An Action Hero is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language action film[2] directed by debutant Anirudh Iyer and written by Neeraj Yadav, based on an original story by Iyer. It was produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar, under T-Series Films, and Aanand L. Rai, under Colour Yellow Productions. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat in lead roles.
An Action Hero (2022)
Maanav is a popular actor, known as a leading man in action films. For his upcoming film shoot, he heads to Mandothi in Haryana. Vicky Solanki, an aspiring strongman politician currently contesting the local elections, wants to meet Maanav gain publicity. Due to busy shooting schedule Maanav does not pay heed. Just when he is about to meet Vicky, he is distracted by the delivery of his new Ford Mustang and goes for a long drive. However, an enraged Vicky follows and manhandles him. Maanav enraged by Vicky's actions pushes him away. Vicky dies from blunt force trauma, on the spot after landing head first on a rock.
Bollywood Hungama rated the film 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "An Action Hero works due to Ayushmann's action-oriented role and Jaideep's screen presence. The twist in the last 30 minutes adds to the fun".[19] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "The film bustles with coiled energy every time Jaideep Ahlawat is on the screen as a toughie responding to a rough, ready and rustic notion of justice and self-worth".[20] Sonil Dedhia of News 18 rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and said that the film is "wacky, breezy, bizzare and outlandish".[21] Pratikshya Mishra of The Quint rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "The film makes fun of everything it can get its hands on while weaving a story worthy of its strong cast".[22] Devesh Sharma of Filmfare rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "The film is cleverly written. It serves us twists and turns admiringly well. The insider jokes are a hoot. The arrogance of a superstar is on point".[23] Kartik Bhardwaj of Cinema Express rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat lock horns in this cheeky take on stars, fans, and media culture".[24] Himesh Mankad of Pinkvilla rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "An Action Hero is an intelligently written action thriller, wherein the director follows his conviction to strike the right balance in the genre with some humor and whacky scenarios".[25]
When reel life action star falter drunk and kill footpath sleeping poor this movie fits in the best. Real life and reel life action differ and Khurana adds gravitas. Sleek UK shots add to short movie length.
Ayushmann Khurrana, the supremely talented actor is set to release his first out-and-out action film, An Action Hero very soon. The National award-winner actor is finally bidding goodbye to his signature small-town youngster roles with the film, which features him in the role of a film star. In the recently held Sahitya AajTak 2022 event, Ayushmann Khurrana opened up about An Action Hero and revealed some exciting updates on the highly anticipated Anirudh Iyer directorial.
Ayushmann Khurrana, who opened up about An Action Hero at the event, confirmed that his action film does not have a female lead. The actor's confirmation came out as a great surprise for the audience. According to Ayushmann, An Action Hero does not demand a female lead, as it revolves around the two main characters, played by him and Jaideep Ahlawat. He also revealed that the film does not have a romantic track.
Earlier, Ayushmann Khurrana revealed that An Action Hero is truly a genre breaker for him. The National award-winner is playing the role of Manav, a young Bollywood action hero who is chased by Bhoora Solanki, a municipal councilor of Mandothi village in Haryana. Jaideep Ahlawat is appearing in the role of Bhoora Solanki in the film. While speaking at the Sahitya AajTak 2022, Ayushmann also added that his camaraderie with Jaideep Ahlawat is going to be the best of 2022. An Action Hero, which is slated to hit the theatres on December 2, this year, is jointly produced by Aanand L Rai and T Series.
Set in the times of post-truth when the media and intelligence agencies could make or break a celebrity, the film makes a stinging comment on their work in a fun way. There are segments where it goes a little too over the top and tests our suspension of disbelief, but eventually the hero finishes with a flourish.
Manav (Ayushmann Khurrana) is a raging sensation who is known for his action-hero roles in films. During a shoot in Haryana, he inadvertently kills the bully of a fan who turns out to be the brother of the local centripetal force Bhoora Solanki (Jaideep Ahlawat). Bhoora might be just a municipal councillor, but he is no less than a star.
Image change and body chiseling notwithstanding, it is hard to believe Ayushmann giving it back to Jaideep in well-choreographed action sequences, but in terms of the point that the writers want to make, it holds.
Just watch An Action Hero on OTT- mainly for Jaideep Ahlawat. Was underwhelmed because of how little I cared for the characters.
Ayushman's character was not clear at all - no depth nor consistency - was he a narcissist who believed his own myth or a guy who is good deep inside but caught in a bad situation - the writer/director wanted to have it both ways and that I believed unravelled the film. It would have been a superb film if we got to see a narcissistic "villain" movie hero versus real life villain/don.
Jaideep's character was unidimensional and such a waste of talent.
Ending would have landed like a bomb if they had leaned into "the action hero" being a real life villain. If that was what they were trying they failed.
