Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif stand out but are not enough to lift 'Zero'

The special show of Zero for the media is about to begin when in walks Shah Rukh Khan, the film’s leading man. He saunters up to the screen and with folded hands requests the audience not to tweet reviews during the movie, and to instead enjoy the film. Then, in jest he says that he and the film’s director, Aanand L Rai, would be happy to serve the audience popcorn during the screening.

Khan knows how to be charming. In those brief five minutes that he is there, he sets the mood for the movie, which is an all-out Khan film — to the extent that he is present in practically every scene.

In Zero, which is nearly three hours long, he plays a vertically challenged 38-year-old effortlessly. He is funny, irritating, appalling, and also endearing. For all those who wanted SRK to do “something different”, this is it — an offbeat role in which he gives his all. 

The others in the film include the Rai regulars — Tigmanshu Dhulia and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, both of whom impress with their performances. Anushka Sharma as Aafia Yusufzai Bhinder, an NSAR (the film's version of NASA) scientist with cerebral palsy is, however, miscast. And though she does the best she can, she fails to make a mark, especially when it comes to delivering dialogues.

The one who does impress is Katrina Kaif. Often criticised for her dialogue delivery and China doll-like appearance, Kaif practically owns the role of a disturbed diva looking for some compassion. She plunges into the part, totally letting herself go, but without overdoing it. The last time we saw Kaif carrying a role with such finesse was in Namastey London, a film that came out over 10 years ago.

Zero’s first half is a breeze. Aptly paced and well written, the film leads you into the world of the two main characters — Khan and Sharma — while etching out the nuances. Though they battle physical challenges, these are both strong-minded and strong-willed people. And while their personalities have a layer of bitterness, they are not portrayed as characters who are meant to evoke sympathy. If anything, they are treated as flawed humans just like everyone else. 

 

Himanshu Sharma hits the mark with the dialogues once again. He manages to catch the inflections and tonality of people from Meerut, which makes the characters and the scenes credible. 

The second half is where the film falls flat. While the first half is focused and reflects a clarity of thought in etching the characters and narrating the events that have shaped their lives thus far, the latter half meanders aimlessly. It’s almost as if Rai had multiple ideas for the second half, and decided to go for a mishmash of them all. Sub-plots are introduced and quickly forgotten, leaving the audience confused. 

In the end, the plot starts to feel cumbersome, and the pace drags. While Khan and Co try and keep up with the changing pace and storytelling, there is no saving a faltering script. What could have been a crisp conclusion to an enjoyable first half, ends up being an insipid bore with a song too many. 

At the core of it, Zero is a love story that could have been refreshing, but it ends up being convoluted and dissatisfying. There are certain logic gaps as well, but then all of Rai’s films have had those. What takes Zero down is the disregard for all the pace-setting done in the first half when all it does is lead to the most bizarre and fantastical conclusion. 

If you are a Khan fan, watch the film. If you are a fan of Bollywood cameos, then too this movie will work for you. Go for it also if you want to see an effervescent Kaif. But if you are looking for sustained entertainment and a believable storyline, then this film will do nothing but disappoint.