Director Laxman Utekar has become a champion of the fake dating/fake marriage AU in Bollywood, as seen in his previous films like Luka Chuppi and Mimi. In his latest offering, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, he explores the concept of a married couple resorting to lies to navigate the law, albeit in their own unique manner. Utekar continues to delve into the complexities of relationships built on deception, adding a twist to familiar tropes in the process.

STORYLINE

The film introduces us to Kapil Dubey (Vicky Kaushal) and Somya Chawla (Sara Ali Khan), a happily married couple living with Kapil's middle-class, religious family in Indore. Somya, with her modern Punjabi background, dreams of having her own house and some privacy. To avail themselves of a government scheme, Kapil and Somya decide to fake a divorce, pretending to hate each other and living separately. The initial setup is filled with humor and light-hearted moments, but unfortunately, the story loses its direction and becomes melodramatic in the second half. The script lacks originality and fails to deliver moments that genuinely leave you laughing. Instead, it becomes predictable and falls into the trap of clichéd tropes.

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POSITIVE

One of the film's positive aspects is the performance of Sharib Hashmi as the nosy colony guard, who brings some comic relief to the story. However, his character is underutilized, leaving you wishing for more screen time for such a talented actor. On the other hand, the portrayal of Kapil's lawyer friend is an example of overacting, diminishing the impact of his role. Inaamulhaq shines in his portrayal of the crooked agent Baghwandas, providing some comic relief amidst the flaws. The film's runtime of 132 minutes is reasonably paced, neither dragging nor unnecessarily stretched.

NEGATIVE

Overall, "Zara Hatke Zara Bachke" fails to live up to its potential. It starts with a promising premise and enjoyable humor, but loses its way in the second half, becoming predictable and melodramatic. The flaws in writing and direction are hard to ignore, and the misuse of talented actors is regrettable. While the film's runtime is well-managed, it ultimately leaves you unsatisfied. If you're looking for a genuinely funny and fresh romantic comedy, this film might not be the best choice. "Zara Hatke Zara Bachke" starts off with promise but falls into clichés and melodrama, failing to deliver the expected laughs. It's a missed opportunity for a truly enjoyable comedy. The writing and direction suffer from inconsistency, losing the initial charm and humor as the story progresses. It would have been better if the film had stuck to being a romantic comedy rather than veering off into unnecessary melodrama.