Netflix slams reports of Rs. 125 Crore bid for SZP

In an era where most big-budget films prefer to have an OTT partner on board even before their theatrical release — as a way to safeguard investments and ensure post-release monetisation — Aamir Khan, true to his reputation for breaking industry norms, has taken a different route with his next film 'Sitaare Zameen Par'. Directed by R. S. Prasanna, the film is an official remake of the acclaimed Spanish movie 'Campeones', but Aamir has bigger plans for how he wants audiences to experience it.While most filmmakers are content with a theatrical release followed by a premiere on a leading streaming platform, Aamir has been advocating for a more accessible, direct-to-consumer model. Reports suggest that the superstar intends to bypass the traditional OTT route entirely and release 'Sitaare Zameen Par' on YouTube behind a pay-per-view wall — a model he believes could democratise film consumption in India, especially for viewers in smaller towns and cities who may not be regular subscribers to OTT platforms.On Tuesday morning, Bollywood Hungama carried an explosive report claiming that Netflix, in a bid to stop the film from heading to YouTube and disrupt the OTT ecosystem, had dramatically increased its offer for the film’s digital rights. The report suggested that the streaming platform upped its bid from Rs. 60 crore to a staggering Rs. 125 crore in an attempt to acquire the film and retain its stronghold on premium digital releases.

However, reliable sources close to Netflix have now told ETimes that there’s no truth to these claims. A well-placed industry insider associated with the platform dismissed the report as “absolute false” . 'SZP' is being described as a spiritual sequel to Aamir Khan and Darsheel Safary’s much-loved 2007 film 'Taare Zameen Par'. This new story will feature Genelia D’Souza alongside a cast of actors with intellectual disabilities. Though adapted from Campeones, the film is also rooted in a real-life incident where a coach led a team of intellectually disabled players to an incredible 12-title victory streak between 1990 and 2014.