Aamir Khan’s new film, Sitaare Zameen Par, is already in trouble, and the trailer hasn’t helped much. People are calling it a direct copy of the Hollywood movie Champions, which itself was based on the Spanish film Campeones. The problem? Champions is already available on JioCinema for free. So, when people can watch the original from their sofa, why would they pay to see the same story in theaters?
This reminds us of what happened with Lal Singh Chaddha, which was an official remake of Forrest Gump. That film didn’t work at all. People had already seen and loved the original, and the remake felt unnecessary. Now, it looks like history might repeat itself.
Aamir seems to be banking on the emotional connection people have with Taare Zameen Par, but that charm can’t be forced. Audiences today are smarter and quicker to judge. If they feel something is fake or recycled, they’ll simply move on.
However, the real worry is the fact that Champions has already started trending on the platform. It is a part of a counter-PR strategy where the movie is being promoted by the fan accounts of rival stars. If most people choose to watch Champions then naturally they will lose interest in whatever Sitaare Zameen Par promises.
Unless Sitaare Zameen Par surprises everyone with great storytelling, it’s going to be a tough road ahead. Right now, all signs point to another miss for Aamir Khan.