The story is good, the theme is nice, but for some odd reason Ayushmann Khurrana isnt his real 100% lately. All of his movies, he is center and the camera is never away from him entirely. Same story here, it's him and him from the start till the end.
But for this movie Ayushmann Khurrana upgraded his body and looks, 10/10 for that but in order to show his hard work on body his missed out himself somewhere. The movie has good comedy, witty, but not properly portrayed, Ayushmann Khurrana perhaps was too much concentrating on action scenes, which also on one or two points, seem very excessive.
Taunting at their main stream media anchors, funny.
Bringing in Ind most wanted, funny again, but i dont think it will please the masses.
Regardless, it's a fair watch to see, just below the good line.
I saw - An action hero, in the theatre. The movie was definitely engaging, but it is not a visual spectacle or stunning by any means to warrant a theatre watch. It would be a good OTT movie. So, for people thinking about watching it, I would suggest to wait for an OTT release.
I felt the movie had a Guy Ritchie feel to it, with all the gangesters and the black comedy. And it was pretty well executed as well. I am fully willing to let go of logic etc. In an action movie, IF, the characters and the plot is engaging enough. The problem with this movie is that both are very loosely written and shot. So, a lot of the idiosyncrasies, black comedy, lack of logic etc. Don't work at all since other than Ayushmann's character, you don't have a connection, feel or bond towards another character. This is a major drawback of the movie. Ayushmann has done well, the rest of the cast is pretty so so. Not a lot of laugh out moments, but it is an engaging movie and a timepass watch.
A family spots an excellent deal on a trip to Hawaii, though the father is unsure if he'll be able to get the time off. Suddenly, "unnecessary action hero" Shemar Moore bursts through their glass door and shows them Paycom, which is designed to make requesting time off for vacations easier, though it also prompts the father to ask if his entrance was entirely necessary. His mission completed, Moore exits the same way he came in -- diving through the remaining glass door like an action hero -- while the father giddily announces that his vacation request was approved.
critic's rating: 3.5/5 Anirudh Iyer's directorial debut features Ayushmann Khurrana as an arrogant superstar named Maanav, whom you'd love to hate. He lives in his own world, is prone to throw tantrums and doesn't care for the feelings of others. And since he's got tons of money, he knows he can buy off anything, even a murder charge. His world comes crashing down when he accidentally kills the younger brother of gangster turned politician Bhoora Solanki (Jaideep Ahlawat). Bhoora is more arrogant than Maanav, is more ruthless and doesn't mind actually killing everyone who gets in his way. Maanav escapes to London thinking that he'd be safe there but Bhoora lands up there and starts a killing spree. Now, Maanav has to become an action hero in real life in order to save his life.
The film is cleverly written. It serves us twists and turns admiringly well. The insider jokes are a hoot. The arrogance of a superstar is on point. So is his attempt at being a method actor in an action film. He gives take after take to get the look right, and the directors and others play along, as who'd antagonise an action star. He's an ego monster used to having people around him bowing down to his needs and gets a rude shock when real bullets start flying. He knows he can't bribe his way out of trouble in a foreign country. Media and its hunger for TRPs is hugely made fun of in the film. The antics of several popular news anchors are mimicked and a montage of anchors and reporters going crazy by the day as hunt for Maanav goes on keeps you in splits. The film industry is a fickle place and it's shown how those fawning around him abruptly cut ties when Maanav is portrayed as a villain by the media. The industry's links with the underworld are also touched upon as well.
Juxtaposed to the physical comedy and the satire is the ego tussle between Maanav and Bhoora. The latter can't understand how his wrestler brother could be killed by a mere actor and he wants to exact his revenge by physically tearing the actor from limb to limb. This obsession throws them both in impossible situations and sometimes they have to unwittingly team up to get out of them. Like a proper Guy Ritchie film, the film introduces us to one colourful character after another to keep our interest piqued. The improbable situations, eccentric characters and smart, witty dialogue turn this film into a hell of a ride.
The film is shot stylistically by Kaushal Shah and editor Nirad Khanolkar has kept it fast paced. The action sequences have been filmed imaginatively as well.
Both Jaideep Ahlawat and Ayushmann Khurrana play characters who are prime examples of toxic masculinity. Both are so convinced about their world view that it takes literal hard knocks to see what's right. The difference between them is that while Maanav learns from his mistakes and moves on, Bhoora refuses to do so. Both actors have done ample justice to their characters. While Jaideep has done similar roles before, he makes sure he brings something fresh to the film. It would have been harder for Ayushmann to play a character so out of his range so far. He has taken pains to physically transform himself for the role and gets the body language spot on. He grows into the role with every frame and by the end of the film convinces you that he'd look good doing action roles in the future.
Kudos to Anirudh Iyer for making a witty and clever film, keeping a healthy mix of satire, action and comedy to keep one entertained throughout. Cinematic liberties have been taken for sure and the treatment is definitely over the top. But as long as one keeps smiling, who's complaining.
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