Did Aamir Khan reject Rs 120 crore OTT deal for Sitaare Zameen Par, championing theatre-first release model? Here's what we know

Aamir Khan is once again taking an unconventional route with his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par. The actor has reportedly declined a massive Rs 120 crore offer from Amazon Prime Video for the film’s digital rights, choosing instead to delay its OTT release in a bid to revive India’s theatre-going culture.According to trade analyst Komal Nahta, Khan’s decision is a calculated move to push audiences back into cinema halls. “The idea is to make people choose the big screen experience again by not giving them the home-viewing option so soon," a source close to the development told News18. However, there has been no official statement from Aamir on the same. Aamir stands firm against early OTT releasesOver the last few years, the industry has witnessed a swift shift toward streaming platforms, with most films dropping on OTT just a few weeks after their theatrical debut. Aamir Khan, however, believes this model has significantly contributed to the drop in footfalls at movie theatres.This isn’t the first offer Khan has turned down either. Sources reveal that Netflix had also expressed interest in acquiring Sitaare Zameen Par, but the actor-producer reportedly declined that deal as well, firmly standing by a delayed digital release strategy.Opting for YouTube over streaming giantsRather than partnering with a major OTT platform, Khan reportedly plans to release the film digitally on YouTube using a pay-per-view model. This approach not only gives him complete control over the release window and pricing, but also allows him to experiment with alternate digital revenue streams.Sitaare Zameen Par, which stars Aamir Khan and Genelia D’Souza, is set for a theatrical release on June 20. The film is expected to carry a strong emotional core, much like Khan’s critically acclaimed 2007 directorial Taare Zameen Par, and is already building buzz for its unique release strategy.