Aamir Khan is returning to Japanese theaters for the first time in nine years. His 2025 film Sitaare Zameen Par will release in Japan in spring 2027 under the title Sitaare! The Miracle Team of Stardust, distributor Geek Pictures announced on September 25, 2026. The film will open at Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho, YEBISU GARDEN CINEMA, and other theaters across the country, marking Khan’s first starring theatrical release in Japan since Dangal in 2018.
Japanese Release Details Confirmed
Geek Pictures, working with Geek Pictures Pvt. Ltd., will distribute the film. An official Japanese account for the movie was created alongside the announcement. A post from the account confirmed the release window and described the film as a story “filled with laughter and tears.”
The Japanese title uses the word Sitaare, which means “stars” in Hindi. New stills from the film were also released alongside the announcement.
Aamir Khan’s History in Japan
Khan has a long and successful record in Japanese cinemas. His 2009 film 3 Idiots became the highest-grossing Hindi film in Japan at the time, earning 170 million yen. The film was praised by director Steven Spielberg, who said he watched it three times.
Dangal released in Japan on April 6, 2018, and earned nearly 50 million yen by its third weekend. Khan’s production Secret Superstar also reached Japanese audiences in August 2019, but Sitaare Zameen Par will be his first starring role in a Japanese theatrical release in nine years.
What Sitaare Zameen Par Is About
The film follows Gulshan, a former basketball player whose life has not gone as planned. After a drunk-driving incident, he is sentenced to community service. His punishment requires him to coach a basketball team called Sitaare, made up of adults with disabilities.
Gulshan initially sees the assignment as something he just has to get through. Over time, his time with the players changes his attitude toward success, failure, and the people around him.
“A heartwarming ode to life filled with laughter and tears.” – Geek Pictures announcement
The story is an official remake of the 2018 Spanish comedy Champions, which was Spain’s highest-grossing domestic film that year. Sitaare Zameen Par is also described as a spiritual successor to Khan’s 2007 directorial debut Taare Zameen Par, which was released internationally as Like Stars on Earth.
Cast and Real Performers
R. S. Prasanna directed the film. Aamir Khan leads the cast as Gulshan and also serves as producer under Aamir Khan Productions. Genelia Deshmukh, Gurpal Singh, Dolly Ahluwalia, and Brijendra Kala play key roles.
The members of Team Sitaare are played by ten first-time actors who themselves have disabilities. They were selected through an extensive audition process. The actors include Ashish Pendse, Aroush Datta, Aayush Bhansali, Rishi Shahani, Gopi Krishnan K Verma, Rishabh Jain, Vedant Sharma, Samvit Desai, Naman Misra, and Simran Mangeshkar.
Geek Pictures described their performances as bringing “genuine energy, authenticity, and brilliance to the film.”
Box Office and Streaming Details
Sitaare Zameen Par released in Indian theaters on June 20, 2025. The film earned ₹267.52 crore worldwide in gross collections, including ₹200.77 crore from India and ₹66.75 crore from overseas markets, according to trade tracker Sacnilk. It recorded ₹167.46 crore in net collections across 184,992 shows.
The film made its digital debut on SonyLIV on April 3, 2026. Before that, it was available on YouTube through a pay-per-view model starting August 1, 2025, for Rs 100 in India. International regions including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and Spain also had access with local pricing.
Sitaare Zameen Par became Khan’s highest-grossing film since Dangal in 2016. The production budget for the Hindi sports drama was ₹122 crore.
What the Film Explores
The film looks at themes including diversity, inclusion, and neurodiversity. It also focuses on learning to accept imperfections and one another. Geek Pictures described the film as an “uplifting piece of entertainment filled with the kind of joy and humanity that resonates deeply with the world today.”
Khan has attracted attention in Japan not only as an actor but also as a producer. His production Laapataa Ladies released in Japan in 2024.
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Upcoming Projects
Aamir Khan is expected to start shooting Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lalkaara in October 2026. The sports biopic is based on the life of cricketer Lala Amarnath and is reportedly eyeing a December 2027 release. His production house, Aamir Khan Productions, recently backed Lahore 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and starring Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, and Shabana Azmi. The period drama released on August 13, 2026.
For more updates on Aamir Khan’s films and Japanese releases, keep reading VvipTimes.
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