The evergreen late actor Rajendra Kumar held the enviable record of churning out 36 silver jubilee hits in his first 40 films. Admittedly, much water has flowed under the bridge since the unforgettable `Sangam’ days.
In an era, where the success of a star is measured by the 100-plus collection in the first three days, Ayushmann Khurrana is in a league of his own. Since the Badhai Ho sleeper hit, the charismatic actor is on a roll in author-backed roles in the form of Article 15, Dream Girl and the very recent Bala.
Challenging roles brought the best out of Ayushmann, none reflecting better than the erectile dysfunctional character, so effortlessly brought up in Shubh Mangal Savdhaan.
The sequel with an added Zyaada in between finds Ayushmann joining hands – rather lips with Jitendra Kumar - to home in his proverbial point that it is not a sin to be homosexual. That the actor playing his part unflinchingly will be saying the obvious. Like the cliched saying that wine matures with age, the actor is having a ball. For sure, the audience is not complaining.
Debutant director Hitesh Kewalya, who had penned the script for the first version, wastes little time in setting up the characters. The opening scene is a pointer to the director’s intention to keep his offering threadbare. Aided by an SC ruling that gay sex is no longer a crime, the mood, settings and the tone tellingly convey the message that each adult is entitled to live as he or she desires.
The script is nothing great but the director finds the cushion to touch on the so-called sensitive issues. The plot could have done with quality humour. The director clearly is short of ammunition in that important arc.
In a throwback to Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, the riveting climax, the director in a lighter vein applies the same logic that the power of two hearts is what matters. It hardly matters that Karthik (Ayushmann) is no Simran and the one he is running after does not answer to the name of Raj (Shah Rukh Khan).
While the film was largely promoted as Hindi cinema’s first bonafide gay love story, audiences might be a tad bit disappointed with the end product, a kiss between the lead actors notwithstanding. While Ayushmann has done a stellar job, no doubt, its Jitendra who takes the cake with his bleary eyes and pained, husky voice. We only wish the director had made better use of the on-screen chemistry the brilliant actors have.