Mar 04, 2026 9:00am IST
Aamir Khan: India’s Theatrical-Streaming Dynamic Is Currently ‘Not a Graceful Compromise’ (EXCLUSIVE)
One of Hollywood’s most dependable box-office draws, Leonardo DiCaprio, in a recent conversation with The Times, shared some worrying thoughts about the future of the theatrical experience. He voiced concerns about the shrinking theatrical window and the growing dominance of streaming platforms.
The “One Battle After Another” star argued that watching movies in a cinema hall remains crucial for preserving the communal magic of moviegoing. Even as his own films continue to attract global audiences, DiCaprio has acknowledged that the future of theatrical exhibition feels increasingly uncertain, a debate that now resonates strongly within the Indian film industry as well.
In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, Aamir Khan shared his thoughts on the ‘theatrical versus streaming’ debate. When asked if he sees Indian cinema protecting the big-screen experience or negotiating a graceful compromise with streaming economics, Aamir shared, “Right now, it’s not a graceful compromise. That’s not a good situation to be in. So, I think a graceful compromise is much better, but at this point of time, it doesn’t look graceful to me from any angle.”
Related Stories
Adding that balancing theatrical with a streaming mandate is a task that producers all over are facing. Aamir added, “A lot of producers are facing that and not just in Hindi. In the South as well, a lot of producers I’ve spoken to are facing this problem. I agree with what Leonardo DiCaprio said, that the theatrical window needs to be protected to some extent. If you want the theatrical business to thrive and be healthy, you need to protect it.”
As a producer, he envisions that a flexible model would work better than a one-size-fits-all ‘ideal scenario.’ He shares, “Well, I think you need to work on different models. Mainstream films, which have a lot at stake, need a slightly longer window. A film like “Dhurandhar” benefited from it. I think some really big films can have longer theatrical windows. Maybe small, experimental films need shorter ones. So, we need to have a flexible model.”
Aamir Khan's last release was "Sitaare Zameen Par" that released in June 2025. The movie did close to ₹200 crores at the box-office. Aamir Khan had paired up with Genelia Deshmukh for the movie, which was directed by RS Prasanna.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.