Jersey Review: Amid Boycott, Shahid Kapoor Starrer Wins Over Audience

Bollywood film Jersey, starring Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur, started trending on social media. While there was a section calling for a boycott of the film, many shared how they loved the film. The sports genre film has been directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. The same directed had helmed the Telugu version of the film in 2019 starring Nani in the lead role. The film released in theatres on April 22.

From audience to film critics, all were seen praising the film for Kapoor's emotional acting and Mrunal Thakur's performance.  The film is about a batsman who failed to make it big in the game and settles in life. He then wants to buy a jersey for his son but with his financial situation, he is unable to do so. Then he makes a comeback on the field and fulfils the promise he made to his son. The film also stars Pankaj Kapoor, who is the father of lead actor Shahid Kapoor in real life as well.

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Jersey Reviews on Twitter:

Many social media users who saw the film were seen praising the performance of the lead actors. One user wrote, "Just Watched #Jersey  What a Performance By @shahidkapoor Just Phenomenal." While another wrote, "#Jersey would be loved by family audience specially fathers.. Film will enjoy good audience word of mouth and could emerge a success if its target audience patronizes it."

Here are some more reviews of the film: 

• "#Jersey is not film it's emotional ride of middle class dad and bond between dad and son my hindi friends go and enjoy in only theatres #Jersey it's best movie i seen i want you too experience the same in only theatres."
• "What an Outstanding performance by @shahidkapoor in #Jersey. Has to be his career best It’s an emotional ride & inspiring movie that teaches not to give up. @mrunal0801 looked beautiful & also have acted well. Show love to this movie as well!"
• "What a stellar performance by @shahidkapoor in #Jersey! The powerhouse performer makes you feel all the emotions of Arjun Talwar, effortlessly as if he is breathing and living him!"
• "#ShahidKapoor makes Arjun in #Jersey his own: Subtle, understated & real The narrative maybe familiar (Telugu film) but the heartfelt storytelling & convincing performances makes it stand on its own two feet @shahidkapoor  you’ve proven the naysayers wrong yet again."

A certain section of social media also flagged their disagreement with the film solely against the lead actor. Shahid Kapoor was tagged in many posts with a picture from an old award show. Users accused Kapoor of making fun of Sushant Singh Rajput on camera.

One user wrote, "Shahid Kapoor insulted Sushant Singh Rajput at IIFA Awards. Please show our unity and make his film a super flop." Such comments on Bollywood films and actors have time and again emerged post Rajput's death, with many pointing out the systemic bias that outsiders face in the industry.

In the said video referred by all the boycotters on social media, actors Shah Rukh Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput and Shahid Kapoor were seen standing on a award show stage. The actors were seen cracking jokes on each other and by looks of it, the exchange between the actors was nothing more than a scripted banter to perk up the audience of the show. You can see the video here.

Jersey has been produced by Allu Arjun and has been released after much delay due to the pandemic. The film was then announced to release on April 14 but it got delayed again because it clashed with the release of KGF: Chapter 2

Actor Nani who was seen in the Telugu and original version of the film in 2019 also took to Twitter to praise the Hindi version starring Mrunal Thakur and Shahid Kapoor. Nani wrote, "Watched #Jersey and our @gowtam19 again hit it out of the park. What performances and heart.@shahidkapoor @mrunal0801  #PankajKapoor sir and my boy Ronit. This is true good cinema. Congratulations. "