Aamir Khan's "Stars on Earth" Soars Past "Ghajini," Becomes Sixth-Biggest Hit

Aamir Khan is back with a bang! His latest film, "Sitaare Zameen Par" (Stars on Earth), has emerged as a box office phenomenon, securing its place as the sixth biggest hit of his illustrious career.

The film, an emotional drama, has grossed an impressive Rs 122.65 crore across all languages in just ten days. The Hindi version alone contributed a staggering Rs 121.88 crore. This remarkable feat allows "Sitaare Zameen Par" to overtake the lifetime earnings of Khan's 2008 blockbuster, "Ghajini," which previously held the record with Rs 114 crore. "Ghajini" was a milestone in Indian cinema as it was the first film to cross the Rs 100 crore mark.

This success marks a significant comeback for Aamir Khan, especially after the lukewarm reception of "Laal Singh Chaddha" in 2022, which managed only Rs 61.12 crore in Hindi. "Sitaare Zameen Par" not only revives his box office prowess but also reaffirms his connection with audiences, particularly in the realm of emotional and socially conscious storytelling, a forte he has cultivated since "Taare Zameen Par."

The film's opening day saw a solid Rs 10.7 crore, followed by exponential growth over the weekend, with Rs 20.2 crore on Saturday and Rs 27.25 crore on Sunday. Despite a predictable dip on Monday and Tuesday, collections remained steady mid-week and experienced a resurgence during the second weekend, culminating in Rs 14.50 crore on the second Sunday (early estimates).

The strong performance indicates positive word-of-mouth, drawing audiences to the theaters.

The success of "Sitaare Zameen Par" underscores Aamir Khan's enduring appeal and the strong brand loyalty associated with his style of cinema.

Currently positioned sixth on Aamir Khan's list of top-grossing films, "Sitaare Zameen Par" trails only "Thugs of Hindostan" (Rs 145.55 crore) and surpasses iconic titles like "Ghajini" (Rs 114 crore), "Talaash" (Rs 93.61 crore), "Taare Zameen Par" (Rs 62.95 crore), and "Laal Singh Chaddha" (Rs 61.12 crore).

As the film progresses into its second week, the outlook remains promising. If the current momentum persists, "Sitaare Zameen Par" could potentially challenge "Thugs of Hindostan" for the fifth position by the upcoming weekend. This is despite the release of new films such as Anurag Basu's "Metro… In Dino" starring Aditya Roy Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan, along with Akshaye Khanna's "Akshardham," neither of which have generated significant buzz.