The buzz around Aamir Khan’s upcoming film Sitare Zameen Par has been overshadowed by controversy, much like his 2022 release Laal Singh Chaddha. With rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, emotions have been running high across the country.

On May 7, the Indian military launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation — a mission that was praised nationwide, with celebrities saluting the armed forces. However, Aamir Khan’s silence on the matter drew sharp criticism. Unlike many stars who took to social media to express solidarity, Aamir remained quiet. It wasn’t until three days after the ceasefire was announced that a post from his production house finally acknowledged the military’s efforts.

Trolls and Boycott Calls Spark New Controversy

At a recent event, Aamir Khan finally addressed the issue, stating, “We want justice and believe that such attacks should never happen again.” He also expressed faith in the Indian government. While some fans appreciated his statement, others slammed him for his delayed response — triggering a fresh wave of trolling.

The backlash quickly snowballed into calls to boycott Sitare Zameen Par, with social media users flooding the film’s trailer comments and X (formerly Twitter) with boycott hashtags — eerily reminiscent of the campaign that plagued Laal Singh Chaddha.

A Patriotic Move Amid the Storm

In an apparent attempt to counter the growing criticism, Aamir Khan changed the profile picture of his production company’s Instagram handle to the Indian national flag. This symbolic gesture comes amid mounting pressure and calls for a boycott.

Laal Singh Chaddha’s Failure Still Haunts

The Laal Singh Chaddha debacle remains fresh in memory. Heavily boycotted upon release, the film struggled at the box office and closed with a mere Rs 58 crore net collection. That failure deeply impacted Aamir Khan’s career, and now, all eyes are on Sitare Zameen Par.

Will history repeat itself, or will Aamir manage to turn the tide this time? The answer lies in how audiences respond — both online and at the box office.