Movie Review: Zara Hatke Zara Bachke ZARA HATKE ZARA BACHKE suffers due to the writing.

ZARA HATKE ZARA BACHKE is the story of a couple that comes up with a novel idea to solve their woes. Kapil Dubey (Vicky Kaushal) is happily married to Somya Chawla Dubey (Sara Ali Khan) for two years. They reside with their parents Ved Prakash Dubey (Akash Khurana) and Mamta Dubey (Anubbhaa Fatehpuria) in a house in Indore. For the last six months, Kapil's maternal uncle Purshottam Mama (Neeraj Sood) and aunt Deepa Mami (Kanupriya Shankar Pandit) have started residing at their place. Kapil and Somya are compelled to give up their bedroom to them. They don't have any privacy, as a result. Somya, hence, suggests to Kapil that they should have their own house. They start house hunting but soon realise that real estate prices are quite sky high. One day, Somya learns about Jan Awas Yojna, a government scheme that provides houses for cheaper rates. Kapil tries to apply for it but is told that he is not eligible for it as the scheme is only for economically weaker sections and those who don't have a pucca house of their own already. Bhagwandas (Inaamulhaq), an employee at the Jan Awas Yojna office, bumps into Kapil and he assures the latter that he can get him and Somya a house. He has a condition: Kapil and Somya will have to get divorced. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Maitrey Bajpai, Ramiz Ilham Khan and Laxman Utekar's story is relatable and a cross between LOVE PER SQUARE FOOT [2018] and HINDI MEDIUM [2017]. Maitrey Bajpai, Ramiz Ilham Khan and Laxman Utekar's screenplay is fine till a point but then falters in the second half. Maitrey Bajpai and Ramiz Ilham Khan's dialogues are funny in several places. But emotionally, the one-liners should have been more impactful.

Laxman Utekar's direction is decent. He rocked the show with his last film MIMI (2021) but here, he doesn't seem to be in the best form. To give credit where it's due, he has handled some scenes quite well like the second anniversary celebration, Kapil and Somya pretending to fight in front of Kapil’s family, Kapil and Somya meeting Bhagwandas and their regular dates at a roadside eatery. The courtroom scenes in the first half are hilarious and also the best part of the film. Moreover, the aspiration of having one’s own house is a factor that many in urban areas will be able to relate to.

On the flipside, the film never really goes on a high. A lot of plot points seem sudden like the character of Mehjabeen (Srishti Ganguli Rindani), Kapil saving Somya's name as Gopi and Kapil's unpunctuality habit. These plot points had an important part in the story and should have been inserted in the narrative earlier rather than throwing it to the audience mid-way and bewildering them. The climax is intended to be moving but turns out to be pretty convenient.

Zara Hatke Zara Bach Ke | Official Trailer | Vicky Kaushal | Sara Ali Khan

Speaking of performances, Vicky Kaushal seems apt for the part and is quite likeable. He also plays his role with innocence and sincerity. Sara Ali Khan puts up a confident act and has a great screen presence. Neeraj Sood is decent while Kanupriya Shankar Pandit is memorable. Inaamulhaq is too good. Srishti Ganguli Rindani is lovely though she is let down by the writing. Himanshi Kohli (Advocate Manoj Bhagel) rocks the show. Sharib Hashmi (Daroga Raghuvanshi) is adorable as always. Vivan Shah (Sajjan; kid) is okay. Akash Khurana and Anubbhaa Fatehpuria don’t get much scope. Rakesh Bedi (Harcharan Chawla) tries hard to be funny but fails. Sushmita Mukherjee (Roshni Chawla) is hardly there. Atul Tiwari (Judge Anil Kumar Paliwal) leaves a huge impact in a small role. Dimpy Mishra (Dimpy Sir) is nothing special.

Sachin-Jigar's music is a mixed bag. 'Phir Aur Kya Chahiye' is very soulful and catchy. 'Tere Vaaste' and 'Saanjha' fail to register. 'Baby Tujhe Paap Lagega' is missing in the film. Sandeep Shirodkar's background score is a bit quirky as per the film’s mood. The instrumental versions of ‘Dekho Maine Dekha Hai Ek Sapna’ are great.

Raghav Ramadoss' cinematography is appropriate. Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray's production design is realistic. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma's costumes suit the characters and their economic status. Manish Pradhan's editing is neat.

On the whole, though ZARA HATKE ZARA BACHKE suffers due to the poor writing, it also rests on funny and memorable scenes in the first half and a very relatable subject, especially from the urban perspective. At the box office, it can benefit if its target audience, that is the families, give the film a thumbs up.

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Is Ileana D’Cruz engaged? Here is what we know!

Mommy-to-be Ileana D’Cruz is currently on her “Babymoon.” The actress made the delightful announcement about her pregnancy on social media back in April, and since then, she has been sharing snippets from her pregnancy journey with her followers. However, the actress set tongues wagging and fueled engagement speculations as she recently shared a captivating picture of her hand adorned with a sparkling ring on social media. The photo, which quickly caught the attention of her followers, left fans wondering if the talented star had taken a significant step in her personal life.

Ileana took to her Instagram Story on Friday and shared cryptic post that left fans buzzing with excitement. The actress shared a photo in which she can be seen dinning with a man. Ileana’s left hand was adorned with a stunning engagement ring and was seen resting on top of the man's hand, also sporting an engagement ring. The intriguing image instantly ignited speculation among her followers, raising questions about the identity of the man and the significance of the rings. Sharing the black and white picture, she wrote, “My idea of romance – clearly can’t let him eat in peace.”

Ileana had also shared picture from her gateway. She shared a clip from a beach location. Along with it she wrote, “Babymoon.”

