Aamir Khan’s film Sitaare Zameen Par has become the fifth Hindi movie this year to surpass the Rs. 100 crore mark, joining titles like Chhaava, Sikandar, Raid 2, and Housefull 5. The film is maintaining consistent audience interest, especially over the weekends when families are more likely to visit theaters. Industry sources predict it will cross Rs. 150 crores by the end of its third week in cinemas. Whether it manages to exceed the lifetime collections of Raid 2, which earned Rs. 178.08 crores, or surpass Housefull 5’s expected Rs. 160-162 crore total remains uncertain.
Expert Opinions Highlight Challenges and Competition
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh expressed cautious optimism about the film’s performance moving forward. He explained,
This week, there’s Metro…In Dino which also targets the same audience. There’s also Jurassic World: Rebirth. Both these new releases will impact Sitaare Zameen Par. I am not saying Sitaare Zameen Par will be totally zameen par! But there will be some dent. It’ll cross the Rs. 150 crore mark but I am doubtful if it’ll go beyond that.
This suggests that while the film’s momentum is strong, newer films targeting similar viewers could chip away at its box office numbers.
Reevaluating Expectations for Aamir Khan’s Film
Some critics have pointed out that Aamir Khan’s recent releases have not matched the record-breaking success of his past hits, raising questions about whether his films still command the same box office dominance. Addressing these perspectives, Taran Adarsh clarified,
A lot of people say that Aamir Khan had delivered a Rs. 300 crore grosser in the form of Dangal (2016). But this is a different film. This is not on the lines of Ghajini (2008) or Dhoom 3 (2013) or Thugs Of Hindostan (2018). Moreover, every film has a budget. This is not a front-loaded masala action film. This is a word-of-mouth movie.
This highlights that Sitaare Zameen Par’s business model and genre set different expectations compared to big-budget action blockbusters that rely heavily on opening weekend collections.
Industry Insiders Predict Moderate Earnings in the Coming Weeks
Raj Bansal, a distributor and exhibitor, weighed in on the film’s prospects for the near future. He noted,
There’s little competition from Bollywood in the third week. Hence, it’ll collect in the range of Rs. 140-150 crores.
This suggests that the film could continue its steady run, benefiting from the absence of major Bollywood releases during this period.
Addressing Rumors of Box Office Manipulation
There have been rumors about self-buying of tickets by the makers of Sitaare Zameen Par to inflate box office numbers. Regarding these claims, trade experts firmly rejected the allegations. One expert stated,
Aamir Khan is NOT the type who would do block bookings, corporate bookings…kuch toh log kahenge; logon ka kaam hai kehna!
This defends the film’s authenticity and the integrity of its earnings, attributing criticisms to hearsay rather than facts.
Significance of Sitaare Zameen Par’s Performance in Today’s Market
The steady earnings of Sitaare Zameen Par are notable considering its moderate budget and the evolving preferences of moviegoers after the pandemic. While it may not achieve the blockbuster status of some of Aamir Khan’s earlier releases, the film’s success underscores the continued relevance of quality, word-of-mouth cinema in a market increasingly dominated by high-budget spectacles. Moving forward, the film’s ability to hold ground against new releases and cross important revenue milestones will be closely watched by industry analysts and fans alike.
