Shah Rukh Khan is one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. In recent years, however, the Indian star has been rare in front of the camera. After several financial failures, he took a break from leading roles. But in 2023 he will be back. At the beginning of his comeback is the agent action Pathaan, which is currently also running in German cinemas.
This return to the big screen seems to have succeeded. Pathaan has already cracked the top 10 most successful Indian films ever and broke records worldwide. In Germany, Pathaan did it best opening weekend of an Indian film and in the US he beat the assembled Bollywood competition, as Deadline reports.
The combination of a popular action franchise and a long-missing star apparently works wonders. The fact that Khan is celebrating a reunion with his screen partner Deepika Padukone (Om Shanti Om) certainly doesn’t hurt either.
Check out the trailer for Pathaan here:
Pathaan – Trailer (OV) HD
In Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan must stop the spread of a deadly virus
Shah Rukh Khan plays the titular character Pathaan, an agent of the Indian Foreign Intelligence Service who is assigned to stop ex-colleague Jim (John Abraham). Jim has abandoned all ideals in the wake of a terrible tragedy and is ready to transcend any moral boundary. That includes unleashing a deadly virus on India on behalf of a renegade Pakistani general. During his mission, Pathaan meets Pakistani agent Rubai (Deepika Padukone), but can he trust her?
Director Siddharth Anand (War) fills its 148-minute running time with various lurid twists and turns, rows and rows of washboard bellies, time jumps and one over-the-top action set piece after another. A high-tech safe has to be broken into in Moscow, a shootout ensues in Spain and a beating on the roof of a moving truck in Dubai. There are also various cameos, just like in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because Pathaan also belongs to a film universe – although you don’t have to know the other films to enjoy the action excess.
The action film belongs to a whole film universe
Pathaan is the fourth film in the series YRF Spy Universe. The abbreviation refers to the production company Yash Raj Films. In 2012 she started a series of action blockbusters about Salman Khan’s powerful agent Tiger. The Tiger films, originally planned as a series, then became an entire film universe, including crossovers. These now include:
The fifth film from the YRF Spy Universe is called Tiger 3 and will be released in Indian cinemas in November. Pathaan is said to appear in it again.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan has a packed cinema year ahead. Alongside Tiger 3, this year he will have dual roles in action thriller Jawan and appear in tragic comedy Dunki.
Podcast Tip: Why Is Netflix Canceling My Favorite Shows?
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In the podcast, we look for explanations for the wave of cancellations at Netflix that has hit shows like Warrior Nun, 1899 and First Kill. Are they really not successful enough? And could Netflix do anything to lessen fan anger and sadness?