Aamir Khan Regrets Early OTT Release of Laapataa Ladies
After being lauded for the heart-tugging Laapataa Ladies, Aamir Khan has now spoken with remorse over its early OTT release on Netflix. The Kiran Rao film was released in theatres on March 1, 2024, and then to Netflix just eight weeks later — a move Aamir is now contemplating may have hurt its box office viability.
The film may very well be considered a small gem for its story and performances, with praise from all quarters — yet, incidentally, it didn’t fully deliver a box office hit in theatres. In a recent interview, Aamir frankly shared what he calls a missed opportunity.
Aamir Khan: “It Would Have Been A Huge Success Theatrically”
Speaking to the media while promoting Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir said:
“I think Laapataa Ladies would have actually done really well in theatres but it was on Netflix eight weeks later; the word of mouth was so strong — I think if it hadn’t gone to Netflix so soon, it would have undoubtedly been a huge success.”
He maintained the box office numbers are clear and objective and an “unemotional yardstick” of a film’s reach, prospective audience, and resonation. Aamir noted that film reviews are still subjective, but the measure of theatrical success provides an unfiltered personal benchmark of audience engagement.
Laapataa Ladies: A Potential Cult Favourite?
Directed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies featured key cast members such as Sparsh Shrivastava, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Ravi Kishan. The story — which revolves around two brides getting confused on a village train journey — offered a humorous and poignant commentary on identity, freedom, and womanhood.
While the film is finding cult status on an OTT platform, Aamir’s remarks suggest that it might have gained a larger mainstream appeal had it landed on Netflix a few weeks later.
Next On The Docket: Theatrical-Only Release For Sitaare Zameen Par
Taking lessons learnt from Laapataa Ladies, Aamir has taken a hard stance going forward, and the next production, Sitaare Zameen Par, will be a theatre-first release. The film, which is a spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par, is only scheduled for theatrical release on June 20, 2025, and is not planned to be released on OTT soon after.
“I want audiences to come see my films in the cinema. I have turned down OTT offers. Because that is where the magic is, and it happens in the cinema first,” Aamir said recently in another interview.
➤ Also Read: Sitaare Zameen Par: Amitabh Bachchan Inspired Aamir Khan’s Bold Theatre-Only Release Decision
Box Office Worldwide Verdict
In a time when films leave theatres after just a few weeks, Aamir Khan’s lamentation over Laapataa Ladies serves as a reminder to filmmakers. When the content is strong and audiences are slow to catch on, a longer theatrical window is important. Aamir seems adamant not to make the same mistake with Sitaare Zameen Par and is using the cinema-first strategy; the industry is paying attention.
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