First of the positives.... It is a very well written and directed movie right up to the last 30 mins of the movie which we'll get to in a minute... The performances in this movie are also very well rounded no one was bad and no one other than alia, alia was extraordinary which believe it or not is a major plus for this type of story when you are dealing with such an emotional journey of a character no one around that character should be able to take away the spotlight.... And gauri succeeded in achieving just that ...... Now lets talk about Alia Bhatt's performance she just knocked it out of the park ....in fact 10 minutes into the movie and i forgot that i was watching alia bhatt.. she was so immersed in her character you cannot separate the two of them.... Srk was as always very good but he was just opposite of alia every time he was on screen instead of his character he was playing as if he is srk but is just in a different profession.... So take it as you will.... Now lets talk about the dreaded last half hour of the movie and from here on this review will definitely contains some spoilers at this time the movie has already been aired on television so I don't think spoilers matters but you've been warned.... While watching dear zindagi you can at a very early stage tell where it is going and definitely there will be a big emotional crisendo near the end where alia will pour her heart out and i was waiting for it.... And it was beautiful and moving but mathematically i was distracted by all the overpowering sappy background music and the flashback story of her childhood .... Alia bhatt is a very strong actor who can tap her inner emotions to portray such role and she could have painted a much more surreal image just by her acting but that f***ing b-roll flashback was taking me out of the movie every time it came on screen! What???? you just thought that without your guiding hand of b-roll montage we won't be able to imagine it or connect with the moment .... You know i hate you just because you assumed that your audience is stupid and wont be able to understand what is going on without flashback and you also didn't believe in the abilities of you actress which is even more annoying..... But the worst part of the movie comes after this where writer director gauri shinde tries to give you even bigger emmotional happy ending .... Ohh just go to hell ..... Will ya.... That moment when srk says cheers to you... Was a perfect moment to end the film .....NO!!!.... But you have to give us a sappy stupid happy ending and have to make the female lead fall in love with srk or we'll feel abandoned just like alia felt in the beginning of the the movie ..... I just hate this mentality ..... It was an awesome story and a lovely movie i loved every second of it until she decided that she has to be like every other director, who also assume that audience is stupid and need happy endings and sappy music filled flashbacks..... !!!! OVERALL i give it 6/10

A lot of Bollywood cliches are told here in a way that feels fresh, probably because the director is a woman who is able to draw out the novelties in a female protagonist, also giving her a profession of a cinematographer that is generally uncommon. Going to a therapist in India is like abandoning your position in the society as a sane person due to which a lot of people never try it out. So this was a welcome and long awaiting concept to be a feel-good Bollywood film in which some of the biggest stars like Shahrukh Khan and Alia Bhatt gives charming performances. Kaira is not always a likeable person and neither did they add any unrealistic romantic turns that usually plagues Bollywood but her character arc is relatable. Even though preachy at times, India will never have enough films talking about the f**ked up parenting of the country and the trauma's that is passed through generations.

Many criticized this movie because of all these variables that are truly unimportant. I read a review which calls Akira a pig...how? The review told she should blame her past, when she wears "hip" clothes and goes out and parties. I completely disagree. She went to therapy because of the loss of the love she got in her childhood. She is young and can wear what she wants (clothes don't define you). Her going out and drinking do not reflect off the main issue that character is facing, in fact, it is more of a distraction from her problem. This movie was just showing how someone's past affects someone and why therapy shouldn't be looked down upon when it is one the most helpful thing you can ever do. This movie is judged somewhat harshly but is so real. There is nothing bubbly/fake/ditsy about it. Sure it has some cliché scenes, but then there are scenes that will make you ponder about our life itself. MUST WATCH!

I was waiting to watch this film for ages. I finally got the chance to watch it yesterday. I loved Gauri Shinde's previous film English Vinglish, so I was excited to see this one, especially since it features Shahrukh Khan and Alia Bhatt. The trailer and promos also looked amazing, which made me set higher expectations for this film. The first few parts of the film were enjoyable, but after a while, I had second thoughts. Firsty, I'll just explain the plot.Kaira(Alia) is a promising cinematographer who is having issues in her personal life. Her life is on the lows when she decides to visit a psychologist named Jehangir(Shahrukh). He helps her resolve her problems and shows her a new perspective on life. The story may sound simple, but it has a lot of elements to it in the film. I'm going to start with the performances. Alia Bhatt is a truly gifted and natural actress. Her previous performances in Highway and Udta Punjab were outstanding. In this film, however, she hasn't been able to grasp her character with her whole heart, which is disappointing. I have to admit that I was really annoyed by her character at moments, especially when she broke up with Sid(Angad Bedi) who really liked her and when she was being rude to her parents. Okay, her parents abandoned her for a while, but that doesn't mean she has to hold a grudge for the rest of her life. Everyone makes mistakes. Therefore, everyone needs a second chance. Nonetheless, she did a pretty good job. SRK, however, was spectacular as Dr Jehangir Khan. I loved his character and the way he portrayed him was flawless. The supporting cast consisting of Kunal Kapoor, Angad Bedi, Ira Dubey and Ali Zafar were great. The screenplay was a bit weak, as it wasn't engaging enough to keep the audience glued to their seats. Music is pleasing to the ears. My personal favourites are 'Tu Hi Hai' and 'Just Go To Hell Dil'. Cinematography was decent. Editing could have been better. Overall, one thing I really have to appreciate about this film is that it leaves you with a message that we should always treasure good memories and enjoy the little bits of happiness in life. Another important lesson is that you don't have to choose the difficult option in life. If you are having a hard time coping with yourself, this film will give you some inspiration.