Fri Aug 01 15:00:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article:
**Summary:**
Aamir Khan, a major Bollywood star, is launching a novel distribution model to combat declining cinema attendance in India, driven by high costs and the rise of streaming. Recognizing that traditional cinemas cater primarily to the upper class, Khan will release his latest film, “Sitaare Zameen Par” (Stars on Earth), on YouTube for a nominal fee (100 rupees, or less than £1), after its theatrical run. This move is designed to reach the vast majority of the Indian population who cannot afford cinema tickets and aims to revitalize the struggling Indian film industry, which Khan believes is being negatively impacted by the “cannibalizing” effect of streaming platforms. He acknowledges the historical challenges of censorship and the targeted scrutiny faced by Muslim actors like himself but remains optimistic about the future of Indian cinema and the potential of this new distribution model.
**News Article:**
**Bollywood Superstar Aamir Khan Revolutionizes Film Distribution, Releases Latest Movie on YouTube for Less Than £1**
**Mumbai, India** – In a groundbreaking move aimed at making cinema accessible to the masses, Bollywood icon Aamir Khan announced that his latest film, “Sitaare Zameen Par” (Stars on Earth), will be released on YouTube for just 100 rupees (approximately £0.86) after its theatrical run. This unprecedented decision is a direct response to the growing inaccessibility of cinema for many Indian families due to rising ticket prices and the dominance of expensive multiplexes.
“Theatres are no longer a mass medium; it’s become an upper-class medium,” Khan stated, emphasizing his desire to reach the 97% of the Indian population currently priced out of the traditional cinema experience. He plans to release other films in his back catalog on YouTube following the release of his latest film.
Khan, a celebrated actor, director, and producer, has been working on solutions to broaden access to cinema for over a decade. His initial efforts to build low-cost cinemas in rural India were thwarted by bureaucratic hurdles. This YouTube release bypasses those challenges and leverages the platform’s vast reach of 491 million users in India, dwarfing even major streaming services.
Khan views streaming as detrimental to Indian cinema: “Rather than boosting audiences, streaming had proved “counterproductive” and had led to the “cannibalisation” of Indian cinema, where films barely had a chance to be seen at theatres before they became absorbed on a platform alongside millions of others.”
This strategy allows families to watch the film together at an affordable price, potentially revitalizing the communal cinema experience that Khan remembers fondly from his early career. While Khan prefers the big screen experience, he acknowledged the necessity of reaching a wider audience.
The move is being closely watched by the Indian film industry, which is facing challenges including censorship concerns and targeted campaigns against prominent Muslim actors like Khan himself. While acknowledging these difficulties, Khan remains optimistic. “I’m really hopeful this new model will work,” he said. “If it doesn’t, we’re all in trouble.”
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