Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par picks up momentum on release day as last-hour bookings surge past 10,000 tickets

Aamir Khan's 'Sitaare Zameen Par' Gains Momentum After Slow Start

Aamir Khan's latest film, the highly anticipated emotional drama 'Sitaare Zameen Par', experienced a subdued opening at the box office. However, there are encouraging signs that the film is gaining traction as the day progresses.

The film, released today, June 20th, had the majority of its screenings scheduled to begin after 10 AM, resulting in relatively slow advance bookings during the early hours. According to BookMyShow data, there has been a surge of over 10,000 tickets booked in the last hour alone, indicating growing audience interest in the movie.

As of 1 PM today, 'Sitaare Zameen Par' has managed to collect Rs 1.68 crore in India. Prior to its release, the film had advance bookings of Rs 3.31 crore, with 115,344 tickets sold across 9,542 shows nationwide. Including blocked seats, the total pre-release booking value reached Rs 6.88 crore, providing the film with a respectable start despite the limited number of early morning shows.

The film's primary business is originating from the Hindi belt, with Rs 3.19 crore grossed through 103,884 tickets in the Hindi 2D format alone. While its presence in regional languages like Tamil and Telugu is limited, it is still notable, especially with 9,309 tickets sold for the Telugu version.

In comparison, 'Kuberaa', starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, and Rashmika Mandanna, had a stronger opening at the Indian box office, earning Rs 3.58 crore until 1 PM on its release day. Produced on a reported budget of Rs 120 crore, 'Kuberaa' has been consistently drawing in crowds, with advance bookings and early show numbers reflecting steady footfalls.

While 'Sitaare Zameen Par' had a slower start due to its show timings and the genre's typically selective audience appeal, the afternoon and evening shows are expected to perform better. The recent surge in last-hour ticket bookings suggests positive word of mouth and growing curiosity surrounding the film.

If the current booking momentum continues throughout the evening and weekend, 'Sitaare Zameen Par' could establish itself at the box office, balancing out its day-one numbers with a steady increase in collections. The film's premiere last night was a star-studded event, attended by prominent figures such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Rekha, and Vicky Kaushal.