Aamir Khan is known for his innovative approach to filmmaking, and his latest decision to release ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ directly on YouTube is a testament to his forward-thinking strategy. This move deviates from the typical OTT release pattern, prompted by his insights on the current state of theatrical film business.
The film will be available on August 1 on the ‘Aamir Khan Talkies’ YouTube channel for a fee of Rs 100. The release is not limited to India; it will extend to the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Spain, with prices tailored to each region. The film will also be available with dubbed and subbed versions.
Khan stated, “For the past 15 years, I have been struggling with the challenge of how to reach audiences who do not have geographical access to theatres, or those who are unable to make it to theatres for various reasons. Finally, the time for the perfect storm has come… With our government bringing in UPI and India becoming no 1 in the world in electronic payments, with internet penetration in India having grown dramatically and growing every day, and with YouTube being on most devices, we can finally reach vast sections of people in India, and a significant part of the world.”
He added, “My dream is that Cinema should reach everyone at a reasonable and affordable price. I want people to have the ease of watching Cinema when they want, where they want. If this idea works, Creative voices can tell different stories, breaking geographical and other barriers. This will also be a great opportunity for younger creative people entering the field of Cinema. If this idea works, then I see this as a win-win for all.”
‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ features Genelia D’souza in a prominent role. The supporting cast includes Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishnan Varma, Vedant Sharmaa, Naman Misra, Rishi Shahani, Ashish Pendse, Samvit Desai, Simran Mangeshkar, Aayush Bhansali, Dolly Ahluwalia, Gurpal Singh, Brijendra Kala, Zeenat Hussain and Nikhat Khan.