Director RS Prasanna has called Sitaare Zameen Par, his upcoming film with Aamir Khan, a “fan boy’s love letter” to the superstar. The film, a spiritual sequel to the 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par, will release on 20 June 2025 and marks Khan’s return to cinema after Laal Singh Chaddha.

Speaking to PTI, Prasanna shared how his journey from being a film student who admired Khan to directing him in a film has been “surreal”. “I remember crying and bawling my eyes out watching Taare Zameen Par with my friends and my then-girlfriend, now wife,” he said. He also recalled being in the audience in Chennai when Khan accepted the Gollapudi Srinivas Best Debut Director award for Taare Zameen Par in 2008. “The closest I got to Aamir sir was about 300 metres away,” he said, calling himself an “Ekalavya” figure watching his “Drona”.

Years later, when Prasanna met Khan to pitch a story that evolved into Sitaare Zameen Par, he emotionally recounted that moment. “This is not even a dream I dreamt,” he told Khan. At one of the film’s wrap parties, Prasanna described the project as “a fan boy’s love letter to his idol”.

Khan, according to the director, was deeply involved in the process and even suggested the film’s title. The story has a fresh set of characters, but it retains the emotional spirit of Taare Zameen Par. Unlike the earlier film, Sitaare Zameen Par is positioned as a comedy with a heart.

The film stars Genelia Deshmukh alongside ten specially-abled newcomers: Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar. Prasanna said the film would not have been possible without these actors, praising their raw, unfiltered performances. His team spent over six months in acting workshops, and cinematographer Srinivas Reddy employed “invisible filmmaking” to ensure the comfort of the cast.

“We created a playful and safe environment,” Prasanna said, comparing the performances to those in films like Anjali, Taare Zameen Par, and works by Majid Majidi.

Reflecting on the ups and downs of the film industry, Prasanna said, “Not every film will succeed, and every industry goes through its cycles.” He emphasised the enduring importance of stars in cinema, comparing Khan’s presence to that of global icons like Tom Cruise. “A star is like a curator. They bring a certain promise to the audience.”

With Sitaare Zameen Par, Prasanna believes he has made a film that is “entertaining, emotional, and thought-provoking”. For him, it is the ultimate tribute to the actor who once inspired him from afar.