Aamir Khan has reportedly turned down a massive offer from Amazon Prime Video for the online release of his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par. According to reports, the offer was worth Rs 120 crore. This decision is seen as part of Khan's plan to change the way films are released today. Normally, films appear on digital platforms shortly after their time in cinemas, but Aamir wants to try something different.
As per film trade analyst Komal Nahata, Aamir Khan rejected the offer because he wants to wait at least eight weeks after the movie's release in theatres before making it available online. His goal is to bring people back to cinemas by not giving them the option to watch the film at home right away. Khan believes that releasing films on OTT platforms too soon after their theatrical release is one of the reasons why fewer people are going to the cinema. By delaying the digital release, he hopes more people will watch the movie on the big screen. If this works, it could influence how other filmmakers release their movies in the future.
While Sitaare Zameen Par won’t be available on streaming services like Amazon Prime Video right away, Khan still plans to release the film online later — but through YouTube, where it will be available as a paid viewing option. This allows him to decide exactly when the movie goes online, something that wouldn’t be possible if he sold the rights to a major platform.
Interestingly, this is not the first big offer Aamir Khan has declined for this film. Before Amazon Prime Video, Netflix also reportedly made a very attractive offer to buy the digital rights to Sitaare Zameen Par. However, Khan also turned that down, sticking firmly to his new release strategy. Sitaare Zameen Par, which also stars Genelia D’Souza, is set to release in cinemas on June 20. Fans are eagerly waiting to see how Khan’s approach works and whether it will change the way movies are released in India. If successful, it may bring a positive change for theatres and the cinema-going experience.