‘Taare Zameen Par’ DVD release delayed abroad, Aamir sorry

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) Aamir Khan is happy that Walt Disney Studios has bought the DVD rights of his hit directorial debut “Taare Zameen Par” in five countries, but has apologised to his fans abroad for the long time it will take for the DVD to hit the markets there.

Aamir, through his blog, has said sorry to cine buffs in the US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, where it will take a few months for the DVD to to be released by the distribution company. “My sincere apologies to those of you living in these five countries and also to those who have been waiting patiently for the DVD to come out,” Aamir posted in his latest blog entry.

“I was very happy to know that they (Walt Disney) liked the film enough to want to distribute TZP (‘Taare Zameen Par’) in home entertainment for these five countries,” he added. The actor-director has also explained the reason behind the delay.

“I know I am going to be slaughtered for this one. Disney has a lead-time of at least three months. They want to do a mainstream release (of the film) in these five markets. So while the DVD has been released in India and outside India as well, in these five countries it will be a few more months before it comes out.”

Aamir said that he had no control over the situation and added that the only other option was to go back on the deal with Disney. This is for the first time that any Hollywood distribution company has bought the Home Video rights of an Indian movie to be released in the mainstream market overseas. Disney will release the DVD with English sub-titles.

The movie was jointly produced by Aamir Khan Productions and PVR Pictures. Starring Darsheel Safary as the protagonist, “Taare Zameen Par” is about an eight-year-old dyslexic boy and how a teacher, played by Aamir, brings him out of this predicament. The film was released December 2007.

The film’s DVD has been released by T-Series in India. Priced at Rs.500, it includes deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes photographs and a discussion on children’s disabilities between Aamir Khan, teachers and parents.