‘We paid you enough’ berates an obviously stinking rich
entrepreneur at the star as he mumbles apologies with just the faint hint of
angry pride and proceeds to perform at the wedding. Some more scenes like this
could have helped define realistically the star that SRK plays in the movie,
ostensibly himself. You cannot miss the Launchpad notification for his son
Aryan Khan coming soon. The star SRK who emerges on his balcony to wave to frenzied
crowds misses a seriously star struck look alike in the mob below. The FAN has
come all the way from Delhi prodded gently by his equally star struck parents
doing their bit to support the fanatic fan who incidentally also looks like his
idol. This FAN character also again played by the star himself is one of the
better etched characters in recent times.
Every star has fans and their presence and numbers define the
strength of a star as is often reflected in the fan clubs and FB pages run by the fans and silently
supported by the stars themselves. It is the danger when these fans cross from
their real lives into a surreal arena of blurred familiarity with the star that trouble
erupts. The FAN is annoyed at being ignored failing to understand how the star
can just not notice his Sohan ka halwa and his years of devotion. Failing to attract his attention the fan then
launches into a neurotic response first by attacking those who he believes harms
the star and then the star himself after he is led behind the bars for his
action.
The story is actually quite engrossing till this point and
then suddenly the YRF banners remembers its old movies with a frenzied Darr
type action and the hero decides that no law keeping force will solve his
problems and he needs to exhibit his rough street side of Delhi nature as he
describes it to protect himself and his family. The plot is lost by then and SRK who had the
role of his lifetime etched out in the FAN suddenly remembers his love for Tom Cruise
type of Mission Impossible actions riding speeding motor bikes and swinging
across Bond Like across roofs. The concept goes completely implausible from
here on.
It is only the FAN character etched out obviously when the team’s
creativity was at its peak that stands out authentically defined and enacted.
The makeup is almost flawless and so is the gait. The director does not bother to dwell too
much into the surrounding human atmosphere of the star and everything seems
disconnected and unrealistic. The Fans character is so good that his parents
include the fine Yogendra Tiku pale in comparison. Even the Star SRK seems
unsure of how he really wants to be perceived as a star and while there are
some chuckling self-deprecatory moments, they are just not enough. His family
which could have been the strongest point to underline his fierce protective
nature, is played by forgettable characters.
Shriya Pilgaokar playing the fans love interest makes a silent mark. Rest
of the characters are completely flat . The movie is incredibly boring and
stretched in the second half.
On a whole the film has you rooting for SRK the actor willing
him to succeed in his new hard effort to be different and get angered at the
lapses into Hollywood type of an action movie without any logic. The film is a
missed chance at what could have been a landmark movie for SRK. You return home
thinking about the FAN though.
