A Shah Rukh Khan film on the big screen is nothing short of a celebration, and when Shah Rukh returns in a full-fledged role after four long years, it’s a carnival of sorts. Releasing in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on January 25, his spy thriller Pathaan has opened to massive advance bookings across the country.
Going by the trailers, the Siddharth Anand directorial seems to be packed with trademark elements of Yash Raj Films’ movies that are now known as the YRF Spy Universe. As we count down to the moment of Shah Rukh hitting the big screen as Pathaan, here’s a look at why the action-packed film is one the most-awaited releases of 2023.
Shah Rukh Khan — the action hero
With rippling muscles, taut body, long hair sometimes tied into a ponytail, Shah Rukh turns on his rugged charm in Pathaan in the title role of a covert operative racing against time to foil a terror attack. In a recent promotional video from Yash Raj Films, Shah Rukh confessed his long-time desire to play an action hero, so this is going to be a dream-come-true for both him and us.
Pathaan is the first among Shah Rukh’s three big releases this year, the other two being Atlee’s action thriller Jawan with Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupati, and Rajkumar Hirani’s social comedy Dunki co-starring Taapsee Pannu.
His last screen outing Zero (2018), directed by Aanand L. Rai and co-starring Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, had a dismal run at the box office. So, a lot is riding on Pathaan.
Deepika Padukone – the action girl
This will perhaps be the first-of-its-kind full-on action role for not only Deepika Padukone but also an actress in a Bollywood film. Not much has been revealed about her role except that Deepika’s character in Pathaan is layered and has a vulnerable side. The trailer shows her pulling off stunts and landing smooth kicks and punches, and we can’t wait to catch Deepika in her debut action-girl avatar.
That apart, there are the songs. In Besharam rang — sung by Shilpa Rao, Caralisa Monteiro and Vishal-Sheykhar, and choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant — Deepika glides around a poolside villa looking super glam. Even in the Jhoome Jo Pathaan number choreographed by Bosco-Caesar, Deepika sizzles like no other. Pathaan will mark Shah Rukh-Deepika’s fourth film together, after Om Shanti Om, Happy New Year and Chennai Express.
John Abraham — the baddie
Before Pathaan, John Abraham and Yash Raj Films have collaborated on Dhoom, Kabul Express and New York. We can safely expect John to channel some of his Dhoom energy and deliver the fireworks as the film’s antagonist, Jim. A spectacular climactic showdown between Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and John’s Jim is on the cards. In the Pathaan promotional video, John has shared that he has several noteworthy high-octane action sequences – one on a motorcycle, another on a truck, and yet another mid-air.
Spy universe and the constellation of stars
The YRF Spy Universe official logo was unveiled along with the trailer of Pathaan. The YRF Spy Universe is an Indian shared universe around spy action-thriller films. It means that Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif-starrer Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai, Hrithik Roshan-Tiger Shroff’s War, Pathaan, the upcoming Tiger 3 film and future Yash Raj films in this genre all fall in the same universe, and that the stars of these films will surface and resurface in each other’s films. So, Salman Khan is expected to be seen in a guest appearance in Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan are supposed to appear in Tiger 3.
