There are entertainers, and then there’s Aamir Khan. His films are known to be rich in emotional intelligence and social awareness, and there’s proof. From ‘PK’ and ‘3 Idiots’ to ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and ‘Secret Superstar’, Aamir turned Bollywood into a masterclass of such themes.

As the highly anticipated film ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ hits theatres this Friday, we ask – is Bollywood’s favourite moral science teacher back to take attendance?

With ‘SZP’, the spiritual prequel to ‘Taare Zameen Par’ (TZP) releasing this week, it feels like the OG Professor of Pop Culture is back at his blackboard. And all eyes are on whether Aamir is once again ready to educate?

But why do his films feel like masterclasses we choose to attend?

Let’s decode the syllabus.

AAMIR KHAN AND THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL MESSAGING

Aamir doesn’t just makes films. He curates modules. Think about it – while ‘Taare Zameen Par’ was understanding dyslexia 101, ‘PK’ questioned blind faith in the era of meme gods.

Aamir Khan is like that one teacher who uses cinema as a formula to solve the biggest puzzles of life, and the audience listens with pin-drop silence. Whether it’s parenting, education, gender norms, or religion, he has a habit of turning movie screens into moral science classrooms. And we are not complaining!

From the outside, ‘3 Idiots’ looked like a campus comedy. But what it delivered was a punchy takedown of toxic education systems and parental pressure – all while giving us unforgettable lines like “All is well” and “Success ke peeche mat bhaago.”

Likewise, ‘Taare Zameen Par’ was also an emotionally-charged journey that broke open the Indian household’s idea of what learning and childhood should look like.

Aamir has an uncanny ability to embed big ideas inside accessible stories. You laugh, cry, hum, and somewhere along the way, you also learn something. And it stick with you.

PREACHY OR POWERFUL? DEPENDS ON THE MOOD

One of Aamir’s biggest strengths as a filmmaker is his subtle authority. Unlike the more preachy moral messaging we often see in films, Aamir plays it smarter, he nudges you toward reflection, without spelling it out.

And here’s the thing – when he gets it right, he really gets it right.

Who can forget Ishaan’s mother crying over a notebook in ‘TZP’? Or Rancho explaining “All is well” with a hand on his chest?

These moments stick not because they’re preachy, but because they hit your gut and whisper, “You needed to hear this.” And maybe follow it as your life mantra.

Likewise, in ‘PK’, he didn’t scream “Religion is flawed!” Instead, he handed you an alien in a red helmet, lost in a world of godmen, and let you draw your own conclusions.

Even ‘Dangal’, which could have been textbook feminism, let its message rise from sweat, training, and stubborn father-daughter love. It’s nuanced storytelling, not chalkboard lectures, and that’s what makes the education feel organic.

Watch the trailer for ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ here:

AAMIR, THE EDUCATOR, WALKS THE TALK

It’s not just in front of the camera. Off-screen, too, Aamir wears the hat of a changemaker. With ‘Satyamev Jayate’, he turned weekend television into a national forum for social reform. From female foeticide to water conservation, Aamir didn’t just present issues – he made the whole country feel them.

His choices reflect deep research, empathy and social awareness. Whether it’s learning wrestling, spending time with dyslexic children, or creating a full-blown missing poster for ‘3 Idiots’, Aamir invests in understanding before storytelling. And that’s not stardom, that’s curriculum design.

What still works in his favour is his sincerity. And that effort – that genuine attempt to mean something – still resonates, especially when we’re drowning in shallow content.

WHY ‘SZP’ COULD BE HIS MOST POWERFUL CLASSROOM YET

While much of the plot has been kept under the wraps, Aamir has shared that ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ is a spiritual successor to ‘Taare Zameen Par’.

But in 2025, the context is new. Children today are growing up with screens, anxieties, hyper-competition, and blurred lines between right and wrong. If ‘TZP’ opened up conversations around learning disorders, ‘SZP’ has the potential to address how childhood itself has evolved, and what adults need to learn about it.

We don’t know if the RS Prasanna directorial, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, will soar like ‘Taare Zameen Par’ yet or fizzle like ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’. But here’s what it needs to ace – keeping it real.

Aamir Khan’s films are often called events, but maybe they’re better described as curriculums. Every AK film leaves behind an idea. A moral dilemma. A shift in conversation. An icebreaker.

So, as the movie arrives this week, don’t just expect another child-centric film. Expect to feel something. Expect to learn.

Also starring Genelia D’Souza, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ will release in theatres on June 20.