Aamir Khan Productions Pvt. Ltd.’s Sitaare Zameen Par (UA) released in theatres today on June 20, 2025 tells the story of a basketball coach who, following a drunk driving incident, is sentenced to coach children with disabilities in the sport.
Story
Gulshan Arora (Aamir Khan) is an accomplished basketball coach known for his exceptional training skills. When he is caught driving under the influence, the judge, taking into account that it is his first offense and his reputable status as a coach, opts for community service instead of jail time. He is tasked with the challenging responsibility of coaching a group of specially abled children in basketball.
Gulshan’s troubled past, which has left him with trust issues, has caused him to distance himself from his wife, Sunita (Genelia D’Souza Deshmukh), who is eager to start a family. Initially overwhelmed by the court-ordered task, Gulshan slowly begins to bond with the children, his initial reluctance transformed into a genuine affection. As a skilled coach, he trains them remarkably. The remainder of the film unfolds from this point.
Performances
Aamir Khan immerses himself in the role of Gulshan Arora with remarkable authenticity. His performance is extraordinarily memorable and award-worthy, characterized by expressive facial gestures and body movements. For instance, his shocked reaction to his team’s response after losing the final match serves as a masterclass in non-verbal acting. His interaction with his mother’s partner is equally impressive.
Genelia D’Souza Deshmukh shines as Sunita, portraying her character with great depth, balancing maturity with a playful spirit. Dolly Ahluwalia Tewari gives a stellar performance as Gulshan’s mother. Gurpal Singh convincingly portrays Kartar Paaji, while Brijendra Kala leaves a charming impression as Gulshan’s cook, Daulat ji.
The ten specially abled children deliver outstanding performances, each deserving of acclaim: Ashish Pendse stands out as Sunil; Aroush Datta is lovable as Satbir; Aayush Bhansali leaves his mark as Lotus; Rishi Shahani generates laughter as Sharma ji; Gopikrishnan K. Verma excels as Guddu; Simran Mangeshkar impresses as Golu; Samvit Desai has memorable moments as Kareem; Naman Misra makes an impact as Hargovind; Rishabh Jain leaves a strong impression as Raju; and Vedant Sharma is charming as Bantu.
Deepraj Rana provides effective support as Paswan ji, while Tarana Raja excels in her role as Judge Anupama. Happy Ranajit offers heartfelt support as Gulshan’s lawyer-friend, Surinder, and Ankita Sehgal makes a lasting impression in a minor role as Surinder’s wife. Sham Mashalkar is delightful as Rustom, and Karim Hajee is refreshingly natural as Ashok Gupta.
The film also features strong performances from Jagbir Rathee, Nikhat Khan Hegde , Jasvinder Kaur, Mahender Singh Bisht, Sylvan Desmond, Abhinav Gautam, Vicky Dutt, Nishank Verma, Nandini Issar among others who provide remarkable support.
Behind the scenes
The movie is adapted from the Spanish film Campeones (Champions). It presents an emotionally resonant narrative that highlights the experiences of children with intellectual disabilities. The interconnections between coach Gulshan Arora’s personal journey and that of his mother (Dolly Ahluwalia Tewari) are intricately woven into the plot. Divy Nidhi Sharma’s screenplay is engaging and well-crafted, making the overall story both entertaining and enjoyable.
The delightful quirks and remarks of the specially abled children quickly endear them to the audience. The film captures the typical challenges faced by some of the players with such sensitivity that it evokes sympathy. The writer effectively infuses humor, fun, and lightheartedness throughout the drama, resulting in countless moments of laughter. Divy Nidhi Sharma’s dialogues are truly exceptional, deserving high praise for their cleverness and relevance.
Director R.S. Prasanna showcases exceptional talent, skillfully blending entertainment with an emotional undercurrent while imparting a valuable life lesson. He deserves accolades for his excellent direction and for eliciting such impressive performances from the specially abled children.
The music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is pleasant, though a couple of popular songs could have enhanced the soundtrack. Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics align perfectly with the film’s tone and characters.
The song picturizations (by Vijay A. Ganguly and Ruel Dausan Varindani) are fittingly done. Ram Sampath’s background score is noteworthy, while Srinivas Reddy’s cinematography is outstanding.
Parvez Shaikh’s action and stunt sequences are well-executed, and Sylvan Desmond’s basketball choreography is commendable. The production design by Nikhil Kovale and Apurva Vijay Bhagat is excellent, and Charu Shree Roy’s editing is remarkably sharp.
Final Analysis
Overall, Sitaare Zameen Par is poised to be a tremendous hit. Although it has a slow start, strong word-of-mouth will significantly boost its box office collections. The film is likely to enjoy a lengthy run and may receive standing ovations in theaters during its initial days. There will likely be a surge in demand for large group bookings, and audiences who have not attended cinemas in years will flock to see it on the big screen.
Aamir Khan and his team deserve a big shoutout for presenting a soul searching film that stands as an inspiration for many in the coming days.
