Directed By - Afzal Khan

Starring - Sunjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Manisha Koirala

Lavish Set, Multi star, some rona-dhona, some mar-dhar, few latkas and jhatkas, and some gana-bajana. No its not any movie of 90’s. It’s Afzal Khan’s Mehbooba in which all you can get all which mentioned above.

In today’s filmmaking where some young directors create a new wave in Bollywood, there Afzal’s Khan Mehbooba will give you a test of vintage wine. Though it’s not so rich in test but enough to make you nostalgic. Before proceeding further let me clarify you, Mehbooba isn’t for multiplex viewers or those who believes in realistic movies. It’s meant for those who want rona-dhona, mar-dhar, latkas and jhatkas package in the 3 hrs on 70mm screen.

Now let’s come to the story.

Mehbooba isn’t that kind of story for which you have to read the storyline. 15 mints in the theatre and you can say what will happen next. The movie starts with Shravan [played by Sanjay Dutt], a Casanova, who loves to play with the beautiful woman until she heard ‘No’ from Varsha [played by Manisha Koirala] and Shravan is that type of guy who takes ‘No’ very seriously. Shravan then apologize to Varsha and asked her for marriage. Varsha’s father convinced her that he is a changed person and ultimately Varsha married him. The marriage falls apart as soon as they make love. Shravan comes to his own appearance and tells her, he did this whole thing just to sleep with her.

Varsha was shattered and leave New York and comes to Budapest. Some times later Shravan’s younger brother Karan [played by Ajay Devgan] decided to marry Payel, who is actually Varsha in disguise. The rest you have to see in theatre and very frankly speaking you know what does gonna happen?

As you can see it’s a very old story which has flavor of many Bollywood hits. Though it isn’t bad but 3 hrs is valuable to today’s viewer. If the film released in 90’s then it has the potential to be a blockbuster on that time. But the trend has been changed. Though it’s Afzal Khan who has done very good job to give this movie a new shape but he probably should keep time factor in mind.

Some parts of the movie handled very well and specially the climax. Its can only happens in Bollywood. But who cares until it bore you.

Ismail Darbar’s music is an asset of the movie. Ashok Mehta’s cinematography is excellent. Nitin Chandrakant Desai’s set design is remarkable.

Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgan have done this kind of character many times previously and as expected they did it easily. The surprise package of this movie is Manisha Koirala. Where did she go? She looked ravishing and sexy as well.

On the whole Mehbooba is a movie that might be huge hit in 90’s and even today it can do well, especially in the Hindi belt.

Critics Rating - ** [Out of Five]