Sitaare Zameen Par Movie Review: This heartwarming Aamir Khan film has its heart in the right place but plays below its potential

Aamir Khan in Sitaare Zameen Par

‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ has everything you expect from an Aamir Khan film under his own banner—a socially relevant subject, humour in the right places, and a feel-good story about underdogs rising to the occasion. But for all its sincerity, the film never quite reaches the emotional heights of ‘Taare Zameen Par,’ the 2007 film that talked about dyslexia.

Good, but could have been better

It wants to be heartwarming and inspiring, and in parts, it is. But you can’t shake off the feeling that it had all the right ingredients and still missed the chance to become something truly special. There are moments that work and moments that move, but also long stretches where the film plays safe or shallow. It’s a good film, just not a great one—and with this team and theme, that gap becomes harder to ignore.

A plot with a heart

The story follows Gulshan Arora (Aamir Khan), an assistant basketball coach who gets suspended after slapping his senior—an impulsive reaction to being mocked for his height. Things spiral further when he’s caught drunk driving. But instead of jail time, the court assigns him community service: training a group of neurodivergent youth at a local center.

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At first, Gulshan is dismissive and frustrated, but as he slowly begins to understand their individual quirks, he begins to change. The narrative also weaves in a subplot about Gulshan’s strained relationship with his ex-wife, Suneeta (Genelia Deshmukh), which adds emotional texture but doesn’t get enough time to fully land. The film wants to be a redemption story—for both the coach and the team—but skips past a few emotional beats.

Aamir is effortless; the ensemble shines

Aamir Khan is in a space we haven’t seen him in for a while—understated, flawed, and very human. There’s something refreshing about seeing him play a character who could be your local gym coach, complete with rough edges and a bruised ego. His performance becomes more compelling as the film progresses, especially when Gulshan starts connecting with the players on a personal level.

A standout scene involves him gently encouraging a player who’s terrified of taking a bath—played with rare tenderness. Gurpal Singh, as the wise, no-nonsense but compassionate principal, holds his own and shares some of the film’s best scenes with Aamir. Genelia is solid in her role, even if she’s underused. The young cast playing the basketball team—Aroush Datta, Vedant Sharmaa, Simran Mangeshkar, and others—bring charm, wit, and authenticity. And then there’s Dolly Ahluwalia, who steals the show as Aamir’s sharp-tongued mother. She’s a riot, and every scene with her crackles.

The emotion Is there—just not enough of it

The film is a remake of the Spanish hit ‘Campeones,’ and the premise is rich with emotional possibilities. But strangely, it’s the comic tone that dominates. The humour works, and the intent is clearly noble—but what’s missing is the emotional gut-punch we’ve come to expect from Aamir-led social dramas. You want to feel more for these special individuals, their journey, their victories.

But barring a few scenes, that connection never fully forms. The transition from clumsy misfits to coordinated basketball players feels rushed. The film skirts around deeper conversations about neurodivergence and instead focuses more on ‘winning hearts’ through montages and pep talks. It’s not that the film lacks soul—it just doesn’t dig deep enough.

Important story, earnest effort—but falls short of magic

Despite the gaps, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ deserves credit for spotlighting neurodivergent individuals and doing so with empathy. Director R.S. Prasanna brings sincerity to the story, and you can sense that he truly cares about the subject. The film also succeeds in making the world of these characters feel lived-in and real.

But you also can’t help but compare it with ‘Taare Zameen Par,’ a film that didn't just talk about learning differences but made you feel them. Here, the emotional stakes feel more manufactured. The music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy doesn’t leave much of an impression either. In the end, this is a film with its heart in the right place, made with good intentions, and filled with likable performances. It’s just that when you expect magic, "pretty good" doesn’t quite cut it.

Cast: Aamir Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Gurpal Singh, Dolly Ahluwalia Tiwari, Brijendra Kala
Director: R.S. Prasanna Rating: 3.5/5

(‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ is playing in theatres)