt gratitude to our armed forces for their courage, bravery, and unwavering commitment to the security of our nation. Thank you to the Honourable Prime Minister for his leadership and determination. Jai Hind."
Also Read: Sitaare Zameen Par: Aamir Khan Reveals First Poster of His Most Awaited Film
A Contrasting Reception: Praise on YouTube
While `X` saw calls for a boycott, the reaction on YouTube, where the trailer premiered, was markedly different. The trailer garnered over 13 million views within 12 hours, with comments lauding the film`s potential. Viewers praised the decision to cast real people with disabilities. One user noted, “The best thing about this movie is that they have casted real people. No one is acting to be a down syndrome or an autistic. That’s so refreshing to watch, (sic)".Others highlighted the film`s emotional resonance and potential for social impact. A parent shared, “My Daughter is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Film like this so inspiring for parents like us... Thank you Amir sir for bringing focus and awareness on this topic. Child is not disabled, they are just different and very very special, (sic)".
Another echoed this sentiment: “My son is on autism spectrum , the trailer made me cry and laugh at the same time. Hope this movie brings some awareness and respect for children’s and individuals who are with special needs .. all the best, (sic)". A witty comment observed the thematic shift: “1st PART: A student gets fixed by an extraordinary teacher. 2nd PART: A teacher gets fixed by some extraordinary Students,".
As Sitaare Zameen Par heads towards its July 20 release, it navigates a landscape of both fervent support for its message and significant controversy stemming from geopolitical sensitivities and past associations.
Also Read: 7 Powerful Bollywood Films That Sparked Social Conversations
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