Sanju review: A biopic of Hirani school that Ranbir Kapoor carries on his shoulders

Which brings us to Kapoor. One of Hirani's previous male leads has made a name for himself as a perfectionist. Can there be any such thing as 'perfection' in a performing art like acting?

Whatever be the answer, Kapoor has made 'Sanju Baba' his own. His is an intelligent performance in an emotional script. The body language and mannerisms was already there in various trailers and teasers. But Kapoor's acting is not merely about copying Dutt. A reference framework is created within which Kapoor practices his craft, emotes, reacts.

There is a lot of him in this Sanju. Instead of taking away from it, that makes the performance more credible. Kapoor knew this was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He has delivered something that will hold him good stead as an actor even if he decided to hang his boots tomorrow.

Supporting cast is a mixed bag

If Kapoor had a plethora of reference points, Vicky Kaushal hardly had any. He plays Dutt's close friend, a non-celebrity, and, in a way, a foil to the brash protagonist and he has turned in a commendable performance – now almost making a habit of it.

Paresh Rawal, playing Sunil Dutt, had a similar opportunity. Perhaps he doesn't need such opportunities any more or maybe he was not convinced about his character, but he missed the bus. The geniality of Sunil Dutt and the verve that he expressed in public life right unto his death was missing. Why, even his accent was out of place – unacceptable from such a senior and well-regarded performer.

As Nargis, Manisha Koirala rather made more of a mark. It wasn't easy to play the part especially given the difference in body type, but the seasoned actor matched her grace and brought in a lot of positive energy into the film. Diya Mirza, as Dutt's wife Manyata, was a welcome cast too. Anushka Sharma is well-used in a role that helps in keeping the narrative moving.

Sanju's soundtrack is already known and has quite caught on. There are not many of them and doesn't weigh down on the film. The background score, however, could have been more in sync with the mood of what was on the screen.

Hirani has avoided Dutt's previous marriages and family members. Which is understandable, not completely, especially in the cases of his sisters Priya, Namrata and brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav. Also missing was a large chunk of Dutt's career. Hirani presented his own directorial debut, Munnabhai MBBS, as a turning point in the actor's life. While that may be true, his achievements as an actor and the influence he held on the paying masses, could have been given more due.

But then that influence was on display in the way the subject matter drew that audience out to the screens even at irregular hours. Hirani, undoubtedly, knows which tale to tell. He knows how to tell it and who to tell it with.

Verdict: 3.5 / 5