First of all let me congratulate Shahrukh Khan for making a hero out of a vertically challenged man. Usually, dwarfs have been portrayed as the funny characters in movies. And sadly in the society too they are usually on the receiving end of jokes and sarcasm.  But breaking all the biases and shattering cynicism, here we have a movie which gives tallness to the nature’s conception.

Zero shall belong to the league of the films which dares to break the societal prejudices.  The film has all the top stars, Shahrukh khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma to take your breath away. It is more like a fable which has all the elements of a fairy tale movie. A vertically challenged Shahrukh Khan as Bauua Singh, romances the topmost heroine of the Bollywood Katrina kaif as Babita kumari and then falls for the beautiful brainy wheel chair bound scientist Anushka as Aafia. The film does fairly show the flashes of rage that Bauua gets at his own situation or at his parents and the people around him. He has a best friend, played by Zeeshan Ayub, who helps him through thick and thin.  But it is the later part of the movie which takes a fairy tale turn.

But then Bollywood movies have mostly been about glamour, romance and dreamy situations. And Zero is no less a Bollywood film. Zero has an unlikely hero concept which makes the movie different. Some people may like the concept and some may not. The choice is always personal.

Indian Express has given the movie only one star. It say’s “In the beginning you relate, because you see Bauua the bauna having a tough time finding his groove, always tussling with his mum and dad. You relate when you see flashes of rage at his situation, and lashes out at people. But all too soon, the film abandons its minimal air of rootedness, and flees towards preposterousness. The article further says the film could have been for the ages.”

Hindustan Times has given the movie three and half stars. It has said that the movie is a box of assorted chocolates. Shahrukh Khan measures up. The visual effects lack continuity and he looks more like a dwarf in some scenes than in others, but the actor glosses this over with a dominating performance and tremendous energy. 

The Times of India rates the film with three stars. It says SRK stands tall but the film falls short. A great concept needs an equally skilful execution, but not every good story gets the treatment it deserves.  Zero has an interesting premise and this Meerut-to-Mars romance dabble with ideas of science and interplanetary play. And closer to home, it deals with conventional themes like unrequited and undying love.

India Today says, “Zero starring Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif has hit the screens today. The film begins well and maintains pace in first half but is a disaster post intermission, says our review.  Do not try and find logic in a Salman Khan film. That became a learning long time ago. Leave your brain at home and enjoy the brawn, we told ourselves. Little did we know we would have to make peace with even brainless Shah Rukh Khan Films. So when Aanand L Rai named his film Zero, he probably should have got his Maths correct. Because the name of his film might just be the closest metaphor to what Zero is.”