In a candid conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Aamir Khan opened up about a subject that has sparked heated debate in Indian cinema — remakes. As part of the promotions for his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, the Bollywood icon addressed the criticism he often faces for remaking films, and shared why he stands firm in his creative choices.
Aamir Khan: “I Have No Problem with Remakes”
When questioned regarding trolling for deciding to remake movies instead of producing fresh content, Aamir didn’t mince words. He affirmed that he has absolutely no problem with remaking movies. For him, the experience is anything but lazy or redundant — it’s extremely creative.
“I put my own energy into the film. The first film was done in its own style, but when I produce a remake, I put my own take, my interpretation,” Aamir clarified.
Comparing with Shakespeare
In a thought-provoking comparison, Aamir wondered why theatre and film are held to different standards.
“See how often Shakespeare plays have been remade, performed, and even reinterpreted. And each time people laud the actors for their retelling of an ageless tale,” he noted. “But when we remake a movie at the movies, people immediately judge us. Why the double standards?”
It’s an interesting observation. While theatre adaptations are considered tribute, film remakes tend to attract criticism for being unoriginal. Aamir feels that this attitude dismisses the dedication and worth that goes into retelling a story from a new angle.
A Remake Is a New Film for a New Audience
Aamir pointed out something that is lost in the criticism of remakes: access. Foreign films — even award-winning ones — rarely are made available to the Indian audience. Aamir cited the example of the Spanish film Champions.
“Very few people have watched Champions in India. It’s not readily available here,” he said.
So for him, re-telling such movies in Hindi is not about exploiting work that already exists — it’s about bringing iconic stories back to life and to millions who might otherwise never have heard of them.
Trolled Before, But Not This Time
Aamir confessed that his team was apprehensive. They reminded him how earlier he was trolled for remakes, and cautioned that he would be trolled again. But this time around, he did not allow that to influence his choice.
He remembered seeing Champions and being profoundly affected. “It was as if I was watching Taare Zameen Par 2. That tale never faded from memory. I couldn’t sleep till I made it my own,” he explained.
And Sitaare Zameen Par came into being — not because he wanted to repeat success, but because he was powerfully moved by a tale that he felt needed a bigger stage.
Final Thoughts
In an industry regularly divided between commercial blockbusters and so-called “original” programming, Aamir Khan’s remaking strategy is unapologetic and refreshingly frank. To him, it isn’t a matter of whether it has been done before — but how it’s done, why it’s done, and who gets to see it.
And if a great story can be re-told so that it touches more hearts and opens more minds, then for Aamir, the scolding is justified.
