A captivating tale of love, deception, trust, and the complexities of human relationships, Gehraiyaan is an intimate film that delves into the darker aspects of one’s past. This Bollywood movie takes infidelity to a whole new level, with an evolved narrative. But the good thing is that it’s not just about simple attraction.
The film does well to look into the past baggage of the characters and revolves around the theme of hidden secrets and deceit, as characters go to great lengths to conceal their true identities. Unfortunately, due to a n uninspired, contrived, and surface-level narrative, it ultimately fails to leave a lasting impact, as the crushing waves sink the movie’s ship.
Starring Deepika Padukone, Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Dhairya Karwa in lead roles, Shakun Batra’s Gehraiyaan presents a modern-day love story jahaan falling out of love and finding it elsewhere toh roz ka kaam hai. Alisha (Deepika) and Karan (Dhairya) have been in a relationship for six years and plan a get-together with Alisha’s cousin Tia (Ananya) and her fiancé Zain(Siddhant) from LA. Bass phir kya, through a few exchanged words and stolen glances, Alisha and Zain are instantly drawn to each other. It felt so unreal, I almost went “Kuch bhi????” Ofc Karan and Tia have no clue about this and are in their own worlds, with the latter struggling to get his book published and trying so hard to maintain a household with Alisha.
However the plot faulters in a lot of aspects. Some questions remain unanswered, and some issues are assumed to have been resolved. The characters in the film move on with their lives without desiring to understand the full extent of what has transpired, making it unconvincing for the viewers. But, despite these flaws, Gehraiyaan explores the intricacies of relationships and the lengths people will go to either salvage or destroy them.
Deepika is the sole showrunner as Siddhant disappoints
In this two and a half hour movie, it’s only Deepika who is able to keep it running. Once again, she demonstrates her talent for selecting complex characters and portraying them with great conviction. Such a gem. Ananya, on the other hand, does a decent job with her role, impressing with her acting prowess in the second half. Dhairya’s character, in my opinion, felt underdeveloped and in need of more depth. They could’ve used more of him and untapped his full potential.
Sadly, Siddhant has been a let down in this movie. From the romantic ones to the intimate and the serious ones, his scenes fail to create an impact. It was somewhat disappointing to see his character not stand out despite having substantial material to work with. Gully Boy wala Siddhant, kaha gaya re tu?
The film has a steady rhythm and doesn’t feel rushed or stretched. However the unconvincing plot, the under-utilization of characters and Siddhant’s under-performance really spoils the party. The forced comedy does not help either, and what results is two and a half hours of just waiting and waiting to get that one huge moment that never really arrives. When the music is the strongest point in a movie, it is self explanatory that the movie has failed. It reminds me of Jab Harry Met Sejal.
Gehraiyaan is an average watch that has a lot going wrong with it. Deepika is exceptional, but even she can’t stop the ship from sinking. And hence if you’re watching it, you’re only doing it cuz of her. The movie sinks in its ‘gehra’ samundar of problems, and Deepika and the soundtrack are the only life-boats.
