Genelia Deshmukh Says Filmmakers Sidelined Her After Marriage, 'You Think I'm Married, So I Don't..'

Genelia D'Souza Deshmukh is finally returning to the big screen after years, and this time, she is starring opposite Aamir Khan in the highly anticipated Sitaare Zameen Par. In this coming-of-age sports comedy drama, the actress plays Aamir’s on-screen wife, ‘Sunita’. Ahead of the film's theatrical release, Genelia, in a recent interview, spoke up about the need for films to cast actors in age-appropriate roles and why she doesn't get many offers like this in the industry. 

Genelia Deshmukh talks about the need for age-appropriate casting, shares that she was sidelined after marriage

In a candid interaction with Filmymantra Media, Genelia Deshmukh addressed the need for films to move beyond conventional mindsets and start casting actors in age-appropriate roles. Genelia, who plays Aamir’s wife, ‘Sunita’, in Sitaare Zameen Par, feels it’s the perfect role for her as it demanded someone of her age to bring out the layers and intricacies of the character. 

Genelia believes that casting someone younger for a role much older than them is a missed opportunity for someone who could have done a much better job, as they understand the intricacies and minute details that make the character more realistic. Reflecting on her casting in Sitaare Zameen Par, Genelia said:

“Maybe you think I’m married, so I don’t need this character. I just feel filmmaking has changed, and so should our mentality. It’s very important that if you want a character of a certain age, you should cast someone of that age. When we cast an actor who’s much younger than the character I played, they can’t understand the little things of it. It’s important to cast right. And I hope opportunities go everyone’s way.”

Genelia wanted to play a layered character like ‘Sunita’

Speaking about getting cast opposite Aamir Khan, Genelia expressed her gratitude towards the superstar for seeing the potential in her. The actress revealed that she had to audition three times before getting selected for that part, but it was worth it. She recalled:

“When people got to know I’m doing Sitaare Zameen Par, everybody said, ‘Oh my god! So lucky! You’re doing an Aamir Khan film!’ I said, ‘Of course!’ That's Aamir sir’s bigness that he saw something in me. Of course, he made me audition. But you could also do that, right? You could also offer me a role. But you go as per the norms.”

Earlier, speaking to SCREEN, filmmaker R.S. Prasanna reflected on his experience working with Genelia Deshmukh, praising the actress for her positive energy and versatility in taking on projects across multiple languages, especially in South Indian cinema. He was quoted as saying:

“Working with Genelia has been such a pleasure. She’s full of positive energy. She’s a great actor, and we love her in the South! Apparently, she’s done all languages — Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and now, Marathi, obviously.”

About Sitaare Zameen Par

Sitaare Zameen Par follows a disgraced basketball coach (played by Aamir Khan) who is given a chance at redemption by training a team of differently-abled children. This Bollywood adaptation of the acclaimed Spanish film Campeones features Genelia D’Souza opposite Aamir, along with ten fresh new faces. The film is set to hit the theatres on June 20, 2025.

Ahead of its official release, Sitaare Zameen Par has already earned rave reviews from early viewers who attended a pre-screening of the film on June 9, 2025. Noted author Sudha Murthy praised the film as an ‘eye-opener’.

What are your thoughts on Genelia's views about casting choices in films?

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