06 JUNE 2025 FACT RECORDER
Bollywood Desk: Aamir Khan Returns to Acting with Sitaare Zameen Par — Reveals He Wasn’t the First Choice for the Film After a long break from the big screen, Aamir Khan is all set to make a comeback with Sitaare Zameen Par. The film, directed by R.S. Prasanna, features Aamir alongside Genelia Deshmukh. Interestingly, Aamir was not originally supposed to act in the movie — he was only set to produce it. The lead role was initially offered to other actors, including Farhan Akhtar.
Why Aamir Initially Refused
Following the commercial failure of his last release Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), Aamir decided to take a break from acting. He revealed that he was going through an emotionally difficult phase and wasn’t in the right frame of mind to perform. Director Prasanna respected Aamir’s decision and requested him to at least stay on as the film’s producer — to which Aamir agreed.
Farhan Akhtar and Sivakarthikeyan Were Finalised
With Aamir stepping away from the lead role, the makers began scouting for replacements. Eventually, Farhan Akhtar was cast for the Hindi version, while Tamil star Sivakarthikeyan was locked for the Tamil adaptation. Both actors loved the script, their dates were fixed, and pre-production was underway.
Script Changed Aamir’s Heart
As a producer, Aamir began reading the script more closely — a routine he follows before a project begins. But within 30 minutes of reading, his emotions shifted. “I kept asking myself — why am I not doing this film?” Aamir said. After days of battling with this thought, he finally approached writer Divya and director Prasanna, expressing his desire to take on the lead role after all.
When Aamir mentioned it might be too late since casting was already done, Prasanna jokingly replied, “I’m from Chennai — we know how to put the bullet back into the gun.” With that, the decision was made: Aamir would take on the role.
Aamir Apologised to Farhan and Sivakarthikeyan
Acknowledging the sensitive nature of casting changes, Aamir personally met Farhan Akhtar and Sivakarthikeyan to explain the situation and offered heartfelt apologies. He said both actors handled it with grace and professionalism.
Release Date
Directed by R.S. Prasanna, Sitaare Zameen Par is set to hit theatres on 20 June 2025. With Aamir Khan back in the spotlight, expectations are high for this emotionally driven story — one that has already had quite a dramatic journey behind the scenes.
