2 1/2
‘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.