Fanney Khan REVIEW: Anil Kapoor-Aishwarya Rai starrer lacks soul!

Film: Fanney Khan Director: Atul Manjrekar Star cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Pihu Sand, Divya Dutta Rating: 2.5 stars How far a father can go to fulfill his daughter's dream is the backdrop of Fanney Khan that starts on a high note and has its moments of glory. The film is a story of hopes, dreams and an untold relationship between a father and his daughter. Adapted from the Belgian film "Everybody's Famous!", an Oscar nominated film in 2001, "Fanney Khan" is directed by debutante Atul Manjrekar. The movie has an ensemble star cast with Anil Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan coming together in a film after 17 years. Last time, they came together in Humara Dil Aapke Pas Hai, which released in 2000. Also, it’s the first time you will see a young Rajkummar Rao romancing senior actress Aishwarya on the silver screen. Fanney Khan cast interview: Anil Kapoor speaks on film & Aishwarya Rai STORY: Once a celebrated singer with a local orchestra Prashant Sharma (Anil Kapoor) earned the stage title of Fanney Khan. Years later, he hopes that his daughter Lata (Pihu Sand) will realise his unfulfilled dreams. Now in her teens, Lata not only sings well but also dances like a dream despite her plus size that regularly makes her an object of body shaming on stage. Fanney Khan can go to any extent to fulfil his daughter's dream of becoming India's singing sensation which leads to him kidnapping pop star Baby Singh(Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) with a help of his friend Adhir(Rajkumar Rao). So is Fanney successful in fulfilling his daughter's dreams? Despite of the movie having so many highlights, from star cast to an emotional story, it fails to connect to the audience and clearly lacks soul, courtsey  the melodramatic second half which falls flat. At times the movie looks ridiculous and you might scratch your head, I mean soon after the lead actor(Anil Kapoor)loses his job in the factory, he is desperate and by fate meets Baby Singh, he spontaneously kidnaps her with the hope that with the ransom money he would cut an album for his daughter. The first half is good and you enjoy but the second half makes the film too weak and at times you will say what the...! The film looks like a melodrama by the end I mean there's a scene when Anil Kapoor as kidnapper is surrendering himself to the police but the lady cop instead claps and laud him, in fact she even gets emotional! I mean really? Where and why on the earth a police would do that! There are several stupid moments in the second half that gives you yawning moments. ACTING: Anil Kapoor as Fanney Khan is brilliant and is relatable as a doting father. Pihu Sand who plays Anil's daughter Lata looks promising and has done her part well but its Aishwarya as superstar Baby Singh who not only looks ravishing but also lits up the screen with her charismatic persona. She delivers an energetic and spontaneous performance. It's a sheer treat to watch her when she shares screen space with Rajkummar, who is brilliant as Adhir. Rao, once again proves his versatility with Fanney Khan and we would love to see more of him doing such roles. Overall, the film offers promises and hopes, but on a false note thus making the narrative unconvinced. So if you are not doing anything this weekened you can go for the film else you can skip it! Watch it on your own risk.