Sitaare Zameen Par box office surprise: Aamir Khan film stuns with weekend numbers; check details here

Aamir Khan’s latest release, Sitaare Zameen Par, has posted a respectable performance at the box office in its opening two days, collecting ₹17.23 crore net across India, according to early data from box office collection data provider Sacnilk.

The sports comedy-drama, directed by R.S. Prasanna, earned ₹10.7 crore net on the first day of its release (Friday), followed by ₹6.53 crore on Saturday during its morning and afternoon shows, according to Sacnilk’s early estimates.

Globally, the film has amassed ₹20 crore on its opening day, with overseas markets contributing ₹7.15 crore and India gross collections standing at ₹12.85 crore, according to Sacnilk. The film’s Day 1 numbers include ₹10.6 crore from the Hindi version, while the dubbed Tamil and Telugu versions contributed ₹0.05 crore each.

The overall response has been within expectations, especially considering pre-release trade projections pegged the opening at ₹8–9 crore, according to Sacnilk. The film saw better footfalls in the evening and night shows on Friday, helping it comfortably cross the double-digit mark.

The film is expected to perform the strongest in urban centres, mirroring the trend seen with Aamir Khan’s previous release Laal Singh Chaddha, which opened at ₹11.75 crore net across all versions.

In fact, Sitaare Zameen Par is tracking almost in the same range as Laal Singh Chaddha, with both films sharing similar genre sensibilities and a reliance on metros for box office traction.

Given the positive word of mouth and improving weekend advance bookings, the film is eyeing a solid weekend figure, with trade expecting a ₹40–45 crore net haul by Sunday.

Starring Aamir Khan alongside Genelia Deshmukh, Brijendra Kala, and Dolly Ahluwalia, Sitaare Zameen Par tells the story of a team comprising individuals with Down Syndrome and Autism, blending social messaging with sports comedy.

According to The Hollywood Reporter India, this remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions—pitched as a spiritual successor to Taare Zameen Par (2007)—leans too heavily on a simplistic, infotainment tone that feels dated. THR India says that at times, it’s unclear whether the audience is meant to laugh with the characters or at the protagonist Gulshan’s ignorance.

Still, what may work in the film’s favour is its release timing, arriving when Housefull 5 has faced critical flak and with no major Bollywood competition in sight.