Movie Review: Zero

Movie Review: Zero
Rating: 3/5
Director: Anand L. Rai
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma

The story starts off in Meerut, where Bauua Singh squanders his father’s (Tigmanshu Dhulia) money while being besotted with Bollywood superstar Babita Kumari (Katrina Kaif) at all times. He is impulsive and self-absorbed, but his height hardly ever dampens his confidence. Follow Spotlife Asia for the latest Entertainment and Lifestyle news.

Things change dramatically when Bauua stumbles into the highly qualified scientist, Aafia’s life. He’s vertically-challenged and she suffers from cerebral palsy, so their shortcomings become a common ground and that creates a new space for a relationship between equals.

The physical challenges aside, their personalities are also worlds apart and that eventually heightens the drama in the plot. Somewhere along, Bollywood diva Babita Kumari makes an entry into Bauua’s life, adding to the drama.

The film’s first half is spent on setting up this unconventional romance. While the ideas are unique and appreciable, the narrative doesn’t connect all the proverbial dots in the arc of the story. The plot of Zero, neither engages you, nor does it offend you.

While being fumbling and funny, Shah Rukh Khan holds you in rapturous attention with his shenanigans. You could say his personality and his performance are both in an “overall” style.

Anushka shines as the scientist suffering from cerebral palsy. She steals your heart while sitting on a wheel-chair and in command. With grace and strength, she is consistent in her speech and mannerisms.

Katrina is diligent and it shows in her performance. As an eternally sloshed actress disillusioned in romance, she appears like a modern day Meena Kumari.

Among the supporting cast are: Tigmanshu Dhulia and Sheeba Chaddha as Bauua’s parents, Bijendra Kala as the match-maker Pandeyji and Mohammed Zeesan Ayub as Guddu Singh the semi-blind, one-eyed sidekick of Bauua. They all have their moments of on-screen glory. Abhay Deol as Babita’s love interest is wasted in a miniscule role.

It is the style of narrative with the emphasis of talking heads like Guddu Singh and Pandeyji explaining and propelling the plot that is dispiriting.  Also, the poorly crafted characters and jump in timelines makes the entire tale so sketchy that you don’t invest in the characters

The only moment one comes close to the characters is when Aafia tells Bauua: “In the 39 years of your life, did you ever find anyone to look in the eye and talk to the person like a friend.” During this moment, the bond seems platonic yet believable.

Similarly you realise the ruthlessness one witnesses in the film industry after Babita concocts a story about her parents. While her fabricated story is novel and interesting, the trait is expectable and she delivers it convincingly.

The shapelessness (read scenes ending abruptly), and meandering plot (read unnecessary detour from the subject), the narrative at times becomes tedious, especially during the second hour, when patience starts to wear thin.

While nearly all the songs in the film beautifully blend with the narrative, it is the song Issaqbaazi which features Salman Khan, Remo and the choreographer Ganesh Acharya that appear forced. 

There are moments when Remo and Ganesh seem unenthusiastic about their involvement.

Overall, while the film opens with an intriguing and engaging scene, the overall packaging despite being fantastical, lacks the punch