The staged banter between Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap on Twitter a couple of weeks prior to the release of “AK vs AK” promised the audience this was going to be a brutally humorous film where the two actors roast each other like chicken on a grill. And it is with pleasure that we note that the roast is well done. Very-very well done.
Veteran Bollywood (cameos in Hollywood) actor Anil Kapoor and badass director/writer turned actor Anurag Kashyap play themselves in this dark comedy thriller that has taken netizens aback with shock over how crazily creative the filmmaking team gets.
Penned by Avinash Sampath and directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, the film’s first noticeable deviation from normal is its cinematography. With mostly handheld shots that follow the characters around from a POV perspective, the film feels like watching a single-camera reality show. There’s a character who’s shooting a documentary on Anurag Kashyap—enough reason for the filmmakers to shoot the whole thing like a documentary, or a mockumentary, if you please.
The film begins with actors Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap—both evidently holding old grudges against each other—getting into a verbal spat in front of a live audience. Sly as he is, Kapoor manages to provoke Kashyap enough to make him throw a glass of water on the actor, which backfires on Kashyap as the audience, the media and the film fraternity boycott him. A raging Kashyap then decides to take revenge on Kapoor by kidnapping his daughter, actress Sonam Kapoor (playing herself), and making Kapoor act in the “most dangerous hostage thriller in cinema” as he tries to find his daughter before daylight—or she dies.
AK vs AK is quick, evenly paced and to my personal liking, not stretched. I am particularly biased towards films that keep to the 90-minute mark and AK vs AK comes at a healthy 1h 48mins. Sampath-Motwane’s screenplay and Kashyap’s dialogues ensure the film keeps its improvisational mood and appears light, when, in reality, there is some serious filmmaking and acting skills in evidence.
For Kashyap, who delivers his best acting performance among the few films he has featured in, AK and AK could be a transition to an acting career. He has given up his roles of writing, direction and producing to others while he channels his inner actor. In a lead role where he gets maximum screen time, he is impressive.
For Anil Kapoor—who has featured in over 100 films in a career spanning over 40 years—AK vs AK is redemption from the recent strings of audacious roles in disasters like “Total Dhamaal”, “Race 3” and “Paagalpanti”. The actor shows the world why he has been steadily successful in his long career and cannot be written off yet. He transitions perfectly into an OTT actor from his previous “Bollywood hero” image and probably for the first time in his career, uses the ‘M@#$***#@’ word. (Hindi version)
The script intentionally makes a mockery of both the lead actors. It takes jibes at their careers and personal lives, using real incidents and anecdotes. The film even features real characters associated with the actors and doesn’t spare even their families. With cameos from Kapoor’s son Harshvardhan Kapoor and producer brother Boney Kapoor, as well as Kashyap’s favorite colleague Nawazuddin Siddiqui (voice only), the film also gives the audience a peek into the behind-the-scenes of Bollywood and the famous Film City.
The only let down, however, is the climax. There is a twist at the end, as one would expect, but the ending is not as grand as the beginning. The film does have a constant pace but on the flip side, fails to build momentum ahead of a fitting finale. But still, it does better than many recent Bollywood ‘blockbusters’ we’ve watched.
Who should watch it?
AK vs AK is a work of art. Although more on the commercial side, the emphasis on creativity and artistry is visibly felt. Thus its a must-watch for movie lovers of all genres.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Dark comedy/thriller
Actors: Anil Kapoor, Anurag Kashyap
Director: Vikramaditya Motwane
