“Tiku Weds Sheru” Review: “Old wine in a very weak bottle, with only good performances as the strength.”

Step into the sordid underbelly of Bollywood with Tiku Weds Sheru, a film that delves into the
dark side of the industry, showcasing leering producers, exploited starry-eyed girls, and
mistreated junior artists. While the premise is not entirely groundbreaking, one would expect
something sharper and edgier from a production associated with Kangana Ranaut, considering
her own remarkable journey as an outsider who conquered Bollywood.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, essaying the role of Sheru, embodies one of the countless struggling
individuals trying to carve a niche in the cutthroat Mumbai film industry. Sheru obediently
follows orders, whether it’s where to sit or stand on set, constantly under the threat of being
replaced. As a side hustle, he dabbles in supplying drugs and girls, indebted to a group of thugs.
Enter Tiku (portrayed by Avneet Kaur), a beautiful young woman yearning to escape her
abusive home in Bhopal and become a superstar. Their paths intertwine, launching the film into
a relationship drama that lacks authenticity.

Ironically, the film’s attempts to balance the sleazy and sentimental elements only result in
pedestrian storytelling. Luck By Chance mastered this delicate balance with finesse, unlike
Tiku Weds Sheru. The initial conflict between the much older Sheru and the naive Tiku quickly
dissolves into mush, failing to leave a lasting impact. However, a few poignant scenes manage
to resonate, such as Tiku surreptitiously grabbing food meant for junior artists to sustain
herself, shedding light on the arduous lives of those who toil behind the scenes to make the
stars shine. The subplot featuring the villains, played by Vipin Sharma and Zakir Hussain, feels
extraneous. There are also some avoidable scenes like the inclusion of a cross-dressing scene
during a dance number which feels unnecessary and adds little to the overall narrative. So, in
short, the script is flawed.

As for performances, Nawazuddin effortlessly slips into the skin of a boisterous junior artist,
donning flamboyant attire while portraying the constant struggle against his harsh
circumstances. Avneet Kaur displays tremendous promise, embodying both the fierce, self-
assured young woman and the shattered soul who discovers the harsh realities of her
husband’s world. She shines brightly in a poignant scene where she breaks down, clutching
food from a film set after realizing she was duped with false promises of a role.
Unfortunately, overall Tiku Weds Sheru suffers from a lack of narrative coherence and
directorial finesse under Sai Kabir’s guidance. The film wavers between being a love story
between two struggling individuals and a reflection of the challenges faced by junior artists
seeking their big break, failing to fully explore either theme. Certain plot developments, such as
Sheru’s sudden acceptance of Tiku’s pregnancy with another man’s child, strain credibility.
While the film’s slow start and lack of innovation may test viewer’s patience, Nawazuddin’s
compelling performance makes it worth watching. Also from a technical standpoint the fil is fine.

Nothing that goes against the film from any technical aspect since the film looks like a
professional product.

At the end of the day, Tiku Weds Sheru falls short of leaving a lasting impact, but manages to
hold its own due to the strength of its central performances.