SUNDAY TIMES WEB DESK: Zero”, hitting cinemas on Friday, sees the Hindi movie icon, miniaturised with special effects, caught up in a love triangle alongside a wheelchaired Anushka Sharma.
Director Aanand L. Rai believes he brought the larger than life actor, nicknamed “King Khan”, out of his comfort zone to play a character three feet (90 centimetres) tall.
“This kind of story about a man’s journey and his love story needed someone like him. By casting him, we challenged Mr. Khan to show us what he could do,” Rai told AFP.
“Zero” — which is heavy on special effects — sees Sharma play a NASA scientist with cerebral palsy and Katrina Kaif portray a Bollywood actress with a drink problem.
Bauua Singh, played by Khan, is struggling to find a wife because of his height but develops close bonds with both women as he searches for his true love.
It is Khan’s first movie since “Jab Harry Met Sejal” bombed last year. The actor’s “Raees” (2017) and “Fan” (2016) also didn’t do as well as hoped.
The 53-year-old’s last undisputed blockbuster was “Dilwale” in 2015 and with “Zero” reported to cost a hefty two billion rupees ($26.5 million) it may be starting to prey on his mind.
“If people feel that ‘Zero’ is very important for me, it’s their feeling,” Khan told the Hindustan Times in a recent interview.
“God forbid, if this film doesn’t work, what will happen? Maybe, I won’t get work for six months or 10 months, but if I believe that my craft and art is good, I will continue to get work,” he added.