After a long gap since Laal Singh Chaddha, Aamir Khan returns to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par, a film that promises to touch hearts and tug at emotions. Directed by R.S. Prasanna — best known for helming the 2017 sleeper hit Shubh Mangal Saavdhan — this heartwarming drama also marks the return of Genelia D’Souza to mainstream Hindi cinema.And as the film gears up for release, the first day advance booking figures have trickled in, offering a glimpse of the audience’s early response. As per Sacnilk the film has received booking worth Rs 1.09 crore till 11 AM and if one adds block bookings the collection jumps to Rs 3.7 crore, selling a respectable 42,021 tickets across 6,834 shows nationwide.Not surprisingly, the Hindi version leads the tally, raking in nearly Rs 99.4 lakh from 32,781 tickets across 6,470 shows. The film’s average ticket pricing (ATP) in the Hindi belt stands at Rs 243, indicating a slightly premium ticketing strategy — possibly targeting urban family audiences.Interestingly, the film has also found takers in the southern markets. In the Telugu-speaking regions, it managed to sell over 8,200 tickets for Rs 8.14 lakh, while its Tamil version clocked Rs 1.27 lakh through 1,007 tickets. While modest, these numbers reflect Aamir Khan’s lingering pan-India appeal.For Aamir Khan, Sitaare Zameen Par isn’t just another film — it’s a critical test of his box office credibility after the underwhelming performance of Laal Singh Chaddha. While advance booking numbers may not be record-shattering by Aamir’s own past standards, they suggest cautious optimism, with decent family and emotional drama audiences likely to turn up for weekend shows.Moreover, the emotional connect of the film’s subject — centred around acceptance, love, and familial bonds — combined with R.S. Prasanna’s sensitive direction and Genelia’s long-awaited comeback, could give Sitaare Zameen Par the walk-in boost it needs to find its footing.With word-of-mouth set to play a decisive role, all eyes will be on its weekend trajectory.Sitaare Zameen Par is clashing with Dhanush’s Kuberaa which also stars Nagrjuna and Rashmika Mandanna.
