Featuring: Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, Sunny Kaushal, Jimmey Shergill
Directed by: Jayprasad Desai
Rating: 3 stars
Kanika Dhillon, a Bollywood screenwriter and co-producer of this film, has carved an intriguing career path. Her portrayal of female leads is particularly noteworthy. Her notable works, such as Manmarziyaan, Kedarnath, and Haseen Dillruba, showcase strong, unapologetic women who are selfish and unconventional in their moral choices. While these portrayals may divide audiences, they result in complex, unpredictable characters. This is why Haseen Dillruba, released on Netflix in 2021, was so captivating. Although not a masterpiece, it depicted an Indian small town where a woman in a loveless marriage openly pursues her attraction to a handsome man, leading to an affair and a murder plot inspired by pulp fiction writer Dinesh Pandit’s novels. A surprising twist: the star-crossed lovers and murderers escape justice!
In the sequel recently released on Netflix, Dhillon and director Jayprasad Desai enhance the 'pulp' elements, delivering a twisted, complex, yet ultimately underwhelming film. Picking up where the previous film left off, Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba follows Rani Kashyap (Taapsee Pannu) living in Agra after her husband Rishu (Vikrant Massey) kills her lover-turned-blackmailer (played by Harshvardhan Rane) and goes into hiding. Rishu and Rani, deeply in love, secretly plan to flee India forever, but their well-laid plans are thwarted by persistent police. The situation worsens with the suspicions of a strict cop, who happens to be Rishu’s relative (Jimmy Shergill). Into this mix enters a naive compounder, Abhimanyu (Sunny Kaushal), who falls deeply for Rani. She does not return his affections but uses him to aid her escape with Rishu. Their elaborate plan, however, does not unfold as intended.
Phir Aayi... combines elements of a twisted thriller: love, deceit, betrayals, murders, cops, and even crocodiles. However, the film fails to cohesively unite these elements. While it provides moments of amusement, it lacks the depth to sustain engagement. Thrillers often overuse twists, which can diminish the fun. Phir Aayi... starts as entertaining and wild but soon becomes unbelievable and unintentionally humorous. Many plot points are overly convenient, stretching credibility. Yet, there are glimpses of clever writing. For example, Rani, a beautician, receives a call about a hair color mishap: “I wanted dirty blonde, but got slutty red.” This might subtly critique both cosmetic names and the lead character’s morality. Another standout scene is Rani and Rishu plotting a risky escape on a ferris wheel—both hilarious and twisted. The simmering love and lust in Tier 2 India are captured delightfully, as in the previous film.
The actors perform admirably. Taapsee continues to excel as the seductress, while Vikrant Massey, though looking too 'nice,' portrays a madly-in-love husband ready to kill again for his wife. Jimmy Shergill is convincing but is let down by a poorly developed role that starts strong but loses direction. Sunny Kaushal surprises as the smitten lover, delivering chills when his true motives are revealed. He plays Abhimanyu with gusto, showcasing his potential in Bollywood.
The real star of the film is Dinesh Pandit, a fictional writer whose books influence the characters’ actions. If Haseen Dillruba continues, Kanika Dhillon should consider giving Mr. Pandit a prominent role.
