Farhan Akhtar & Sivakarthikeyan Were Originally Cast In Sitaare Zameen Par Before Aamir Khan Returned
With Sitaare Zameen Par set to release on June 20, Aamir Khan revealed a surprising piece of information that has started conversations around the industry. At the recently held Style Icons Summit, the superstar revealed that Farhan Akhtar and Tamil actor Sivakarthikeyan were originally set to star in the Hindi and Tamil versions of the film.
Farhan Akhtar & Sivakarthikeyan Were Fixed As Leads Before Aamir Came Back
In a relaxed conversation, Aamir explained how the disappointing release of Laal Singh Chaddha left him devastated, causing him to take a step back and opt out of acting in Sitaare Zameen Par and stay only as a producer. “I was mentally drained and told director R.S. Prasanna that I would only produce it,” Aamir said.
That is how Prasanna, who had recently directed Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, signed Farhan Akhtar for the Hindi version and Sivakarthikeyan for the Tamil adaptation. “They both loved the script, we locked dates, and it was all finalised,” Aamir said.
“Why Am I Not Making This Film?”: Aamir’s Change of Heart
After things shifted during script readings. “On the very first day I felt, Why am I not doing this?” Aamir recalled. That feeling lingered for a week until he could no longer resist. “I told Divya and Prasanna that I wanted to do it, but it was too late – they had cast the film. The bullet has been shot.”
In a lovely panel, Prasanna replied, “I am from Chennai. So what we do is take the bullet which has already been shot and put it back in the gun.” That was very much the moment the fate of the film changed.
Aamir Personally Called Farhan & Sivakarthikeyan to Apologise
After he made the decision to return, Aamir Khan personally contacted Farhan and Sivakarthikeyan to apologise. “They were disappointed, but cool,” Aamir recalled. “Farhan told me, ‘You have lived with this script for so long; I understand.'”
There remains mutual respect between the three, and some industry insiders credited them with conducting the transition in a professional manner.
About Sitaare Zameen Par
Aamir Khan and Genelia Deshmukh star in Sitaare Zameen Par, the story of a basketball coach who takes on the challenge of coaching a team of athletes with intellectual disabilities after a personal loss. What begins as a challenge becomes a journey of empathy, resilience, and personal growth.
Sitaare Zameen Par is directed by R.S. Prasanna and releases on June 20, 2025, and is considered a spiritual sequel to Aamir’s classic Taare Zameen Par (2007).
➤ Also Read: Aamir Khan Shrugs Off ‘Go to Pakistan’ Trolls: “It Doesn’t Affect Me” Ahead of Sitaare Zameen Par Release
Box Office Worldwide Verdict
What had the potential of being a Farhan Akhtar and Sivakarthikeyan film ended up being a full-circle endeavour back to Aamir Khan — fuelled by passion, healing, and the instinct to tell the story. In an industry that is commerce-driven, this healing story of emotional clarity and creative trust reinforces Aamir Khan’s ethos as the most respected storyteller in Bollywood.
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