Zero movie review: Shah Rukh Khan starrer is a psychedelic odyssey that defies gravity and logic

Shah Rukh Khan's 'Zero' has been one of the most highly anticipated films this year. With so much promotion and attention, all eyes are on the Aanand L Rai directorial. Now, that the big day has finally arrived, let's take a look at how this flick has fared. 

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Setting the scene

The story is that of Bauua Singh, a 39-year-old vertically challenged man from Meerut. He is a fan of Bollywood actress Babita Kumari played by Katrina Kaif and frolics around with his friends, being a fun nuisance in the neighbourhood. However, it suddenly comes to light that he also has a mysterious romantic past. 

Plot

Bauua Singh, the man from Meerut who makes up for his lack of height with a flair of character, meets Aafiya, a space scientist with cerebral palsy played by Anushka Sharma. Initially a mismatch, the two get along well and fall in love under strange circumstances. However, a wheelchair-bound girlfriend is not good enough for Bauua, whose ego takes hold of him after a chance encounter with his on-screen dream girl Babita Kumari. Off he goes to Mumbai to get the girl that the entire country covets. But after a while, he comes to realise his mistake and tries to win Aafiya back. But now the stakes are much much higher and Bauua must go through the most gruesome physical, mental and emotional challenges to win his lady love back. Whether he succeeds in his task, what hardships does he go through and how it alters him as a person makes up for the rest of the tale. 

Verdict

Where to begin, the film is honestly a mess, a beautiful mess in parts but still, it is a train wreck. Coming to the positive the first half is really well crafted with Bauua and Aafiya's love story taking centre stage. Shah Rukh Khan is fantastic as Bauua Singh from start to finish, getting his dialogues and mannerisms down pat. Anushka Sharma deserves a lot of applause for playing her character, for it must have been quite a challenge but she did full justice to her role. Katrina Kaif too incredibly was stunning not only in terms of looks but performance as well. Her character of a narcissistic, heartbroken superstar on the mend was one of the most refreshing things about the film. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is brilliant as Guddu, Bauua's best friend and will elicit a lot of laughs. Finally, 'Zero' has a lot of emotional hook points which when combined with the great performances will keep you engaged and entertained. 

Coming to the bad, the entire second half is completely and utterly weird, to say the least. It is safe to say that the entire plot goes off the rails in the last one hour or so. Some scenes look like the beginning of a bad joke, while you wait for someone to drop the punchline. For a film that uses little to no logic, dragging in so much of space jargon was a pretty bad choice, since it could not convincingly be either real or fantastical. Also, Bauua seems to be the luckiest man in the world as he meets Bollywood stars at random. At the end of the day, it is definitely a bold and brave attempt, although a flawed one. To conclude, 'Zero' is a film that you might really love or hate, but it will definitely stay in your mind. 

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Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif

What works: First half, comedy, performances, emotional hook points

What doesn't: Almost the entire second half

Rating: 2.5/5