Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par arrived in cinemas on June 20, but not without a set of last-minute, government-mandated changes — chief among them, has been the inclusion of a quote by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the opening credits.

Cleared for release by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on June 17, the film faced a delay in certification until producers complied with five specific edits. The most prominent directive was to feature the Prime Minister’s message as part of the film’s opening disclaimer. The quote reads:

“In 2047, when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Independence, our divyang friends will be seen as an inspiration to the whole world. Today, we have to be determined towards achieving this goal. Let us all build a society where no dream or goal is impossible, only then we will be able to build a truly inclusive and developed India.”

The terminology itself has sparked debate. The term “divyang,” coined by Modi in 2015 to refer to persons with disabilities, has been widely criticised by disability rights groups, who have argued that it glosses over real struggles with euphemism and strips away all complexity. Despite sustained opposition and formal petitions to government bodies, the term remains in official use.

Beyond the quote, the CBFC ordered several other changes. A visual and subtitle containing the word “kamal” (lotus) — also the symbol of the ruling party — was removed. “Business woman” was changed to “business person,” and a 30-second disclaimer at the start was shortened to a 26-second voiceover. The word “Michael Jackson” in subtitles was swapped with “Lovebirds.”

The revisions were recommended by a CBFC revising committee led by theatre director Waman Kendre, after the examining committee reviewed the initial cut. Neither CBFC chairperson Rajendra Singh nor Kendre commented on the rationale behind the directives.

The unusual nature of these changes, especially the inclusion of a political quote, has drawn criticism. Critics argue that inserting political messaging into cinema, particularly under certification pressure, sets a worrying precedent for creative freedom.

Sitaare Zameen Par is the official Hindi remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions, and is presented as a spiritual successor to Aamir Khan’s 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par. Directed by RS Prasanna, the film follows a basketball assistant coach (played by Khan) sentenced to community service, who finds himself coaching a team of neurodivergent basketball players adults. The film also stars Genelia Deshmukh.