Aamir Khan Reveals Farhan Akhtar Was First Choice For Sitaare Zameen Par: 'I Was Broken...'
Aamir Khan reveals Farhan Akhtar was the original choice for Sitaare Zameen Par. Discover why Aamir eventually decided to play the lead and how he changed his mind.
Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par has not only become a box office juggernaut but also the most loved film of 2025, tugging at heartstrings with its inspiring narrative, emotional depth, and standout performances. As a spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par, the film introduced a fresh wave of talent, with 10 young debutants making their cinematic debut under the Aamir Khan Productions banner. Aamir, who played a basketball coach in the movie, earned widespread acclaim for his heartfelt portrayal.
However, in a candid revelation during a recent interview, Aamir shared that he wasn't initially supposed to star in the film. In fact, the first choice for the role was filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar. 'Farhan was supposed to do it actually. What happened was that when Laal Singh Chaddha didn't do well, I was emotionally upset, I was broken, actually. So I thought I needed a break, I would take a break and not do a film for a while," Aamir admitted.
At the time, Aamir had decided to limit his involvement to producing the film, entrusting the direction to R. S. Prasanna. But as the script readings progressed and the team refined the screenplay, Aamir found himself repeatedly struck by the strength of the story. 'This script is so good, why is he not acting in it?" he recalled thinking — and eventually, he stepped in front of the camera once again.
Directed by R. S. Prasanna, known for his socially conscious blockbuster Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Sitaare Zameen Par continues his collaboration with Aamir Khan Productions in what is now regarded as one of the banner's most poignant works. The film also stars Genelia Deshmukh in a lead role alongside the ensemble of debutants: Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar.
With lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya and music composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the film's soundtrack has struck a deep chord with audiences, complementing the emotional highs and lows of the story. The screenplay was penned by Divy Nidhi Sharma, and the film was produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit, along with Ravi Bhagchandka.
Released in theatres on June 20, 2025, Sitaare Zameen Par continues to shine — both for its heartfelt storytelling and for the touching behind-the-scenes stories that shaped its journey to the big screen.
First Published:
July 21, 2025, 18:51 IST
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