Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ to centre around Down Syndrome? Here’s what we know

Actor Aamir Khan made his directorial debut in 2007 with the poignant drama ‘Taare Zameen Par’. The movie brought attention to the often-overlooked issue of dyslexia and resonated deeply with the audience.

In 2023, Aamir revealed his upcoming project, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, and recent reports indicate that the film will focus on Down Syndrome.

In ‘Taare Zameen Par’, Aamir portrayed a teacher who assists Safary's character, Ishaan Awasthi, in overcoming his dyslexia.

Now, the actor-filmmaker aims to initiate a dialogue about Down Syndrome.

A source close to the project disclosed, ‘Similar to TZP, Aamir Khan intends to spotlight another condition often stigmatized in our society through 'Sitaare Zameen Par.' He discovered a touching narrative that illuminates the experiences of individuals with Down Syndrome. Khan is dedicated to approaching the subject with sensitivity, striving to foster understanding and equality for those affected by the syndrome.’

The source further mentioned that additional details about the film remain undisclosed at this time. It has not been confirmed whether Aamir Khan will return as the director or solely serve as a producer. Actor Genelia Deshmukh is reportedly set to appear in the film, which is slated for release on Christmas this year.

Earlier, in an interview with News18, Aamir Khan said, ‘With Sitaare Zameen Par, we are moving 10 steps ahead with the same theme. TZP was an emotional film. (But) This film (SZP) will make you laugh. That film made you cry, this one will entertain you. The theme is the same. That’s why we kept this name very thoughtfully. We all have flaws, we all have weaknesses, but we all also have something special, so we are taking forward this theme”. He added that in TZP, his character helped the special child Ishaan but “in SZP, nine boys, who have their own issues, help me. It’s the opposite.’

What is Down Syndrome?

For those unfamiliar, Down Syndrome is a genetic condition triggered by abnormal cell division leading to additional genetic material from chromosome 21. This condition often results in developmental and intellectual delays.