Lilliput Anger out at ShahRukh!

“Shahrukh is not even the dust of Kamal’s feet!” Lilliput made a scathing attack on the role of the dwarf in Zero.

‘Dwarf’ character in Zero creates controversy

“When you make someone look small only with VFX, how can it give the experience of real dwarfism?”

Lilliput has questioned Shah Rukh Khan’s role of a dwarf in the film ‘Zero’ (2018).

Actor Lilliput, who himself lives with dwarfism, says that Shah Rukh’s performance was based only on technical tricks.

“We know you look good, you are cute, but our impression ends there.

We are not looking at a dwarf, but at a hero who has been made small with visual effects,” Lilliput said on the Red FM podcast.

Comparison with Appu Raja fuelled the fire

Lilliput compared Shah Rukh to Kamal Haasan’s iconic character ‘Appu Raja’ (1989), in which Kamal played the role of a dwarf.

“Kamal Haasan had short, thick fingers; different facial proportions; and a real awkward gait.

Look at the details and compare them with Shah Rukh’s superficial performance,” he said.

In Lilliput’s words, “If you can’t make an impact, why try?

You’re not even worth the dust on Kamal Haasan’s feet.” The statement has gone viral on social media!

The failed attempt of the film ‘Zero’

Directed by Anand L. Rai, ‘Zero’ also starred Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif.

However, despite the high-profile cast and ambitious storytelling, the film flopped at the box office.

Shah Rukh then took a break from acting, but made a great comeback with hits like ‘Pathan’, ‘Jawaan’ (2023), and ‘Dunky’.

This year, Shah Rukh won his first National Film Award (Best Actor) for ‘Jawaan’.

Kamal Haasan, on the other hand, has won the honour thrice, which further strengthens Lilliput’s argument.

Representation of disability in Bollywood

Lilliput’s statement has reignited the debate over representation of disability in Bollywood.

Critics say authenticity should be prioritised in such roles – whether through real experience or deep physical research – rather than relying on digital shrink-and-enhance techniques.

It remains to be seen whether future producers will cast dwarf actors for such roles to ensure both respect and authenticity in the story.

Summary:

Lilliput questioned Shah Rukh Khan’s portrayal of a dwarf in ‘Zero’, comparing him to Kamal Haasan’s ‘Appu Raja’ and saying that Shah Rukh is not even worth the dust under his feet.