Aamir Khan is addressing the topic of age-gap casting in his upcoming film "Sitaare Zameen Par," where he stars opposite Genelia D’Souza. The actor is advocating that age is no longer a significant barrier for actors, thanks to advancements in visual effects and a shift in audience perception.

Khan highlighted the changing dynamics in the film industry, where technology plays a crucial role in bridging the age gap on screen. In an interview, he mentioned that earlier, portraying a younger or older character necessitated heavy reliance on prosthetics. However, with VFX, actors can now convincingly portray characters of varying ages. He referenced Anil Kapoor's role in "Eeshwar" (1989), where Kapoor, being relatively young, played an 80-year-old character, emphasizing how actors had to "jump their age" in the past, which was a challenging feat.

Aamir Khan also touched upon the fact that he cast Genelia D’Souza, who previously starred opposite his nephew Imran Khan in "Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na" (2008). Addressing potential concerns, Aamir humorously noted that Imran is now closer to his age. He clarified that in "Sitaare Zameen Par," both he and Genelia play characters in their early 40s, an age range that VFX can help portray convincingly.

"Sitaare Zameen Par" is not just another film for Aamir Khan; he considers it a spiritual sequel to his directorial debut, "Taare Zameen Par" (2007). While "Taare Zameen Par" focused on a child with dyslexia and the theme of inclusion, "Sitaare Zameen Par" aims to take these themes further by addressing greater challenges faced by intellectually atypical children, including those with Down syndrome and autism. The film revolves around how ten neuro-atypical children help a coach, thus reversing the conventional narrative where a teacher helps a child.

Khan has openly expressed uncertainty about the film's box office performance, admitting that his films often release at "ill-timed" moments when audience preferences lean towards different genres. He mentioned in a recent interview with Galatta Plus that action films are currently dominating the box office, making him anxious about the commercial success of his comedy-drama. Despite his concerns, Aamir remains hopeful that the heartwarming story of "Sitaare Zameen Par" will deeply connect with people.

Adding to the film's unique approach, Aamir Khan Productions is introducing ten debutants in "Sitaare Zameen Par," all of whom are neurodivergent. Aamir has spoken about the positive impact these young actors had on the film set, creating an environment free of ego clashes and creative differences. He noted that their presence changed the way people behaved, fostering love and understanding.

Aamir Khan is releasing "Sitaare Zameen Par" exclusively in theaters, foregoing an early digital release. This decision was influenced by Amitabh Bachchan, who encouraged Aamir to take the risk and stick to his beliefs about the importance of the theatrical experience. Aamir believes that releasing a film on OTT platforms just eight weeks after its theatrical debut is unfair to the cinema.

"Sitaare Zameen Par," directed by RS Prasanna, is slated to release on June 20, 2025.