Aamir Khan, often lauded as a perfectionist in Indian cinema, recently ventured into the world of cricket commentary during the IPL 2025 final. His appearance alongside Suresh Raina and Aakash Chopra in the Hindi commentary box was intended to drum up excitement for his upcoming film, Sitaare Zameen Par, a sequel to his acclaimed 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par, slated for a June 20th release. The stage was set with Royal Challengers Bengaluru battling Punjab Kings in a thrilling encounter, providing a massive platform for promotion.
However, the promotional strategy didn’t quite hit a six with the audience. Instead, a chorus of disgruntled fans took to online platforms, lambasting Aamir’s commentary stint as an unwelcome diversion from the high-stakes match. The sentiment was strong enough to spark a trending topic: “Please remove Aamir Khan from the Hindi Commentary,” as many felt the game itself was being overshadowed by film marketing.
Among those who seemed to echo this dissatisfaction was Rahul Dholakia, director of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees. He posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Yaar picture ka promotion karo gyaan mat baato. I want KOHLI to win this year and Zinta to win next year! Both these passionate people deserve to win — for their sheer persistence!” While Dholakia refrained from explicitly naming Aamir, the context strongly suggested his message was directed at the actor’s commentary. This tweet quickly gained traction, though Dholakia later removed it after social media users pointed out the common practice of actors promoting films during cricket broadcasts.
The incident ignited a debate among viewers. Some defended Aamir’s segment, arguing it was a routine part of film promotion, while others questioned the appropriateness of such a distraction during the intense atmosphere of a final match. Aamir Khan is renowned for his innovative marketing strategies, and this appearance was no exception. Nevertheless, with fan expectations at an all-time high during an IPL final, his brief foray into commentary appears to have missed its mark, particularly with dedicated cricket enthusiasts.
