After Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan is ready to unleash his second biggie of the year, Jawan. Releasing at theatres on September 7, his home production has already witnessed a staggering sale of advance tickets. Though Shah Rukh’s fandom doesn’t require a reason to watch his films, we list some points why this film is simply unmissable.
Chief’s girl gang
Whatever be his mission, Shah Rukh is going to be aided by a power-packed group of women in Jawan who address him as ‘chief’. The girl gang is headlined by a bunch of talented actors — Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Lehar Khan, Aaliyah Qureishi and Girija Oak Godbole. Going by what happened last time Shah Rukh led a girl gang (in Shimit Amin’s Chak De! India), one can only expect twice the fireworks in Jawan.
Shah Rukh Khan in multiple avatars
Neither the prevue nor the trailer made it clear what Shah Rukh’s character exactly is in Jawan. From romantic to rugged, from shaking a leg to pulling off high-octane action sequences, from a bandaged face to rocking a bald look, Shah Rukh seems to have done it all. Add to that sassy dialogue such as ‘Main punya hoon ya paap hoon?’and the intrigue factor is even more.
Vijay Sethupathi’s antagonist avatar
Pitted against Shah Rukh, the talented 45-year-old actor Vijay Sethupathi is the antagonist Kalee, who calls himself the fourth largest weapon dealer in the world. With a heavy Tamil accent and unpredictable, menacing body language, Sethupathi dons a younger look as Kalee alongside an aged, white beard persona in the trailer. After playing multiple negative roles in Tamil language films, Sethupathi’s fans can’t wait to catch him unsettle Shah Rukh in Jawan.
Atlee and Nayanthara’s Hindi debut
It’s quite something that after a 20-year career and having starred in 80 films, the extremely popular Nayanthara is making her Hindi film debut only now. She plays a gun-toting cop in Jawan. Fans have loved her chemistry with Shah Rukh in the romantic number Chaleya as well as the dance number Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya. Jawan also marks the Hindi directorial debut of Atlee, known for his stylish direction in popular Tamil films such as Theri, Mersal and Bijil.
Lucky mascot Deepika Padukone
After delivering momentous hits together with Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, Happy New Year and Pathaan, the Deepika Padukone-Shah Rukh pair is back in Jawan. Even in a guest appearance, Deepika, clad in a red sari, leaves us stunned as she engages in a playful banter with Shah Rukh before pinning him down in a muddy field.
Anirudh Ravichander’s musical
The 32-year-old music composer-singer Anirudh Ravichander had shot to fame with the viral song Why This Kolaveri di in 2011. He has come a long way since with one hit song after another. Jawan, projected as an Anirudh musical, is a mix tape with Chaleya being an earworm, Zinda Banda and Not Ramaiya Vastavaiya as dance numbers and the Jawan theme track. Anirudh, who is making his foray into Bollywood with Jawan, also tasted success recently with his songs for Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer, such as Kaavaalaa.
Bollywood goes South
Pitched as a pan-Indian film with key cast members and technicians from the South, the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer aims to make a place in the hearts of the Tamil and Telugu audience. There’s a buzz that Jawan will feature a few cameos by stars of the South film industries.
