Shehzada Movie Review: Kartik Aaryan impresses in Hindi remake of Allu Arjun's Telugu superhit
Shehzada, the latest release from Bollywood superstar Kartik Aaryan, showcases the actor's versatility in the action genre. The film is a Hindi remake of the Telugu superhit action drama 'Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo' which was released in 2020. While the movie delivers on the action, funny one-liners and comedy in the dialogues, the story fails to hold up strongly. The first half of the film drags on, but the story catches up in the second half.
Directed by Rohit Dhawan, son of David Dhawan, Shehzada is inclined towards comedy and drama. It can be best described as a family entertainer with an abundance of action, drama, and romance. Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon reunite as the lead couple, and their onscreen chemistry is excellent. The film also features Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Ronit Roy, Sunny Ahuja, Ankur Rathi and Sachin Khedekar, with special appearances by Rajpal Yadav and Rakesh Bedi.
The story of Shehzada revolves around Bantu (Kartik Aaryan), who was born as a Shehzada but was brought up in a simple house. Bantu's fake father Valmiki (Paresh Rawal) plays a game and gives Bantu's right of being a Shehzada to someone else. Bantu later learns that his real family is the Jindal family, but Valmiki keeps him away from his family. The film explores what Bantu does when he discovers the truth and how he meets his parents.
Kartik Aaryan delivers a great performance, holding the interest of the audience in every scene. Kriti Sanon justifies her role as a lawyer, but her character does not have much to do. Paresh Rawal excels in his role with his effortless acting and comic timing. Ronit Roy and Manisha Koirala also do justice to their roles. Sachin Khedekar and Sunny Hinduja's performances are also noteworthy.
However, Shehzada is not without its flaws. While it delivers on the entertainment front, not all characters are given their due on the screen. The movie is mainly centered around Kartik Aaryan, and Kriti Sanon's track ends abruptly in the second half, which may disappoint some viewers. Additionally, since it is a Hindi remake of a Telugu film, many people may have already seen it, which may affect its box office collection. Nonetheless, Shehzada is a fun watch and worth checking out for Kartik Aaryan's excellent performance.
