After a strong theatrical run, Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par is heading to digital. But instead of the usual OTT platforms, the film will stream on YouTube, under a pay-per-view model.
Directed by RS Prasanna, Sitaare Zameen Par released in theatres on June 20, 2025. It collected over Rs 250 crore at the box office and featured Aamir Khan alongside Genelia D’Souza. The film also introduced ten neurodivergent debutants and is based on the Spanish film Campeones. Aamir co-produced the project with Aparna Purohit, B Shrinivas Rao, and Ravi Bhagchandka.
The announcement came on Tuesday, as Aamir confirmed that the film will be available from August 1 on his official channel Aamir Khan Talkies: Janta Ka Theatre. Viewers will have to pay Rs 100 to watch the film, with access valid for 48 hours.
Interestingly, Aamir had earlier denied reports of a YouTube release. But addressing the media this week, he explained the shift. He pointed to increased internet access, widespread UPI use, and the reach of YouTube in India. According to him, only a small percentage of the population watches films in theatres, and digital platforms offer a way to reach those left out.
Calling it “Janta Ka Theatre”, Aamir said this model mirrors the traditional pay-per-ticket system of cinemas. He also confirmed that more films from Aamir Khan Productions and his father Tahir Hussain’s library, will eventually land on the channel. Some content, like episodes from Satyamev Jayate, will be made available for free.
He also noted that this move helps in tackling piracy and supporting indie filmmakers, who often struggle to find screens.
The Rs 100 ticket model could be an experiment worth watching. While several Indian films have been available on YouTube rentals before, they usually arrived there after a proper OTT release. That’s not the case here. Sitaare Zameen Par will stream only on YouTube and won’t be available on any other platform.
That makes this a rare and bold move, cutting OTT giants out of the equation and taking content directly to the audience. If this clicks, it could set a new path for theatrical films to extend their shelf life online, on their own terms.
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