Aamir Khan’s most awaited film trailer, Sitaare Zameen Par, was released on May 13, 2025, and it has already gone viral on social media. In the three-minute trailer, we see Khan’s character, a disgraced sports coach, take on the challenge of training a team of autistics which he was assigned to as a punishment. The marketers are calling this a spiritual sequel to the fan-favorite Taare Zameen Par (2007), a film revolving around learning disabilities and the development of kids with such disabilities, promising an emotional rollercoaster filled with laughter and a lot of warmth. However, or claims with strong evidence, netizens are accusing the film of unoriginality, mocking it for copying the 2023 Champions film. Let’s delve into the drama, reactions, and the trailer.
A Touching Trailer of Similar Tone for a Foreseen Hit
The newly published trailer of Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par portrays him in a comedic, dramatic, and inspirational light as he trains a team of “10 Toofani SITAARE.” This seems to continue the storyline of ***Taare Zameen Par***, which gained immense popularity for its heartfelt depiction of a child struggling with dyslexia. The trailer also appears to strongly suggest a love angle for Genelia Deshmukh’s character, adding depth to the film’s core.
Fans are thrilled and excited, as shown by social media reactions. One user from X commented, “Wonderful trailer !! After a long time a movie feels worth a visit to the theatres. Truly hope this one doesn’t disappoint.” Another user said, “A Hugely Heartwarming Sequel of Taare Zameen Par Trailer Is Out Now Sitaare Zameen Par Aamir Khan Returns With Laughter Love And Whole Lot Of Heart…” To add one more perspective, a third user stated, “a touching and empowering glimpse to celebrate the spirit, strength and potential of differently-abled children.” These comments indicate that the trailer has captivated those hungry for heartwarming family-friendly feel-good films.
The initial praise to the trailer’s title track stemmed from how captivating the tune is, “The title track is lovely,” creating excitement around the film. Emotionally and socially relevant storytelling has seldom been seen as signature Aamir Khan’s bold return and, for many, the trailer promises to deliver just that.
The Controversy: Is It a Copy of Champions?
A few critics of the trailer, however, faced them viral backlash. Instagram has been set on fire with Sitaare Zameen Par ideas being champions’ 2023 Woody Harrelson staring movie copy. Oddly enough—Champion, the alleged champion of copycats—is an adaptation of a Spanish movie in which a disgraced basketball coach who is sentenced to prison and has to work as a coach for a team full of mentally challenged players. The parallels have caused sheer accusations of “scene-to-scene copy” with Sitaare Zameen Par blaming solely the lackluster title.
“#SitaareZameenPar trailer honest thoughts: Positives: A good trailer. Had a smile on my face throughout. Promises to be a wholesome family entertainer. The title track is lovely. Negatives: The fact that it’s a remake. Missed the ‘emotional’ quotient (need of such films),” summed up the confused thoughts of one X user. Other than that, most of them were left unsatisfied, some judging the film for being bland and asking—of all the films, why does Bollywood depend on Hollywood remakes too often?
The debate stems from an even deeper debate on originality in Indian cinema. The creative debate surrounding the movie industry is not new. Bollywood, for instance, has been credited with copying numerous foreign films and in some cases, has done so without credit and this has led to debates about creativity and the lack of it. It can be argued, and many do, that remakes at least provide the opportunity for new culture and context. However, many believe it hinders the capacity of an industry which is already lacking in original story telling.
Aamir Khan’s return has come with high stakes and, as expected, great hopes.
Aamir Khan, also referred to as Bollywood’s “Mr. Perfectionist,” is notorious for his selective nature and for choosing projects that miss the mark audience-wise. Aamir’s extended break from the industry has been a source of hope for many and brought anticipation to Sitaare Zameen Par. According to the production house, the film has already been marketed as a tale of journey titled, “1 Tingu Basketball Coach, 10 Toofani SITAARE aur unki,” promising an emotional story rooted deeply in the underdog narrative.
Yet, these challenges arise from accusations aimed at the film for its alleged similarities with “Champions”. In order to appeal to audiences, there is a chance that the film may add some cultural, psychological, or emotional layers, and give elements of characterization that differ from Aamir Khan’s customary performances. Fans remain hopeful, one user on X remarked, “GOAT Aamir Khan is back with a Bang The Blockbuster trailer of Sitaare Zameen Par has dropped emotional, powerful and absolutely unmissable journey of unlikely heroes.”
The Bigger Picture: Bollywood and Remakes
In the eyebrows rise over Sitaare Zameen Par lies a recurring dilemma with Bollywood: Where do you draw the line between inspiration and flat-out copying? With some remakes, like Drishyam (the original was in Malayalam) or 3 Idiots (based on a book by Chetan Bhagat), the remakes get accolades, blended with local flavor with storytelling that gets praise. Others, however, seem have no originality at all. Bollywoood’s simultaneous successes and failures rest on Sitaare Zameen Par’s ability to take the Champions storyline and give it a new perspective, Indian flavor, and some raw cultural or emotional depth, transforming it for the better, not worse.
The conversation is expected to become more intense as the release date nears. The glowing reception and legendary status of Taare Zameen Par is bound to raise the question whether Sitaare will be able to cover the ground without criticism. Or will it fall prey to yet another case of Bollywood’s zeal to borrow from Hollywood? As it stands now, the trailer has managed to spark debate and speculation, and most importantly, curiosity.
Conclusion
Screenshots garnered interest and the heated debate that sparked as a result was purely due to the praise of positive feedback alongside claims that the trailer appeared to draw heavy inspiration from Champions. Though deeply criticized, Khan’s return to the big screens acted as a cherry on the cake. The authentic and heartfelt narrative crafted around the story will determine the film’s overall reception. Amidst the chaos of public and media opinions, it is evident that Sitaare is already being labeled as one of the most anticipated films slated for a 2025 release.
