Following the May 13, 2025, trailer release of Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan’s upcoming film, social media erupted with boycott calls under the hashtag #BoycottSitaareZameenPar, citing his 2020 Turkey visit and perceived silence on the April 22 Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. The backlash targeted Khan, his fans, and Bollywood audiences, with netizens accusing him of disloyalty amid India-Pakistan tensions, amplified by Turkey’s support for Pakistan.
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The controversy gained traction hours after the trailer drop, coinciding with a May 12 Aamir Khan Productions post praising Operation Sindoor, considered opportunistic. Originating on X and spreading across India, the campaign featured defaced movie posters with “Boycott” slogans, reflecting nationalistic fervor. Critics leveraged Khan’s past controversies, like his meeting with Turkey’s First Lady, and claims the film copies the 2023 Hollywood movie Champions, to fuel the outrage .
Reasons Behind the Backlash
The boycott stems from Khan’s 2020 Turkey visit during Laal Singh Chaddha’s shoot, where he met First Lady Emine Erdogan, resurfaced amid Turkey’s backing of Pakistan post-Operation Sindoor. India’s May 7 strikes on PoK terror camps, retaliating for Pahalgam’s 26 civilian deaths, intensified anti-Turkey sentiment, with campaigns like #BoycottTurkishAirlines trending, per CNBC TV18. Netizens criticized Khan’s silence on the attack and his production house’s delayed Operation Sindoor tribute, labeled a “publicity stunt” Additionally, some accused the film of being a “frame-by-frame” remake of Champions, diluting its originality, as noted by India Observers. Sentiments on X called Khan a “friend of Turkey” and “traitor,” urging a boycott to prioritize “national respect.”
Film’s Narrative and Supporters
Sitaare Zameen Par, a spiritual sequel to 2007’s Taare Zameen Par, stars Khan as a basketball coach training intellectually disabled players, set for release on June 20, 2025. Directed by RS Prasanna, it aims to raise Down syndrome awareness, earning praise from fans for its positive narrative, per Dynamite News. Supporters, including Riteish Deshmukh, hailed the trailer as “exceptional,” while some X users argued it normalizes big stars tackling meaningful projects. Despite the boycott, the trailer’s emotional tone and Khan’s legacy with socially impactful films like Taare Zameen Par retain a loyal audience, as Business Standard reported.
Implications and Outlook
The boycott reflects growing expectations for Bollywood stars to align with national sentiments during crises, a trend seen in Laal Singh Chaddha’s 2022 backlash. Khan’s absence from social media and reliance on his production house’s statements fueled perceptions of detachment. While the campaign’s impact on the film’s box office remains uncertain, the polarized response—praise for its message versus accusations of opportunism and unoriginality—highlights India’s charged socio-political climate.
-By Manoj H