Aamir Khan and Genelia D’Souza’s highly anticipated film, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par,’ opened to positive reviews on Friday and quickly began to make a significant impact at the box office. After just two days in theaters, the movie successfully crossed the Rs. 30 crore milestone, keeping the cash registers ringing across the country.

According to Sacnilk, the film’s opening day collection stood at Rs. 10.7 crore, with Rs 10.6 crore coming from its Hindi release and Rs 0.05 crore each from its Tamil and Telugu versions. The momentum continued on Saturday, as ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ saw a substantial increase in earnings, collecting Rs 21.50 crore. This impressive performance brought its total box office collection after a two-day theatrical run to Rs. 32.20 crore, solidifying its position as a strong contender in the market.

In comparison, the previously dominant film, ‘Housefull 5,’ which stars Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan, was maintaining steady business after completing 16 days at the box office. Shot primarily on a cruise, ‘Housefull 5’ is characterized as a madhouse comedy-drama infused with a murder mystery twist. Its makers employed a unique strategy by releasing the movie with two distinct endings simultaneously. On Friday, June 20, ‘Housefull 5’ reported earnings of Rs 2 crore, followed by Rs 2.25 crore on Saturday, based on early estimates.

The plot of ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ centers on Gulshan Arora, played by Aamir Khan, a hotheaded basketball coach who faces suspension after an altercation with the head coach. Further complications arise as he faces potential jail time due to a drunk driving case. As part of his legal repercussions, Arora is assigned community service, which involves coaching a team of athletes with intellectual disabilities. His mission is to prepare them for a national basketball tournament. This challenging journey ultimately becomes a catalyst for significant personal development and valuable life lessons for the coach.

The movie has been widely praised by critics and audiences alike. An excerpt from the TOI review highlights its strengths: “Despite a sensitive and layered subject, R S Prasanna's directorial venture, written by Divy Nidhi Sharma, remains a wholesome, feel-good watch. It strikes a commendable balance between delivering a message and educating viewers about ID, all with a lighthearted touch. At its core is a message of inclusivity—conveying that people with ID are employable, independent, full of life, and deeply empathetic. The film sensitively portrays the characteristic traits of the players' conditions without reducing them to labels.”