A good-looking lead pair. Check. Bang on chemistry. Check. Matching steps on a peppy dance number. Check. Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff in War make for nothing less than the perfect jodi of a Bollywood film. While the title suggests a showdown between the two, by the end of the film you find yourself rooting for their bromance.
Bollywood has always had movies about bromance, be it Sholay or Dostana, but War sets new levels for the same with Khalid (Tiger) and Kabir (Hrithik) oozing swag and style. As War progresses, from friendship to dance numbers to action sequences, you see why no other pair could’ve done justice to a film like this.
In Kabir’s introductory scene, he walks out of a helicopter in his confident style, mesmerizing not just the audience but his protege Khalid, too. His eyes remain transfixed on Kabir, and his expressions almost make you believe that he’s in love with his mentor. (Frankly, who wouldn’t fall for Hrithik?)
The admiration you see in Khalid’s eyes for Kabir is genuine, as Tiger admits to being the biggest fan of Hrithik.
Now, this also stems from Tiger’s real-life adoration for Hrithik. He’s a self confessed fan of the Super 30 actor and even admitted that he started dancing after watching Kaho Na Pyaar Hai. In an interview, Tiger said that it was a dream come true for him to share the screen with his idol. So, the admiration you see in Khalid’s eyes is genuine.
“I wanted his appreciation and wanted him to say ‘great shot man’ and ‘good job.’ I didn’t want to mess up because here you are working with your idol and how do you not show that you are starstruck.”Tiger Shroff
The high-octane action sequences are the highlight of War, and manage to match the likes of Mission Impossible. Four action directors who have also worked on The Dark Knight and Avengers: Age of Ultron have collaborated on this film. It was important to cast a pair who could pull off action choreography of this level. With Tiger’s past record of Heropanti and Baaghi, and Hrithik’s in the Krrish franchise, it wouldn’t be a great idea to doubt the duo’s abilities to pull it off.
True, that War’s action sequences are choreographed well, but the pair’s performance takes it a notch higher. There’s not a single shot where you feel that Kabir and Khalid aren’t in sync. In one such sequence, the two aren’t able to take down a bad guy individually. They look at each other, and the audience knows what’s going to happen next. The duo gets up and does what was needed to be done. In the scene, and overall in the film, the two are a force to reckon with.
Although, there are times when the lead actors are at loggerheads with each other, but you’re so much in love with their bromance that your inner voice shouts ‘Noooo!!’.
Tiger is not just matching steps with his idol, but even energy, expressions and swag.
Now that we’re talking about the best jodi, it would have been totally unfair to not have a track featuring the two best dancers in Bollywood together. Thankfully, War doesn’t disappoint us on that level. The Holi song, ‘Jai Jai Shiv Shankar...’ has Kabir and Khalid celebrating the initial stages of their friendship and how! You’ll want to figure who’s doing a better job in the song, but you’d be forced to accept that you can’t choose one. Tiger is not just matching steps with his idol, but even energy, expressions and swag.
All said and done, War should be watched for the amazing chemistry the duo share, if for nothing else. Even with Vaani Kapoor and Hrithik’s sizzling chemistry in Ghungroo, Hrithik-Tiger undoubtedly take away the prize for the best jodi. The two had so much to give, that the makers could have even done away with the female lead. Through the film, their relationship will make you laugh, smile, cry and just feel happy for the two. Guess it’s time for Kabir-Khalid to be the new Jai-Veeru.
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