Why Aamir Khan Thinks Laapataa Ladies Could Have Been A Bigger Hit In Theatres

Aamir Khan recently shared candid thoughts on the box office performance of his 2024 production Laapataa Ladies, pointing to its early OTT release as a factor that might have limited its theatrical success. In a conversation with News18 Showsha, Aamir highlighted the importance of the box office as an “unemotional” and definitive indicator of how a film resonates with audiences

“Ultimately, it’s the box office that gives you a very definite yardstick. Reviews are subjective — some people like a film, some don’t. But the box office is unemotional. It clearly tells you how much a film has earned, and it’s a fairly accurate measure. Unless there’s a specific reason a film didn’t do well, box office performance reflects how much a film is loved,” he remarked.

Laapataa Ladies was released in cinemas on March 1, 2024, but started streaming on Netflix barely eight weeks later, on April 26. Aamir believes this swift transition to OTT streaming undercut the film’s potential to thrive at the box office, “For example, I believe Laapataa Ladies would have done really well in theatres if it hadn’t premiered on Netflix just eight weeks later. The word of mouth was so strong. According to me, if it hadn’t gone to Netflix so soon, it would have been a huge success”.

Laapataa Ladies is directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan Productions alongside Kindling Pictures and Jio Studios. It is a satirical comedy drama which tells the story of two young newly-wed brides who get exchanged during a train ride to their husband’s homes. Starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Ravi Kishan, Laapataa Ladies grossed Rs24.31 crore in India and Rs27.06 crore worldwide during its 13 week run.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Aamir Khan is set to return to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par, alongside Genelia Deshmukh which is slated for a June 20 release. The film is a spiritual sequel to his acclaimed Taare Zameen Par. It is a remake of Spanish film Champions (2018).