Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par: How to Watch on YouTube Despite OTT Dispute

Aamir Khan's sports drama Sitaare Zameen Par premiered in cinemas and became available digitally on YouTube's pay-per-view (PPV) model. Khan aimed to create a dedicated PPV window between theatrical and streaming phases. He prefers a six-month gap between theatrical and OTT releases, but negotiations with OTT players are stalled. The film can be rented in India for ₹100 via YouTube on various devices.

Aamir Khan's sports drama "Sitaare Zameen Par" has taken an unconventional route in its digital distribution, premiering in cinemas and becoming available on YouTube's pay-per-view (PPV) model. The film, directed by RS Prasanna, features Khan and Genelia Deshmukh alongside ten debut artists. The PPV model aims to create a dedicated window between theatrical and streaming phases, with Khan preferring a six-month gap between the two. However, negotiations with OTT players have stalled, leading to the current PPV release.

The film's budget initially stood at $11 million (Rs 96 crore), but it increased to $14-15 million (Rs 122-133 crore) after Khan's partners exited the project due to disagreements over the YouTube release plan [1]. Khan's decision to release the film on YouTube via PPV for Rs 100 has been praised by industry peers, with filmmaker Hansal Mehta lauding the move as a step forward in making cinema more accessible [3].

The YouTube deal, while not disclosed in detail, is reported to favor both parties, deviating from the traditional 50-50 split seen in box office deals [1]. The film has grossed Rs 276 crore worldwide as of now, with Khan yet to recover his personal investment [2]. This model could pave the way for a new revenue stream for independent filmmakers, offering global reach beyond traditional cinema chains [2].

While the PPV model has been well-received, some users, particularly on Apple devices, have reported inflated rental prices. Aamir Khan Productions has apologized for this issue and is working to resolve it [3]. The move to release a major Bollywood film directly on YouTube via PPV is a bold step, reflecting Khan's growing concern over the rising cost of going to the movies.

References:
[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/amir-khan-reveals-sitare-zameen-pars-budget-says-it-overshot-as-partner-pulled-out/articleshow/123204098.cms
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/aamir-khans-rs-122-crore-budget-movie-was-left-by-his-partner-because-of-ott-release-issue/articleshow/123204280.cms
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/hansal-mehta-praises-aamir-khans-pay-per-view-model-of-releasing-sitaare-zameen-par-im-a-vocal-supporter-of/articleshow/123165220.cms