Aamir Khan’s new film, Sitaare Zameen Par, is facing boycott calls online, and hashtags like #BoycottAamirKhan are trending on X (formerly Twitter). The perfectionist of Bollywood is returning to the screen after three years, and his movie is yet again facing online heat.
The movie’s trailer was launched on Tuesday, and hours after its release, his production team posted a message reacting to Operation Sindoor.
What might have been intended as a patriotic gesture seems to have backfired. The timing of the post and the trailer release was seen by many as inappropriate or as a publicity stunt for the film promotion.
The message posted by the production house read, “Saluting the heroes of Operation Sindoor. Heartfelt gratitude to our armed forces for their courage, bravery and unwavering commitment to the bravery and unwavering commitment to the security of our nation. Thank you to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for his leadership and resolve. Jai Hind.”
Some appreciated the message, whereas others felt it was a little too late, as Operation Sindoor happened over a week ago.
On account of this operation by the Indian armed forces, many leading figures from Bollywood and the sports world expressed support for the armed forces through online posts and by postponing major events. Notably, the trailer launch for Sitaare Zameen Par was postponed by Aamir Khan.
Adding fuel to the fire is the resurfacing of an old video of Aamir Khan meeting the first lady of Turkey, Emine Erdogan. Back in August 2020, Aamir Khan met the Turkish First Lady during the shoot of his movie Lal Singh Chadha. The meeting had sparked controversy in India, considering Turkey’s political stance on Kashmir and their close relationship with Pakistan.
The backlash faced by Aamir Khan and Lal Singh Chadha was intense, with organisations like RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) accusing him of being anti-national forces.
Another creative burnout criticism is also on the list of enemies against the film. Netizens have started comparing the Sitaare Zameen Par trailer with the Spanish film Campeones (Champions). Although Aamir Khan’s version is an official remake, critics are questioning the ethics of faithful replication.
This argument follows the underperformance of Aamir Khan’s last film, Laal Singh Chadha, which was a remake of the movie Forrest Gump, which didn’t meet the high expectations of the audience.
As Sitaare Zameen Par nears its release, its fate may not entirely lie in box office numbers, but in the audience’s views as well.
