So, a popcorn flick is what I’d expected in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. However, much to my surprise, Karan Johar actually steps into the ’grown-up’ zone this time, tackling the substance under the candyfloss. KANK deals with infidelity after marriage, and takes the story (which is admittedly shaky) to a mature conclusion.
Dev Saran (Khan) is a rising soccer star in the US, married to fashion executive Rhea (Preity Zinta). Rhea works hard at her career, spending less time applauding sourpuss hubby for every goal he makes, than he would like. Then there’s Dev’s mom Kamaljit (Kirron Kher) a caterer of sorts, who’s catering Rishi and Maya’s wedding.
Rishi (Abhishek Bachchan) runs an ad company, loves Maya and partying. Maya (Rani Mukerji) isn’t so sure, and talks about this with Dev, then an absolute stranger who happens to wander into the vicinity. In one of those quirky, surreal encounters (which happen only in Johar movies) Maya and Dev talk, and he encourages her to marry Rishi -- which she does. He leaves, has an accident, effectively ending his soccer-playing career.
Several years later, they meet again, realise that they are kindred souls and become good friends. As their respective married lives deteriorate, this escalates to an affair. Later, plagued by guilt, they decide to end the relationship and tell their spouses. And when they do, all hell breaks loose.
From all the sobbing around me, I’d say there wasn’t a single dry, female eye in the theatre. Johar has created a sob story like no other. You weep for poor Rishi, and then you weep for... well, just for Rishi then. Rishi’s character is most believably sketched, and Abhishek does a tremendous job, radiating sincerity, and managing to convey hurt. I didn’t see why Maya didn’t dote on her husband; he seemed adorable. Still, Rani manages to make even a ’fake’ character seem believabl