Pooja Joshi

Shakun Batra had an ambitious vision for this film but unfortunately, it somehow misses the mark. What starts out as a story of two young people in unfulfilling relationships finding comfort and excitement in each other takes a major twist - both Alisha and Zain are fighting demons (one from the past and one in the present). The climax definitely surprised me, but there were a lot of plot holes in the denouement that made the conclusion ultimately feel contrived. I must give a shout-out to the cinematography on this one. The periodic shots of the waves, and the use of light to show the emotional trauma of the characters is excellent. The settings in Alibaug and Mumbai are beautifully incorporated. Deepika does an excellent job portraying a woman filled with angst from the tragedies she has faced far too early in life. She thrives in the film - unfortunately, she can only do so much on her own with no support from the rest of the cast. I loved Siddhant in Gully Boy, and even thought he was one of the bright spots of Bunty aur Babli 2. He fumbles in this role though. He’s actually given a very rich arc - having to put on a suave attitude and acting like he can handle whatever is thrown his way while gaslighting everyone around him to maintain some semblance of control. In one scene, we see his character think he has hoodwinked a business partner before reality comes crashing down. That should have been a huge moment for him, but his performance is lifeless. Dhairya is fine but isn’t given much to do. Ananya is pretty much playing herself and was better than her past performances but I still don’t understand why the industry is giving her the time of day. Literally anyone else could have played her role and done a better job with it. Rajat Kapoor was great in his usual avatar as a sketchy and somewhat villainous side character. Naseeruddin Shah isn’t given much space to make an impact. Overall, I would watch this for Deepika’s performance. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wins several awards for this one. It’s a nuanced, beautiful portrayal of the complex reality that is life. I only wish the other aspects of the film had given her the needed support to take it over the finish line.