REVIEW
 
Director Gauri Shinde's Bollywood movie Dear Zindagi starring Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan, Kunal Kapoor and Ali Zafar has been released today. Dear Zindagi is a comedy drama. Director Gauri Shinde has written the story and screenplay for the movie, which revolves around budding cinematographer Kaira (Alia Bhatt), who is in search of perfect life. She happens to meet Dr Jehangir Khan aka Jug (Shah Rukh Khan), an unconventional thinker. The rest of the movie is all about how Jug helps Kaira gain new perspective about life.
 
STORY
 
Kiara (Alia Bhatt), a budding director, is stuck in a rut. Her dream job is out of her reach, her love life is in a mess, her landlord asks her to vacate her Mumbai apartment because she's a single woman. Relatable much. Kiara's parents are based in Goa. Kiara is like any of us right after a break-up. When a guy leaves you for someone else, you continue with life like nothing ever happened.
 
Except, Kiara isn't able to sleep. In Goa for a month's break, she eavesdrops on an address by Dr Jehangir Khan/Jug (Shah Rukh Khan) at a mental health awareness gathering. His language and manner of dealing with the issue of mental health bowls her over, and Kiara reaches his doorstep for 'therapy'. Dear Zindagi thereafter is about breaking out of the shackles of life and, as the several 'takes' of the film have said, embracing life, 'one take at a time'.
 
PERFORMANCE
 
This is an Alia Bhatt movie, through and through. The men in the cast, even Shah Rukh Khan, are just there to support her. Dear Zindagi is just another movie that showcases the powerful potential of this talented actress. If you were awed by her performance in Udta Punjab, be prepared to be blown away by her sheer anguish here.
 
Shah Rukh brings on screen his inimitable charm, giving himself completely to the director. Khan knows when to step back and let Alia take the lead. Among the other leading men, Ali Zafar oozes charisma, while Kunal Kapoor lends able support.
 
At two and a half hours, the movie is tad too long and it allows monotony to set in. Alia’s scenes with SRK were supposed to be a highlight of the movie. But apart from the first two scenes and the last one, the rest are too preachy and repetitive.
 
Gauri Shinde does a half-decent job with Dear Zindagi. The director, whose English Vinglish was a landmark film and did not leave you without a smile or a tear, seems oddly laid-back in Dear Zindagi. Maybe we began expecting too much from Shinde after her first film.
 
PLUS
 
Dialouges
Alia’s Performance
Music
 
MINUS
 
Editing
Narration

Verdict : Forget English Vinglish and Give it a Try!

Stars : 2/5