Zero (2018) Movie Review: A Bold Experiment That Falls Short of Its Ambitions
Zero (2018), directed by Aanand L. Rai and starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Anushka Sharma, is a film that dares to dream big but struggles to deliver on its lofty promises. The movie, a Hindi-language comedy-drama, attempts to blend romance, science fiction, and social commentary into a single narrative. While it showcases moments of brilliance—particularly in its visual effects and Katrina Kaif’s standout performance—it ultimately falters due to an inconsistent screenplay, a scattered plot, and an inability to sustain emotional depth. Let’s dive into what makes Zero a polarizing cinematic experience, as reflected in the buzz it has generated.
The Plot: A Journey of Love and Ambition
Zero follows the story of Bauua Singh (Shah Rukh Khan), a vertically challenged man from Meerut who is brimming with charm, wit, and a larger-than-life personality. Despite his physical stature, Bauua’s confidence knows no bounds, but his journey to find love is fraught with challenges. Enter Aafia Bhinder (Anushka Sharma), a brilliant scientist at NSAR (a fictional space research facility) who lives with cerebral palsy. The two form an unlikely bond, but Bauua’s restless spirit leads him to another romantic entanglement with Bollywood superstar Babita Kumari (Katrina Kaif). What follows is a whirlwind of emotions, taking the narrative from the streets of Meerut to the glitz of Mumbai and eventually to a Mars-inspired mission in the United States.
The film’s premise is intriguing: a man searching for love while grappling with societal perceptions of his physical appearance, paired with a woman whose disability doesn’t define her brilliance. Add to that a space exploration angle, and Zero seems like a recipe for something groundbreaking. However, the execution is where it stumbles.
Visual Effects and Technical Brilliance
One of the most commendable aspects of Zero is its technical prowess. The visual effects, particularly in rendering Shah Rukh Khan as a 4-foot-tall man, are seamless and deserve applause. The scenes depicting Bauua’s interactions with the world around him feel authentic, and the VFX team’s efforts to create a believable Mars mission are visually striking. The film’s collaboration with Snapchat to introduce an Augmented Reality Lens—allowing users to transform into Bauua—was a pioneering promotional move, showcasing the team’s innovative approach to marketing.
The vibrant cinematography, especially in the Bollywood-centric sequences, captures the larger-than-life essence of the industry. A highlight is the song Issaqbaazi, which features a much-talked-about cameo by Salman Khan alongside Shah Rukh Khan. The energy of this sequence, combined with the colorful visuals, is a treat for fans of both superstars. However, while these moments dazzle, they often feel disconnected from the larger narrative, leaving the audience longing for a more cohesive story.
Performances: A Mixed Bag
Shah Rukh Khan, as Bauua Singh, brings his trademark charisma to the role. His portrayal of a man who masks his insecurities with humor and bravado is endearing at first, but the character’s inconsistencies—particularly in the second half—make it hard to fully root for him. Bauua’s journey feels aimless at times, and Khan’s performance, while earnest, can’t salvage the lack of depth in the writing.
Katrina Kaif, on the other hand, delivers a career-best performance as Babita Kumari. Her portrayal of a glamorous yet emotionally broken Bollywood star is nuanced and captivating. Kaif brings vulnerability to the role, making Babita more than just a stereotypical celebrity. Her chemistry with Khan is electric, and their scenes together are some of the film’s strongest.
Anushka Sharma’s Aafia had the potential to be a groundbreaking character—a scientist with cerebral palsy who defies stereotypes. However, as noted in the Times of India review, Sharma’s portrayal feels inconsistent. The mannerisms she adopts to depict the disability don’t always ring true, and the character’s arc is underdeveloped, leaving the audience wanting more.
Where Zero Falls Short
The biggest issue with Zero is its screenplay, which feels like a patchwork of ideas that don’t fully come together. The first half is lighthearted and engaging, with Bauua’s antics providing plenty of laughs. However, the second half takes a sharp turn into science fiction territory, and the tonal shift feels jarring. The Mars mission subplot, while ambitious, comes across as contrived and detracts from the emotional core of the story.
The film also struggles with pacing. At 164 minutes, it feels unnecessarily long, with several scenes that fail to advance the plot or deepen the characters’ relationships. The direction, while visually inventive, lacks the sharpness needed to tie the narrative’s disparate threads together. As the Wikipedia entry notes, critics found the second half “aimless” and “scattered,” a sentiment that resonates with the overall viewing experience.
Cultural Impact and Reception
Upon its release on December 21, 2018, Zero was met with mixed-to-negative reviews. Despite the pre-release hype—bolstered by a massive ₹2 billion budget, making it Shah Rukh Khan’s most expensive film at the time—it underperformed at the box office, becoming one of the biggest flops of Khan’s career. This commercial failure led to Khan taking a five-year hiatus, a testament to the film’s impact on his career trajectory.
Final Verdict: A Noble Attempt
Zero is a film that swings for the fences but doesn’t quite hit a home run. It’s a bold experiment that tackles themes of love, acceptance, and ambition, but its execution is marred by an inconsistent script and uneven pacing. The visual effects and Katrina Kaif’s performance are standout elements, but they aren’t enough to elevate the film beyond its flaws.
For fans of Shah Rukh Khan or those intrigued by unconventional Bollywood narratives, Zero might still be worth a watch for its moments of brilliance. However, for viewers seeking a cohesive and emotionally resonant story, it may leave you feeling unfulfilled. As the Times of India review aptly puts it, the film “makes you light and easy” but fails to take you on “that flight of entertainment” you hoped for. In the end, Zero is a reminder that even the most ambitious ideas need a strong foundation to truly soar.
Rating: 2.5/5
A visually stunning but narratively flawed film that’s as frustrating as it is fascinating.
A visually stunning but narratively flawed film that’s as frustrating as it is fascinating.
