Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan recently made headlines with an unconventional decision: skipping all major OTT platforms to release his latest film, Sitaare Zameen Par, directly on YouTube Movies. While the move is being marketed as a bold, audience-first initiative, Khan’s reasoning — and the pricing — has left many questioning whether the strategy truly serves the goal of accessibility.
Speaking to the press, Khan addressed the elephant in the room: why he avoided the OTT route altogether. His full statement reads: “Many journalists have asked me why I didn't go to OTT. At that time, I couldn't explain it clearly. But the reason is that I never liked that model. I never understood it. That's why I've come up with this new model. I hope you'll like it. I hope that every citizen of the country will appreciate it. I believe cinema, which once soared, will soar high again.”
On the surface, the statement suggests a heartfelt vision — a desire to innovate and revive cinema in a way that connects with everyday viewers. However, the reality of the release undercuts the message. Sitaare Zameen Par, which premiered in theaters on June 20, will now be available on YouTube Movies starting August 1, but only on a pay-per-view basis, priced at ₹100 in India and equivalent local pricing in 38 countries, including the US, UK, and Australia.
The contradiction is glaring. If Khan’s motivation is to “reach more people at a lower cost,” why place a paywall in front of the film at all? YouTube, as a platform, already supports ad-based monetization and free streaming models — tools used widely by independent filmmakers and educators to democratize access. Charging viewers — even a relatively low fee — effectively recreates the same barrier he claims to be tearing down.
Moreover, many OTT platforms offer monthly subscriptions for a similar or even lower price, providing access to a vast library of content along with robust features like personalized recommendations, family plans, offline viewing, and localized interfaces. For a one-time film release, YouTube’s pay-per-view model arguably offers less value, not more.
The irony deepens when one considers Sitaare Zameen Par's subject matter. A sequel to the emotionally resonant Taare Zameen Par, the new film features Khan as a basketball coach working with a team of neurodivergent children — a story with clear social impact potential. If any film merited a truly open-access release, it would be this one.
Ultimately, what Aamir Khan presents as a revolutionary move toward accessibility might simply be a personal preference for control. By sidestepping platforms with complex algorithms, data analytics, and subscriber metrics, he keeps full autonomy — but at what cost to reach?
In a time when the democratization of content is not just possible but thriving, Khan’s decision feels less like innovation and more like insulation.