Will Sitaare Zameen Par Help Aamir Khan Break The Curse Of The Remake?

NDTV

9 hours ago

New Delhi:
Once upon a remake... there lived a perfectionist who kept circling back to familiar stories. Some soared, some stumbled, but the question remained: Why can't Aamir Khan let go of retelling tales already told?
And more importantly, will Sitaare Zameen Par be the one that finally sets him free?
For decades now, Aamir Khan has worn many hats - actor, director, producer, social commentator, box office goldmine - but there's one cloak he hasn't quite been able to shrug off: that of the Remake Man of Bollywood.
As Sitaare Zameen Par gears up for release, fans and sceptics are once again asking: Is this an original Aamir or another echo of a film we've seen before?
Interestingly, Sitaare Zameen Par is being touted as a spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par (2007), his directorial debut that struck a chord across demographics.
While the first film sensitively explored dyslexia and childhood creativity, Sitaare Zameen Par is reportedly more light-hearted, focusing on children with disabilities and their journey to confidence and acceptance. The twist? This time, it's through the lens of a sport.
But that very description - heartwarming, socially conscious, children-centric - sounds... familiar. And therein lies Aamir Khan's eternal cinematic paradox.
A Career Paved With Remakes
Let's rewind a bit. Aamir Khan 's tryst with remakes didn't begin recently. In fact, his breakout hit Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) was essentially a modern take on Romeo and Juliet - tragic lovers, feuding families, and a bleak ending. That film launched him into stardom, but also unknowingly launched a pattern.
Here's a closer look at the key remakes in Aamir's filmography - how they fared, and whether they left behind applause or awkward silence.
Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995): Based on Kramer vs Kramer (1979), this was Aamir's attempt at domestic realism. While he and Manisha Koirala delivered restrained performances, the film failed to make waves commercially. Its adult themes and slow pacing perhaps didn't align with audience expectations from a Khan-led film.
Mann (1999): A glossy, melodramatic remake of the Hollywood classic An Affair to Remember (1957), Mann paired Aamir with Manisha Koirala in a tale of shipboard romance, missed dates and melodramatic heartbreak. Despite the stunning visuals and memorable music, the film flopped at the box office.
Why? Critics blamed its over-sentimentality and lack of the original's emotional finesse. The humour felt misplaced, the chemistry flat. It didn't help that it came in the wake of better-scripted love stories of the era.
Ghajini (2008): Inspired heavily by Christopher Nolan's Memento (2000) via AR Murugadoss's Tamil version, Ghajini was a rare Aamir remake that worked. A polished action revenge thriller with emotional depth, the film broke box office records and introduced the "eight-pack Aamir" era.
Though critics noticed the plot holes, audiences were sold. Aamir's performance as a man suffering from short-term memory loss, seeking vengeance, struck gold. Ghajini was a remake, yes, but one that had Indian mass appeal stitched into every frame.
Dhoom 3 (2013): Dhoom 3 continued the streak of blockbusters from the Dhoom franchise. It was the first time Aamir Khan was playing the lead actor in a Dhoom movie, and there were two Aamir Khans, at that! Aamir Khan played two roles in Dhoom 3, that of twin brothers Sahir and Samar. The film was heavily inspired by Christopher Nolan's The Prestige, something that was not missed by viewers or critics.
Laal Singh Chaddha (2022): The most recent and most divisive remake in Aamir's career. Laal Singh Chaddha was a faithful adaptation of Forrest Gump (1994), complete with a feather floating in the opening frame.
On paper, it should've worked: nostalgia, a beloved actor, sweeping timelines. But in execution, the film felt tonally uneven, culturally out of sync and overly reverent to the original.
Despite an emotionally charged performance and earnest storytelling, Laal Singh Chaddha failed at the box office and was met with a wave of criticism and boycott calls, some fair, some reactionary. Either way, it stung.
The irony? Aamir had waited over a decade to make this film, calling it his "dream project". That dream ended in commercial and critical disappointment.
Why The "Remake" Tag Stuck
It's not just about the number of remakes, it's about timing, perception and what audiences expect from "Mr Perfectionist." Every time Aamir steps into a remake, especially of an internationally or regionally acclaimed film, the stakes are unnaturally high.
The audience doesn't just want a good film; they want justification for retelling a beloved story.
Moreover, unlike actors who do masala remakes unapologetically (Salman Khan's Wanted, Akshay Kumar's Hera Pheri), Aamir positions his films as socially conscious, culturally significant cinema. That makes the failure of a Laal Singh Chaddha more visible and the "remake curse" harder to ignore.
The Originals That Reshaped Bollywood
To be fair, Aamir's strongest legacy still lies in original (or loosely inspired) works:
Lagaan (2001): An underdog story woven into colonial resistance, with music, cricket and nationalism. Pure cinematic triumph.
Rang De Basanti (2006): A generation's angst given voice through a brilliant intercut of past and present.
Taare Zameen Par (2007): Taare Zameen Par is often referenced in these conversations because it represents what Aamir can achieve when he lets go of formulas and embraces originality. It was brave, emotionally intelligent and built on lived experiences. As a director, Aamir found his rhythm here. As a performer, he stepped back to let Darsheel Safary shine. The film became a cultural moment.
3 Idiots (2009): A commentary on the education system wrapped in humour and drama; it wasn't just successful, it became a pop culture staple.
Dangal (2016): While based on a real story, the screenplay and execution made it feel fresh and fiercely empowering.
Each of these films reinforced that Aamir doesn't need remakes to succeed. He just needs the right mix of heart, risk and honesty.
So... Will Sitaare Zameen Par Break the Curse?
Sitaare Zameen Par, a remake of the Spanish film Campeones, bears the shadow of a previous success, and that brings its own pressure.
Will it be an honest successor to Taare Zameen Par, or will it lean too hard on the formula? Will it present children's stories in a new light, or simply recycle what worked once?
What's clear is this: Aamir Khan is at a crossroads. After a string of misfires (Thugs of Hindostan, Laal Singh Chaddha), he needs a win. Not just a commercial one, but a film that reminds audiences why they believed in his "perfectionist" brand to begin with.
If Sitaare Zameen Par can blend sensitivity with originality and steer clear of the "remake" trap while still evoking nostalgia, Aamir might finally find the balance he's been chasing.
Because stars, after all, are meant to shine brightest when they stop orbiting someone else's light.