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An Action Hero

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An Action Hero
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAnirudh Iyer
Written byNeeraj Yadav
Story byAnirudh Iyer
Produced byBhushan Kumar
Krishan Kumar
Aanand L. Rai
Starring
CinematographyKaushal Shah
Edited byNinad Khanolkar
Music byScore:
Parag Chhabra
Sunny M. R.
Songs:
Tanishk Bagchi
Biddu
Parag Chhabra
Amar Jalal
Production
companies
Distributed byAA Films
Release date
  • 2 December 2022 (2022-12-02)
Running time
130 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

An Action Hero is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language action film[2] directed by newcomer Anirudh Iyer and produced by T-Series and Colour Yellow Productions. It stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat. In the film, an action star (Khurrana) goes on the run after accidentally killing the brother of a ruthless politician (Ahlawat).

An Action Hero was announced in October 2021, followed by shooting schedules in India and London in the first quarter of 2022. It was released on 2 December 2022 to positive reviews from critics, but underperformed at the box office.[3]

Plot

[edit]

Maanav Khurana, a popular actor known as a leading man in action films, arrives at Mandothi, Haryana for his upcoming film shoot. Vicky Solanki, an aspiring politician currently contesting the local elections, wants to meet Maanav to gain publicity. Due to the busy shooting schedule, Maanav does not pay heed. When Maanav is about to meet Vicky, he gets distracted by the delivery of his new Ford Mustang and goes for a long drive. Enraged, Vicky follows and manhandles him, but Maanav pushes him away and Vicky dies from blunt force trauma, on the spot after landing head first on a rock. Frightened, Maanav flees to his house in Portsmouth. Unbeknownst to Maanav, Vicky's brother Bhoora Singh Solanki, a municipal councilor of Mandothi, is on his tail to hunt him down.

The Haryana police concludes the role of Maanav in Vicky's murder citing the side mirror of Maanav's new Mustang. Maanav's reputation is degraded and his films are boycotted. The news reaches UK as well and Maanav is forced to hide himself from the UK police, where he later witnesses Bhoora killing two British officers at his home. Maanav manages to escape the scene and tries to seek help from his UK lawyer, who does not respond. During his attempt to escape, Maanav's car runs out of gas and Bhoora confronts him. Maanav tries to prove his innocence, but Bhoora does not listen and tries to kill him. Maanav manages to overpower and lock Bhoora in the car's trunk. Upon pressuring his manager Roshan for help, Maanav finally gets to meet Sai, a lawyer and fixer, for capturing potential footage of Bhoora killing the two police officers. Sai tells Maanav to meet his contact in London for collecting the footage.

Meanwhile, Bhoora escapes by calling a towing company, where he follows and kills Sai. When Bhoora was about to kill Maanav, he is intercepted by Sai's friend Kaadir. Maanav and Bhoora together overpower Kaadir, but Maanav gets in the car and flees again leaving Bhoora behind. Bhoora manages to learn about Maanav's whereabouts from Kaadir as a hostage. Maanav gets fed up of hiding and surrenders himself to the police with the footage that Sai's contact procured from the dashcams of the cars nearby Maanav's house in Portsmouth. Masood Abraham Katkar, a feared terrorist from the D-Company and was earlier taunted by Maanav as irrelevant, abducts him through his men and is taken to a rooftop, where Katkar is awaiting him.

Katkar takes a photograph with Maanav, seemingly planning on sending it to the media to paint a picture that Maanav has contacts in the underworld. Katkar tells Maanav to perform at his granddaughter's wedding in exchange for his freedom. Bhoora arrives and disrupts Maanav's performance, only to be held at gunpoint by Katkar's men. After an interrogation, Katkar advises Bhoora to kill Maanav. Maanav's image with Katkar becomes viral on social media. Just as Bhoora is about to shoot, Maanav deflects him and Katkar gets shot dead in the skirmish. Katkar's men are alerted and arrive to kill them both. Maanav and Bhoora manage to defeat Katkar's men before turning on each other. With his newfound inner strength, Maanav defeats and wounds Bhoora.

