AN ACTION HERO: Movie Review

The following review is part of an online series entitled ‘Best Indian Films of 2022’. The reviews are being published in no particular ranking/order.

An Action Hero is the 2022 film written by Neeraj Yadav (with a story from Anirudh Iyer) and directed by Anirudh Iyer. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead role, this film is a refreshing and rare treat from Bollywood – a solidly constructed caper/action comedy film featuring a smart satirical sensibility, a tightly written screenplay, and genuinely fantastic action choreography. Director Anirudh Iyer helms the film with a sense of seasoned confidence that feels particularly impressive for someone making their directorial debut. Khurrana also shines in this unique lead turn as Maanav, a Bollywood action hero who gets caught amongst dangerous crossroads that threaten his life and career. An Action Hero isn’t just a solid caper film, it also acts as a well-executed thesis on the nature of celebrity image in India, and comments particularly intelligently on the ways in which the Hindi film industry is perceived in the country. It’s the type of filmmaking that is not very common to see from Bollywood, and even though it does fall short of being as excellent as it could have been, An Action Hero is still noteworthy for its ingenuity and ambition.

Ayushmann Khurrana crackles in his lead turn as Bollywood star Maanav, and sees the performer imbuing the type of character that we rarely get to see from him anymore. Nevertheless, Khurrana gives one of the best performances in his career here, delivering the role of an action hero in all of its implications and definitions. Supporting him is Jaideep Ahlawat, who brings the maturity of a seasoned player and someone who has mastered the art of playing the layered villain. However, An Action Hero truly does belong to Khurrana, who gives one of the most interesting performances of his career.

An Action Hero falters most when its story becomes too simplistic and the chase action begins to drag at points, but by and large, this quick-witted caper works well, thanks to its swift and intelligent writing. An Action Hero is ultimately a story about how politics, media, and the public intersect and it’s told through a captivating chase movie that feels smart and novel. Some more sprucing of the script and a bit less repetitiveness would have made An Action Hero even more powerful, but director Anirudh Iyer’s endeavor here is still a cut above much of the hare-brained fare that Bollywood is often accustomed to churning out in the guise of an action film.