When rumors spread that Billu and Sahir are childhood friends, Billu's social status changes overnight. The villagers, previously indifferent to his poverty, suddenly shower him with favors—paying his children’s school fees and upgrading his shop—all in the hope of securing an introduction to the star. However, Billu's hesitant nature and fear that his famous friend has forgotten him lead to growing tension and skepticism from the community when he fails to produce the meeting.

(a fictionalized version of Shah Rukh Khan) is coming to town. The Rumor:

At its core, Billu (which was retitled from Billu Barber prior to release due to arbitrary pushback from local hair-stylist unions) is a modern-day retelling of the classic mythological friendship between .

One of the most notable facets of Billu is its music, crafted carefully to accentuate the stark dichotomy between rural simplicity and the dazzling, over-the-top world of mainstream Bollywood.

The heart of the movie is the chemistry—or lack thereof for most of the film—between Irrfan Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.

The film is widely praised for the performances of its lead actors: