Apr 02, 2026 4:42pm IST
‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ Director R.S. Prasanna: Aamir Khan Has Reputation for Backing Cinema Which Others are Scared To Touch’ (EXCLUSIVE)
The heart-warming sports-dramedy, “Sitaare Zameen Par” starring Aamir Khan and many neurodivergent actors of all ages, is now releasing on Sony LIV.
The film delivered a social message with a dash of humor. Director R.S. Prasanna speaks about the casting in an exclusive interview with Variety India.
With 'Sitaare Zameen Par,' you want the audiences to believe in the phrase ‘Sabka apna apna normal.’ But to convince the audience, you need to have that belief first. So, how did that conviction come to you?
I think it comes from my parents, especially my grandmother. We used to hear moral stories while growing up. She always used to stress that we are all the same soul in different bodies. Therefore, she believed that whatever harm you cause, you're causing it to yourself. I was brought up in a simple truthful manner, with a teaching that we're all connected somehow. And in this movie, i saw the opportunity to kind of convey that beautiful message and who better than the neurodivergent community to do that.
One of the parents, I think it was Ashish's (Pendse who played Sunil) father something very beautiful. He said, ‘This movie can be done only by one of two types of people. One is either somebody who's got a Down's Syndrome child or an autistic child, or in whose family there is a person with special needs, or it has to be done by a person who truly believes in this message that we are all connected.’ It's a very important message, especially with the war stutation everywhere. I was lucky to find this movie and amplify this message, which is very much needed.
Related Stories
What was the casting process?
We auditioned about 2,500 special actors and then we brought it down to 50, then to 10. But those are the mechanical, logistical parts of it, which, of course, we took one year. We had wonderful casting agencies. But what I was looking for, was to see aspirants who were emanating a certain confidence, not only in front of the camera, but generally in their being. That was very important because every other thing can be changed or worked upon, but the spirit within, if one apologising for who one is, then it's very difficult for you to get the confidence to be who you are. Society, bad teachers and bad parenting can teach us to be ashamed of who we are. These actors were devoid of that and that attracted all of us to them. The credit, of course, is to themselves, but I think a large amount of credit is to their parents and to the teachers who have given them the proper vocational training and they have not broken their confidence.
Was Aamir Khan your first choice for the lead role?
Yes, absolutely! Though I have not done many films, even with "Shubh Mangal Saavdhan," Ayushmann Khurrana immediately came to mind when I was doing the Hindi adaptation. Likewise, when we were working on this, the immediate choice for me was Aamir Sir. We don't often see Aamir Khan on screen, as a guy who is not evolved. So, there was a huge opportunity to see him have fun, just be like this guy who is very arrogant and very rude. But also, there is a certain humanity within Gulshan which I always felt Aamir sir could pull off. I think the Sitaare (the neurodivergent kids) brought out the humanity which was already inside Gulshan, which for me was represented by his relationship with his mother and wife. I knew that I needed somebody like Aamir sir to carry off that very delicate balance. And of course, as a superstar and a producer, I felt he was the correct platform to take this movie to the world with his large amount of goodwill. Also reputation for backing different cinema, which others might be a little scared to touch. So, I think both as an actor and as a superstar producer, Aamir sir was my only choice. And thank God it worked out.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.