What a treat. Most of the people who came with me, left, half way through the film. I stayed to the end and I loved it. It moved me. A rarity this days
The plot concerns two loveless marriages. Dev Saran (SRK) has become so disillusioned with life that “cynical” is the only word to describe him. Resentment is central to his existence: he resents the fact that his career has been curtailed by injury; he resents the success of his career-minded wife, Rhea (Preity Zinta); and he resents the fact that his son, Arjun, prefers the violin to kicking a ball.
Maya and Rishi Talwar (Rani Mukherjee and Abhishek Bach- chan) are also involved in an un-happy marriage. His immaturity irks her, and her inability to bear children aggravates the situation.
While Maya has an adult approach to every situation, Rishi shrugs things off and moves along. So, as long as his needs are taken care of, nothing concerns him, but the truth is they aren’t. He craves intimacy, she requires romance, and one without the other creates incompatibility.
Circumstances bring these couples together, and, through them, Dev and Maya recognise the problems in their marriages. They form a friendship, with the aim of helping each other overcome their problems. But fate has other designs and, instead, creates a greater dilemma.
Johar’s approach is not without shortcomings. Uppermost is the length of the film. The last half-hour, which culminates in a predictable climax, is torturous.
The chemistry between Dev and Maya is also low-key, but unless Johar was trying to make the point that misery loves company, it is understandable, as couples in an affair can hardly be extravagant about it.
Rani and Shahrukh play static characters, making it easy to overlook the battle being waged in their consciences.
As a result, the plaudits belong to Abhishek and Preity, who are in sublime form. Abhi- shek’s child-like facade is a smokescreen for his frustration, and when it emerges, it’s an emotional explosion.
Preity delivers a classy performance. Her scenes are clinical and she looks like a million bucks.