Later, Maanav formulates a plan to make a deal with the Indian Embassy to project a story that the government used Maanav's situation and assigned him for the mission to track and kill Katkar, thus saving him from imprisonment. Bhoora refuses to spare him out of ego despite being aware of his innocence from the beginning. Without any choice, Maanav kills Bhoora and his plan succeeds. Maanav returns to India to find himself surrounded by greetings from his fans and the public outside the Mumbai airport.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

The film was announced in October 2021.[7][8]

Filming

[edit]

Filming began in January 2022 in London and concluded in March 2022.[9][10][11][12]

Music

[edit]
An Action Hero
Soundtrack album by
Tanishk Bagchi, Biddu, Parag Chhabra and Amar Jalal
Released30 November 2022[13]
Recorded2021–22
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length17:00
LanguageHindi
LabelT-Series
Official audio
An Action Hero (Jukebox) on YouTube
Singles from An Action Hero
  1. "Jehda Nasha"
    Released: 17 November 2022
  2. "Aap Jaisa Koi"
    Released: 26 November 2022

The music of the film is composed by Tanishk Bagchi, Biddu, Parag Chhabra and Amar Jalal. The background score is composed by Sunny M.R. and the Action Hero Theme is composed by Parag Chhabra.[13]

The song "Jehda Nasha" was recreated from the 2019 track Nasha which was sung by IP Singh, Amar Jalal, written by Amar Jalal Group and composed by Faridkot, Amar Jalal.[14] The song "Aap Jaisa Koi" was recreated from the 1980 film Qurbani sung by Pakistani singer Nazia Hassan, and was composed by British Indian producer Biddu. The song was featured in the film as an item number, picturised on Zeenat Aman.[15]

The film version of "Aap Jaisa Koi" replaces original male vocalist Altamash Faridi with Yash Narvekar.[16]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Ghere"VayuParag ChhabraVivek Hariharan, Parag Chhabra3:29
2."Asli Action Chaalu" (Theme Song)D'Evil, Shah RuleParag ChhabraD'Evil, Shah Rule3:05
3."An Action Hero Theme"InstrumentalParag ChhabraInstrumental0:50
4."Aap Jaisa Koi"Indeevar, Tanishk BagchiTanishk BagchiZahrah S Khan, Altamash Faridi2:58
5."Jehda Nasha"Amar Jalal, Balla JalalTanishk Bagchi, Faridkot, Amar JalalYohani, IP Singh, Amar Jalal, Harjot Kaur3:42
6."Aap Jaisa Koi" (Film Version)Indeevar, Tanishk BagchiTanishk BagchiZahrah S Khan, Yash Narvekar2:56
Total length:17:00

Release

[edit]

An Action Hero was theatrically released on 2 December 2022.[17][18]

Home media

[edit]

The satellite and digital rights were acquired by Sony Max and Netflix. The film was streamed in Netflix on 27 January 2023.[19]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

An Action Hero received positive reviews from critics.

Bollywood Hungama gave 4/5 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".[20] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 3.5/5 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".[21]

Sonil Dedhia of News 18 gave 3.5/5 stars and said that the film is "wacky, breezy, bizarre and outlandish".[22] Pratikshya Mishra of The Quint gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "The film makes fun of everything it can get its hands on while weaving a story worthy of its strong cast".[23]

Devesh Sharma of Filmfare gave 3.5/5 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".[24] Kartik Bhardwaj of Cinema Express gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat lock horns in this cheeky take on stars, fans, and media culture".[25]

Himesh Mankad of Pinkvilla gave 3.5/5 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".[26] Rohit Bhatnagar of The Free Press Journal gave 3.5/5 stars and said that the film might derail from the set formula concept, but it might entertain and delve deeper into world affairs.[27]

Pallabi Dey Purkayastha of OTTplay gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "Forget about the questionable choice of title, An Action Hero is actually an intelligent dark comedy that will leave you in splits on more than one occasion. And that, for any moviegoer, is good enough reason to give it a go".[28] Sukanya Verma of Rediff gave 3/5 stars and wrote "An Action Hero oil and water combination of genres doesn't always gel, gets overly far-fetched in places but still holds up on the strength of whimsy and surprise".[29]

Archika Khurana of The Times of India gave 3/5 stars and wrote "The interesting thing about the film is not so much the story itself, but seeing Ayushmann Khurrana get into the skin of an action hero and flex his muscles (literally) on screen".[30] Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost gave 2.75/5 stars and wrote "An Action Hero combines slick action with crackerjack chemistry between its leads. The near-erasure of women in the story is depressing, but the film’s pace gives us little time to think".[31]

