Dear Zindagi, starring Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan, has finally released and has been garnering rave reviews from all corners. Is it the best film of the year? We think so. Here’s our verdict and reasons as to why you should go watch the film.

Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi is a refreshing story about a woman who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Alia Bhatt, who plays Kiara, a budding director, is in a sticky situation. Her dream job is not within her reach; her love life is not quite moving in the direction she planned and her landlord has recently asked her to vacate the apartment she was residing in.

All these situations play havoc with her life and ultimately she visits Dr Jehangir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) for therapy. Sounds familiar? Have you also been through this? Well, most of us have, hence the story seems relatable to a certain extent.

Alia’s character is refreshing and true-to-life because it represents repressed feelings and thoughts about letting go, that we all must have gone through in life at one point or the other. Kiara’s character is beautifully etched; she plays a woman who is shy but frank, honest, straightforward, defiant, mercurial and aggressive, which is quite a digression from the usual heroines we see in Hindi cinema. Alia Bhatt also manages to bring a certain rawness to the character she portrays, which makes her all the more interesting.

Shah Rukh Khan’s inimitable charm and wit is definitely one of the highlights of the film. This is one of SRK’s best performances which is understated and natural and he knows when to step back and let Alia Bhatt take the lead.

Gauri Shinde’s fantastic direction is another highlight of the film and she is definitely one of our most celebrated feminists whose heroines are unconventional and refuse to be defined or subdued by the men in their lives.