Loosely based on the 2014 South Korean film Ode to my Father, the Ali Abbas Zafar-directed Bharat starts in the partition era, where a young Bharat (just the character's name) boards a train that goes to India, and in the process, he loses his father and younger sister. Bharat is now shouldered with the responsiblity of fulfiling his father's word, that he must take care of the family. You sit through the period-film sequences wondering whether the film is set in the twentieth century or not. The set pieces look as unconvincing as Salman and Katrina's old-age makeover in the film. The partly redeeming portions involve Bharat and his friend's (played by Sunil Grover) stint at the circus troupe whose special attraction is a Tyrion Lannister lookalike.

The initial portions is a bit less engaging, due to the absence of better buildup to the drama that was created in the crucial partition sequence. The follow up to those scenes feel a bit underwhelming. Yet, these setbacks are compensated by a rousing masala moment that unfolds in a mine tunnel. The scene creates a much needed sense of urgency and a perfect setup for Bharat to emerge as a saviour. But we have to go through a lot of mediocre performances and cringeworthy humour to get to this terrific sequence.

The second half takes a complete diversion from the drama generated by the interval portion. One gets to witness some needless fillers where Bharat forces himself to fall in love with Katrina Kaif's character and we are reminded of the film's core idea only through some sentimental dialogues and flashbacks. The product placements clearly don't help to recreate the film's milieu at all. But the film still salvages itself when the main conflict of the film comes to play - Will Bharat find his lost relations?. The drama gets more heightened during these sequences and we get to root for the central character only during  these moments. But instead of making it a convincing end, the film gets overstretched due to a forced climactic action block.

The performances are good, but only at some places. Salman Khan really excels during the crucial emotional scene in the second half. Katrina Kaif's effort to pull off a better diction was visible throughout her performance. But it was Sunil Grover, whose portrayal as Bharat's friend, topped the list of performers. Tabu's entry is one of the film's best surprising moments. The film fails to create the bygone era, and with songs such as 'Hand Pump' and 'Slow Motion', the timelines of the film becomes less convincing. The film had some well directed moments, like the scene where a train's arrival signals the impending doom that comes later. But Bharat tries too hard to be a star vehicle, which leads to giving lesser screentime and importance to its emotional core