Zoya Akhtar directorial Gully Boy has been lauded by audiences and critics alike - rapper and actor Will Smith included - since it hit theatres on 14 February. Karan Johar took to Instagram to shower effusive praise on the Ranveer Singh starrer calling it “a cult classic that has possibly the best ensemble of actors we have seen this decade”.
He called Zoya Akhtar a “bonafide magician” and wrote,
“When passion supersedes grass root realities...when dreams make you wake up to bigger dreams....when you wrap rap into a form of solid expression....when you tell a story that has all this and more....that’s when you have a film that you can assuredly call a MASTERPIECE of modern times! @zoieakhtar weaves a story of aspirations in the underbelly of Mumbai like a bonafide magician....she slowly reveals every trick in her genius bag and you walk away with a lump in your throat and a swag in your step! #apnatimeaayega becomes your life mantra and all you want to do is dance the dance of great cinema!”
He complimented Ranveer’s nuanced performance as the protagonist Murad, aka Gully Boy, saying,
“@ranveersingh delivers the loudest quiet performance oscillating between silence and storm and you are left awestruck by his immense versatility and ability to sink his teeth into every single character....he makes you feel every beat of Murad’s beats! Outstanding!!”
Calling Alia Bhatt “brilliant”, he said her character Safeena deserves a spin-off film of her own. He also acknowledged Bollywood debutant Siddhant Chaturvedi, who according to him played the role of Ranveer’s mentor MC Sher “pitch perfect, balancing arrogance and goodness with the ease of a veteran”.