This week Bollywood is buzzing with three releases, two of them are on the OTT space, while one is on the big screen. Well, the one on the big screen is quite the larger-than-life pulp fiction adventure thriller, called An Action Hero. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat in the lead roles. Other than that, Malaika Arora and Nora Fatehi have also made cameos in two songs in the film. Well, An Action Hero is directed by Anirudh Iyer and produced by Aanand. L. Rai and Bhushan Kumar. The story revolves around an action superstar Manav (Ayushmann Khurrana) who accidentally kills Municipal Councilor Bhoora Solanki’s (Jaideep Ahlawat) brother, the next 2 hours 9 minutes follow the gripping chase between Bhoora, Manav, and the many others, culminating to a climax on how the action superstar gets out of all the mess.
Honestly, the performances in the film are too good, but the story is not that great. Even though the storyline is gripping and keeps you on the edge of your seat, the end is something that will leave in in disbelief. There will be an internal conflict on a creative level, for a few minutes after the film ends. Still, I would say, it is an entertainer that you should enjoy on the big screen.
Things I liked about An Action Hero…
1. Ayushmann Khurrana’s performance
Just when we think this is the best Ayushmann can do, he proves us wrong. Even in An Action Hero, he has just done the same. Right from the first scene, till the last one where he walks back into the world of stardom once again, Ayushmann was just too charming. He performed action quite effortlessly, his dialogue delivery was too good, and all in all his demeanor was quite impressive.
2. Jaideep Ahlawat’s performance as Bhoora Solanki
I must say, Jaideep is a sheer craftsman, the way he portrayed the role of Bhoora Solanki a municipal councilor from a village in Haryana is very convincing. Not for a second does Jaideep let his daunt slip off throughout the film. I even liked to see how he dealt with his inner conflict, so yes, very impressed with this performance.
3. The songs of the film
The songs and the music of An Action Hero are just too good. The film has five songs and all of them are brilliant. Be it Ghere, Asli Action Chaalu, Jehda Nasha, Aap Jaisa Koi, or the theme song, everyone fits in the film so well. They are shot so well and are catchy, so yes, music is quite a strong point of this film.
Things that could have been better…
1. The storyline
As I said the story of the film is quite gripping for the most part of it, however, in the second half, especially the last 30 minutes, it goes down the drain. With all due respect to the pulp fiction idea, I felt like people would question the logic of that part in the film. In fact, the portrayal of the media as only trying to sensationalize the news to its fullest and representing the caricatures of noted journalists was a little disappointing. But we can ignore this and enjoy the film for Ayushmann’s performance and the entertainer that this one is.
All in all An Action Hero must be watched in a theater if you want to enjoy the performances of the actors.