Aamir Khan is gearing up for the release of his much-awaited movie ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ on June 20. Ahead of the release, the actor has now admitted that he faced pressure from many of his closest associates in the industry for choosing a theatrical release for the film.Aamir about his decision to release ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ in theatreIn a recent conversation with India Today, Aamir Khan shared that legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan was the one who supported his decision to go for a theatrical release with ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’.Khan elaborated on the pressure producers often face from OTT platforms to release films just eight weeks after their theatrical debut, calling it an unreasonable expectation. While he maintained that he holds no grudge against any platform, he questioned the logic of such a short window. “I am a loyalist of cinema, and I believe in it. Yes, it’s a big risk, and there’s a lot [of money] involved. If I don’t get that chunk of my pre-sales, and the film doesn’t work, it could lead to a major loss. I did receive offers, but I turned them down because I want audiences to go to theatres and watch my film. I believe in cinema, and I believe in my audience,” said Khan.
The actor admitted he would have been fine with a six-month window between theatrical and digital releases, but anything earlier undermines the cinema-going experience.The PK actor confessed that this choice was not an easy one. “I was scared and unsure,” he admitted.Amitabh Bachchan’s adviceDuring Aamir and his son Junaid’s appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati, they had dinner with Amitabh Bachchan, where they discussed the possibility of an OTT release for the movie. Aamir candidly spoke about the dilemma he was facing. “That night, when I met Mr Bachchan, I don’t know what came over me, but I opened up to him about my concerns. I told him that friends and well-wishers all felt I wasn’t making the right choice,” he said. Bachchan’s response turned out to be the affirmation Aamir needed. “He told me, ‘Why aren’t you doing it? You’ve always taken risks. You’re a risk-taker.’ All of us deeply respect Amit ji, and when he said that, it validated my belief,” he stated.About ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, directed by R.S. Prasanna, also features Genelia D’Souza in a key role.
