Bollywood's case of Phata Poster Nikhla ZERO

Posters are like promises made by a film about to hit the screen in a few weeks.  And in the bravado obsessed Bollywood, the endorsement banks on the swaggering hero's larger-than-life facade to draw in the audience.

 

Only recently Shahid Kapoor literally burst out of a poster to highlight the film's blustering title, Phata Poster Nikhla Hero. For all his swashbuckling attitude, the caper turned out to be a damp squib and yet another tale of make-believe heroism ate box office dust.

 

On that note, here's a look at some of the more recent Phata Poster Nikhla Zero scenario at the movies.

 

They dared to remake Zanjeer.

 

They dared to cast Prakash Raj as Teja.

 

They dared to think Sanjay Dutt could be Pran.

 

They dare to dumb down Mala as Pinki.

 

But what's truly daring are people who sat through the monstrosity introducing Ram Charan Teja's limited emotive range to the Hindi-speaking audience.

 

Riding high on the strength of Vicky Donor's wide acclaim and his soulful singing, Ayushmann Khurrana was expected to rock the screen with another winner in Nautanki Saala. Ditto for Kunaal Roy Kapur post his Delhi Belly antics 

 

But Rohan Sippy's sluggish bromance takes its own sweet time to take off and the upshot is a slumber of a film.

 

Filmmaker Sajid Khan went about town predicting Himmatwala's box office fortune even before it released. 

 

The severely-panned remake of an equally shoddy original, starring a jaded Ajay Devgn and a sloppy CGI tiger, met with a befittingly humiliating response.

 

Sriram Raghavan and Saif Ali Khan proved to be a potent combination in the director's first film, Ek Haseena Thi. Everyone expected nothing short of razor-sharp awesomeness from the man in his reworking of the 1970s obscure spy flick of the same name.

 

Saif's turn as Agent Vinod, however, loses steam mid way turning into yet another case of too much gloss not enough grit.

 

Producer Vipul Shah roped in the bulky nemesis of John Abraham in Force -- Vidyut Jamwal to play a 'One man army' in this all-out action flick. The promos look interesting too. Who knows this could be Vidyut's Balwaan-like breakthrough?

 

Only it's not. Commando is mostly a lousy film that, unlike its beefed-up hero, doesn't have a single muscle in its script. 

 

Shah Rukh Khan is relieved man after Chennai Express's phenomenal success. 

 

But a couple of years ago, his efforts to provide international scale special effects with his hugely-hyped and expensive production -- Ra.One, where he plays the righteous robot G.One became the subject of mass ridicule for its crummy contents. 

 

Everyone expected nothing short of screwball fun from Farah Khan's third film as director after hits like Main Hoon Naa and Om Shanti Om. Same goes for the tried and tested jodi of Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. 

 

The abysmal reception to Tees Maar Khan simply proves never send a Kumar to do a Khan's job.

 

Between Wanted and Dabangg, Salman Khan delivered a turkey called Veer.

 

The costume drama cum historical, based on a moronic storyline by Sallu himself, evoked interest after the first posters flaunting his chiselled torso appeared in the media.

 

The so-called epic turned out to be so lame that even hardcore Bhai fans had a tough time concealing their embarrassment.

 

Even though filmmaker Ketan Mehta hasn't been in his element since Sardar, a certain credibility was expected from the extravagantly mounted, Mangal Pandey. Moreover, he got Aamir Khan on board.

 

And where there is Aamir, can perfection be far behind? Apparently, yes. Mangal Pandey is yet another fine example of all sound, no fury.

 

Abhishek Bachchan dons a cream and gold suit to play the sword-wielding saviour of Goldie Behl's Drona. Given how staunchly Bollywood shies away from the fantasy genre, it's always refreshing to see any attempt.

 

And then Drona came out in all its tacky glory prompting you to take back those afore-mentioned words ASAP before Bachchan Junior and his icky stubble decides to assault our senses with a sequel.