Anuj Kumar of The Hindu wrote "Debutant writer-director Anirudh Iyer delivers a piquant entertainer that makes sharp observations on the fickleness of fame and futility of bloated egos".[32] Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times wrote "Watch An Action Hero for some brash and raw action, and if you enjoy cat and mouse chase, you would find this crazy ride equally funny".[33]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Ceremony date Category Recipients Result Ref.
Filmfare Awards 27 April 2023 Best Supporting Actor Jaideep Ahlawat Nominated [34]
Best Debut Director Anirudh Iyer Nominated
Best Story Nominated
Best Screenplay Neeraj Yadav Nominated
Best Dialogue Nominated
Best Editing Ninad Khanolkar Won
Best Cinematography Kaushal Shah Nominated
International Indian Film Academy Awards 28 September 2024 Best Supporting Actor Jaideep Ahlawat Nominated [35]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "An Action Hero". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. ^ "An Action Hero (2022)". Irish Film Classification Office.
  3. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana was 'expecting' An Action Hero to perform better at box office, says he can't be held solely responsible for turnout". Indian Express. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  4. ^ "REVEALED: Malaika Arora returns to the BIG screen after more than 4 years; to feature in a SIZZLING item number in Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer An Action Hero". Bollywood Hungama. 11 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Nora Fatehi shoots with Ayushmann Khurrana for a song in An Action Hero, watch". Bollywood News.
  6. ^ "Akshay Kumar to have a cameo in Ayushmann Khurrana starrer An Action Hero". Bollywood Hungama. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana announces Action Hero with teaser, film to release in 2022". 9 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana to play action star in his next titled Action Hero, watch teaser". The Indian Express. 10 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana starrer An Action Hero to go on floors this month in London". Bollywood Hungama. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  10. ^ "T-Series and Colour Yellow's An Action Hero jumps into action; kicks off shoot in London!". Bollywood Hungama. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana wraps up London shoot schedule of An Action Hero, watch video". Bollywood Hungama. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  12. ^ "T-Series and Colour Yellow Productions' An Action Hero starring Ayushmann Khurrana wraps up its London shoot". Bollywood Hungama. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  13. ^ a b "An Action Hero – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Jiosaavn. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Amid backlash for Jehda Nasha, Tanishk Bagchi says recreations help 'original singers in getting noticed': 'They thanked me for putting their song in the film'". The Indian Express. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  15. ^ "An Action Hero song 'Aap Jaisa Koi': Malaika Arora goes back to her roots, owns the dance floor like nobody else". The Indian Express. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  16. ^ "AAP Jaisa Koi (Film Version) [From "An Action Hero"]". Spotify.
  17. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana's an Action Hero to release in theatres on Dec 2". 22 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana's 'An Action Hero' to release in December - the New Indian Express". 4 April 2022.
  19. ^ "'An Action Hero' is on OTT Platform.Where to watch,cast and plot". India Today. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  20. ^ "An Action Hero Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  21. ^ "An Action Hero Review: Ayushmann Khurrana And Jaideep Ahlawat Lend The Film Power". NDTV. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  22. ^ "An Action Hero Review: Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat Shine in This Outlandish Film". News 18. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  23. ^ "An Action Hero Review: Guns, Masala, Action! Ayushmann Khurrana Film is a Riot". The Quint. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  24. ^ "An Action Hero Movie Review". Filmfare. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  25. ^ "An Action Hero review: This caper-comedy is fun, farcical, and fabulous". Cinema Express. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  26. ^ "An Action Hero Movie Review: Ayushmann Khurrana's film rides on a solid first half & an unexpected climax". Pinkvilla. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  27. ^ "An Action Hero Review: Ayushmann Khurrana-Jaideep Ahlawat's film is a chaotic chase that will leave you wanting for more". The Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  28. ^ "An Action Hero movie review: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jaideep Ahlawat set the house ablaze in this intelligent comedy". OTTplay. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  29. ^ "An Action Hero Review: Cool Idea, Choppy Execution". Rediff. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  30. ^ "An Action Hero Movie Review : Ayushmann Khurrana packs a punch in this average action thriller". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  31. ^ "An Action Hero movie review: Ayushmann Khurrana is such fun in this outlandish dark action comedy". Firstpost. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  32. ^ Kumar, Anuj (2 December 2022). "An Action Hero movie review: This Ayushmann Khurrana, Jaideep Ahalwat starrer kicks up a storm of satire". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  33. ^ "An Action Hero review: Ayushmann Khurrana packs a punch in this cat and mouse chase between trigger-happy men". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Filmfare Awards 2023 full winners list: Alia Bhatt, Tabu, Bhumi Pednekar, Rajkummar Rao, Sanjay Mishra are best actors, Gangubai Kathiawadi wins best picture". The Indian Express. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  35. ^ "IIFA Awards Announces It's [sic] Highly Anticipated 2024 Nominations". IIFA. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
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