Spoiler alert! Please do not read the following plot summary if you have not seen the film.
Hero takes up the germ of its idea from Subhash Ghai's Hero. Sooraj, a local goon, works for a don named Pasha, has more heart than brawn. He is kind guy who helps local people from the money they earn - Robinhood of sorts. At one instance, he and his group of friends meet a selfie-clicking, merry girl named Radha and Sooraj rescues her from her abusive boyfriend. There is an instant connect. As fate would have it, Sooraj is summoned by Pasha who decrees that his arch-rival Mathur (Inspector General of Police must be pulled down. Sooraj will have to kidnap Mathur's daughter - Radha. In a moment of confusion, Radha mistakes the goons for his dad's security personnel, who are protecting her.
Sooraj whisks her away to a small isolated hut in a snowy land. Oblivious to the fact that she has been kidnapped, she warms up to the gang over bonfire nights, country liquor and snow-fights. Meanwhile, her cop brother-father duo are on the lookout for them and track them down. Sooraj and Radha escape on a bike but the former is hit by a bullet. The two land up in a Buddhist village where Radha finally professes her love for Sooraj. Just when the two are about to return to Mumbai, Sooraj insists that Radha calls home. Her mother and sister-in-law tell her that they have been doing everything to find her and she has been kidnapped. Radha composes herself and returns to Sooraj to convince him to surrender to the police. Sooraj agrees to it but refuses to let out anything about Pasha or his involvement is any of his alleged cases.
The day he comes to surrender to court, Pasha watches his protege betray him for the girl he loves. The police isn't kind of him either and he is jailed for two years. Radha is shattered. Her father stops speaking to her and she is sent off for a dance course to Paris. Before she leaves, her brother hatches a perfect plan for her to buy time for his sister. It is clear to him that Radha is irrevocably in love with Sooraj. So, he fabricates a tale about a junior of his from college called Rajveer Shekawat and how he will be a good distraction for her in Paris. The two could fall in love.
Radha moves off to Paris and Sooraj finishes his jail term. When Sooraj is let out, Radha is there to take him into a world free of crime. Sooraj promises Radha that he'll start his life anew. He starts a hip new gym at a run down place and names it Baba Ka Akhada. His business kicks off well and his knowledge of physical training comes handy.
Radha persuades her brother to meet Sooraj and he is impressed. In the meantime, the real Rajveer Shekawat makes an entry. He is a broke royal who owes Pasha 12 crores. While escaping from Pasha's men, he runs into Radha's Bhabhi who recognises him as Radha's boyfriend. The shrewd Rajveer uses the situation to his advantage and becomes a favourite with Radha's parents much to Radha's displeasure. And makes a deal with Pasha to eliminate Sooraj, who had once betrayed Pasha.
When Radha's parents realize the truth - their daughter still loves a goon who changed his life for love and gave up crime - they disapprove. The best option that Sooraj has is to become a state witness and give them Pasha's whereabouts and deatils of his criminal dealings. But Sooraj wants to remain loyal to Pasha, the man he considers his father.
Rajveer attacks Sooraj and brings him to Pasha who wants to get back at Sooraj for breaking his faith. The goons kidnap Athiya who tells Pasha that Sooraj never agreed to let out any details about him. Pasha realizes his mistake but Rajveer shoots Pasha's men. Sooraj comes to Pasha's rescue and after an elaborate fight sequence between Sooraj and Rajveer, Sooraj wins. Radha's father assumes that it is Sooraj's doing and he never left the world of crime but Sooraj convinces him that his daughter's love has changed his life. Rajveer gets up to shoot Sooraj but Radha's father shoots him down.
In the last sequence, the two get married and go to Paris for their honeymoon.
TRIVIA
1. Athiya was Salman's sister Alvira's recommendation for the film after she spotted her at the gym.
2. During the shoot, it was the first time Sooraj touched his father's feet in the film.
3. Athiya had to learn a little bit of Kathak for the film.
4. Salman Khan was completely involved in the process of editing his production venture, Hero and he has edited out 30 minutes of footage from the film.
5. Salman Khan has never kissed on-screen and hence he thinks that there is absolutely no need for his proteges, Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty to lock lips either which is why Hero doesn't have any kiss scene.
6. Bollywood superstar and producer of the film Hero Salman Khan didn't visit the set of his next production venture, Hero even once. He meted out all the necessary advice to the debutantes Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty, before the film started rolling.
7. In a precautionary move by her mom, Mana Shetty, debutant, Athiya Shetty has been told not to step out in the public eye until the release of her film, Hero.
GOOFS
1After the bike falls off the bridge, it isn't clear how they reach the Buddhist village.
2Rajveer's entry loosens the plot. He seems unnecessary.
3It is not clear whether Pasha surrenders to the police or not.
Positive tweets:
@HeroTheFilm justtt lovedd the sooraj radha moments of manaliii #HeroMagicWorldwide
— hero ki heroine ♥ (@khush_hyd) September 12, 2015 @HeroTheFilm My fav scene was when athiya said to Sooraj that she was doing French bath....Just funny #HeroMagicWorldwide
— Anish Sahu (@iamanish2004) September 12, 2015 - What is the release date of 'Hero'?
Release date of Sooraj Pancholi and Anita Hassanandani starrer 'Hero' is 2015-09-11. - Who are the actors in 'Hero'?
'Hero' star cast includes Sooraj Pancholi, Anita Hassanandani, Sharad Kelkar and Tigmanshu Dhulia. - Who is the director of 'Hero'?
'Hero' is directed by Nikkhil Advani. - Who is the producer of 'Hero'?
'Hero' is produced by Subhash Ghai,Salman Khan. - What is Genre of 'Hero'?
'Hero' belongs to 'Drama, Romance' genre. - In Which Languages is 'Hero' releasing?
'Hero' is releasing in Hindi.