L ove Breakups Zindagi feels like a lifetime with its never-ending soap operatic candyfloss treatment with overly made-up actors. When you want to make a real film about real people and relationships, why not keep it all real?
I suspect that the easiest way to kill Zayed Khan's career is to steal his hair gel. Because THAT is the only thing that seems holding up his career, the single most striking thing you notice about his performance.
The same can be said for pretty Dia who wears lipstick to bed and as gorgeous as she may be, the girl has a tough time when it comes to emoting and unfortunately for her, there's quite a bit of that required in this film. The leads are completely exposed given that everyone else in the cast seems to be decent actors. Just sample that one scene with Cyrus Sahukar, Tisca Chopra and Boman Irani in an incredibly funny cameo and you know what this film could have been with real actors.
It is not entirely unwatchable though because despite the filmy surface, the script has a heart that beats for romance and modern-day relationships. For a film about two people stuck in unhappy relationships, it is a welcome change to see partners who aren't complete stereotypes. Even the most finicky, fussy, girlfriend with a plan type reacts like a normal person and the jet-setting forgetful investment banker stereotype shows his warm side when it comes to accepting that his girlfriend may have fallen out of love with him. Full points to Pallavi Sharda and Vaibhav Talwar to rise above the stereotypes.
The Cyrus Sahukar-Tisca Chopra romance plays out a lot better as the funny man chips in with witty retorts to keep the mood light and real.
For a film that pokes fun at filmi cliches, Love Breakups Zindagi is unable to shake off its Bollywood DNA with larger-than-life sets, song and dance in designer clothes and shameless product placement.
It all feels fake and half-baked that even the leisurely paced scenes (that worked in Dil Chahta Hai or Aisha ) make the film feel longer than it is. This is a film that had more potential. Unfortunately, we never get to see Jai and Naina, the protagonists of this film. We see Zayed Khan and Dia Mirza with all their star baggage. Hats off to the duo for producing this film but the makers really should've broken up with everything Bollywood first.
Love Breakups Zindagi
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Director: Sahil Sanga
Cast: Zayed Khan, Dia Mirza, Cyrus Sahukar, Tisca Chopra, Vaibhav Talwar, Pallavi Sharda, Farida Jalal
Storyline: Boy and girl stuck in their boring relationships find each other and love at their best friend's wedding.
Bottomline: If only this film had leads who could act and a tighter script...
