Aamir Khan's "Sitaare Zameen Par," a spiritual successor to his acclaimed 2007 film "Taare Zameen Par," is generating buzz as its release date of June 20, 2025, approaches. Advance bookings have commenced, though initial international pre-sales are slow. The film, co-starring Genelia D'Souza, is directed by R.S. Prasanna and produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit.

The film's plot revolves around a basketball coach, played by Aamir Khan, who is tasked with training a team of specially-abled children. "Sitaare Zameen Par" is an official remake of the 2018 Spanish film "Champions".

Genelia D'Souza, who plays Aamir Khan's wife in the film, has shared her excitement about the project. In a recent interview, she revealed that she had to audition three times for the role of Sunita, emphasizing the depth and layers of her character. She expressed that this role is unlike anything she has done before, describing it as emotional, layered, and deeply human. Genelia also spoke about industry biases and the challenges she faced in finding substantial roles after marriage. She questioned why filmmakers seemed hesitant to offer her roles, suggesting that her marital status might lead them to believe she doesn't need such opportunities. She hopes that the changing landscape of filmmaking will also shift the mentality regarding casting actors of a certain age for appropriate roles.

Aamir Khan, on the other hand, humorously addressed the casting choice in an interview, mentioning that he considered the age difference between him and Genelia but stated that both characters are in their early 40s in the film. He also credited director R.S. Prasanna for suggesting Genelia for the role. Prasanna praised Genelia's talent, positive energy, and popularity in the South Indian film industries, where she has worked extensively.

Adding to the anticipation, a special screening of "Sitaare Zameen Par" was recently hosted by Aamir Khan in Mumbai. The screening was attended by close family and friends, including Genelia D'Souza, and a more public premiere is expected to be held on June 19, 2025.

However, "Sitaare Zameen Par" has also faced some challenges. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially requested certain edits to the film before granting it a U/A certificate. These changes included replacing the term "Business Woman" with "Business Person," changing a reference to "Michael Jackson" to "Lovebirds," modifying a reference to "kamal (lotus)," and adding a quote by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the opening disclaimer. Aamir Khan initially resisted these changes but eventually agreed to them.

Adding to the mix, the film's advance bookings in international markets have been slow. As of June 17, 2025, reports indicate that the film has not even sold 1000 tickets in key overseas markets like the US, Canada, and Australia for its opening day. This is significantly lower than Aamir Khan's previous hits like "Dhoom 3," which earned over $8 million during its opening weekend overseas. Unless "Sitaare Zameen Par" receives exceptionally strong word-of-mouth, it may struggle to reach the same level of success.

Despite the slow start in international markets, "Sitaare Zameen Par" is expected to perform well at the box office, particularly in India. The film's success will depend on its ability to connect with audiences and deliver a meaningful and entertaining experience.