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The trailer of Aamir Khan's 'Sitaare Zameen Par' dropped on Tuesday, offering audiences a glimpse into what’s being positioned as a spiritual follow-up to his 2007 directorial debut, 'Taare Zameen Par'. Directed by RS Prasanna, this upcoming sports dramedy has now come under online scrutiny after viewers discovered it’s an official remake of the 2018 Spanish film 'Campeones', directed by Javier Fesser.

Comparisons between Sitaare Zameen Par and Campeones

While the Indian adaptation is yet to hit theatres, comparisons have already begun surfacing on Reddit, where users noted frame-by-frame similarities between the two films’ trailers. One particular user observed that Aamir’s character is seen drinking and driving, only to crash into a police vehicle—a sequence that mirrors the exact scenario in 'Campeones', where Javier Gutiérrez’s character meets with a similar fate. As in the original, the court orders Aamir’s character to coach a team of individuals with intellectual disabilities, preparing them for a basketball championship.

Looks like SZP is a frame-by-frame copy of the Spanish hit Campeones(2023).
byu/Chai_Lijiye inBollyBlindsNGossip

Further parallels were pointed out, including a moment where the coach accidentally hurls the ball into a child’s face, prompting the others to flinch in fear—a moment also present in the Spanish film. Even the support system surrounding the protagonist—his friend and mother—remains the same. However, Genelia D’Souza’s character, who plays the coach’s wife in 'Sitaare Zameen Par', doesn’t have an equivalent presence in the original trailer.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Aamir Khan Productions (@aamirkhanproductions)

Netizens react

The reaction on Reddit has been mixed. Some users criticised Aamir for opting for another remake following the underwhelming performance of 'Laal Singh Chaddha'—the Hindi adaptation of 'Forrest Gump'. “After the Forest Gump fiasco, he should have stayed away from remakes or adaptations,” commented one user. Another remarked, “Perfectionist in copying the film frame by frame.”

Some even revisited his past work to reinforce their point. “Look at his filmography again. He has remade The Godfather, Kramer vs. Kramer, On the Waterfront, Forrest Gump... A lot of them have scenes lifted frame by frame. I still love Ghulam, Akele Hum Akele Tum etc. The point is he’s had a lot of practice,” a Redditor noted, referencing earlier films like 'Aatank Hi Aatank' and 'Akele Hum Akele Tum'.

However, not everyone was critical. A number of users defended the project, pointing out that 'Sitaare Zameen Par' is officially sanctioned. “Official remake hai bhai toh of course usme konsi nayi baat hai,” wrote one commenter. Another added, “You’re acting like people in India have all seen Champions and it’s a massive hit here. No one gives a shit if it’s a remake as no one has seen the original, all that matters is if it’s a good film.”

Interestingly, 'Campeones' has already seen an English-language remake in the form of 'Champions' (2023), starring Woody Harrelson in the lead. With 'Sitaare Zameen Par', the Indian adaptation will introduce 10 fresh faces portraying the young basketball players, alongside veteran actress Dolly Ahluwalia who plays Aamir’s mother.

'Sitaare Zameen Par' is set for a theatrical release on June 20.