It is not uncommon for celebrities to keep their personal lives under wraps until they are ready to share the news themselves. Ileana D'Cruz's cryptic post has only added to the mystery, leaving her fans eagerly waiting for an official confirmation or statement from the actress.

On April 18, Ileana had shared the news of her pregnancy on her social media account. The actress shared two pictures for announcing the big news. She posted images of a baby romper with the words "And so the adventure begins" printed on them following a “mama” pendant. Sharing the pictures, she wrote in caption, “Coming soon. Can’t wait to meet you my little darling.”

 

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For those not in the know, Ileana had been in a relationship with Australian photographer Andrew Kneebone for a long time, but the couple had mostly kept their relationship private. However, they were reported to have broken up in 2019. Most recently, she was said to be dating Sebastian Kaif, Katrina Kaif's brother. She travelled to the Maldives with Katrina last year for her birthday. However, there was no confirmation on this.

On the professional front, Ileana D'Cruz was last seen in The Big Bull starring alongside Abhishek Bachchan. She will be next seen in Tera Kya Hoga Lovely alongside Randeep Hooda. She will also appear in a Vidya Balan and Pratik Gandhi starrer.

Also Read: Ileana D’Cruz flaunts the right ‘angle’ as she clicks photos with her baby bump

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Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari ropes in Gangubai Kathiawadi writer Utkarshini Vashishtha to co-write Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai biopic

Filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari is known for making slice-of-life movies like Nil Battey Sannata, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Panga, etc. But her upcoming film is of a much larger scale. It’s the biopic on the lives of yesteryear film personalities Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai. To co-write the film, Ashwiny has brought on board Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s blue-eyed writer Utkarshini Vasihshtha.

Utkarshini is credited for writing Bhansali’s magnum opus films like Goliyon Ki Raas Leela: Ram Leela and last year’s hit Gangubai Kathiawadi. Ashwiny made the announcement today through an Instagram post where she posted a picture of herself and Utkarshini in which both are wearing dark glasses. She captioned it, “Just love it when stars align and when we can make magic together. So excited about us director sahiba.”

 

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Sharing more about the film, a statement from the makers said, “A big studio has the official rights to the story, and it is being planned on an elaborate scale. The project is currently in its scripting stage.”

For the unversed, Devika Rani was a star actress who ruled the Hindi cinema in the 1930s and 1940s. She was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Himanshu Rai was her first husband and the founder of the studio Bombay Talkies.

Also Read: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari on establishing one-door vanity for women on film sets: “This is mandatory on all my shoots”

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EXCLUSIVE: Vicky Kaushal starrer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to go on floor in September, confirms director Laxman Utekar; shares update

Director Laxman Utekar, known for his notable contributions to the film industry, is marking his birthday today with much anticipation for his upcoming project, Zara Hatke Zara Backe, starring Sara Ali Khan and Vicky Kaushal. The director recently took some time to share exclusive updates on his next venture in a conversation with Bollywood Hungama. In the interview, Laxman Utekar revealed that his next film will revolve around the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, a significant historical figure. 

The lead role in this highly anticipated project will be portrayed by the talented actor Vicky Kaushal. When asked to share the status of the upcoming film, “We have already started our pre-production. The film will go on floors this September.”

He further added, “Vicky has begun his training for horse riding and sword fighting. He needs to gain a lot of weight. His training is currently in progress. Hopefully, we will start shooting in September.”

For the unversed, with the success of his previous ventures, including Luka Chuppi and Mimi, Laxman Utekar has established himself as a filmmaker capable of delivering compelling narratives with a perfect blend of entertainment and substance. As mentioned above, his next release is Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. Produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, it will be releasing on June 2. 

Also Read: Kriti Sanon pens a heart-warming birthday wish for Mimi director, Laxman Utekar!

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Charu Asopa and Rajeev Sen to have their final hearing on their impending divorce on June 8?

The marriage of Sushmita Sen’s brother Rajeev Sen and television actress Charu Asopa has been in the limelight for quite some time now. Their wedding garnered a lot of attention after the couple slammed each other for abuse and hiding information. Now it seems that they have finally decided to part ways. If reports are to be believed the final hearing on the divorce of the couple will be held on June 8.

Readers would recall that trouble started in paradise after the lockdown wherein Charu Asopa alleged that Rajeev Sen was stifling her by not letting her work and abused her on occasions whereas Rajeev blamed Charu and accused her of hiding information about her first marriage from him. A source has now stated in reports that the couple decided to reconcile their differences and even completed the cooling off period but has stuck to their decision of divorce. However, after this blame game, the couple have maintained cordial relation with each other for their daughter Ziana.

In a recent report, Rajeev Sen had stated that Ziana has been his number one priority and opened up about spending time with her. On the other hand, Charu Asopa, who has recently shifted to a new residence, also revealed about being cordial with her former husband. While Ziana has been staying with her mother with Rajeev visiting her and spending time with her occasionally, it is yet to be revealed if the estranged couple will continue to retain the same arrangement even post the divorce.

In recent reports, the couple have been maintaining that they would want to stay cordial in the future with Rajeev even confessing that he would like to be ‘good friends’ with Charu for the sake of their daughter Ziana. Charu tied the knot with Rajeev in 2019 in a simple court ceremony and the couple became parents to their daughter in 2021.

Also Read: Rajeev Sen says he can be his wife’s ‘best friend’; says, “If Charu Asopa invites me I would certainly go to her new house”

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Alia Bhatt mourns loss of maternal grandfather Narendranath Razdan, calls him “hero”; Soni Razdan pens emotional note for “Daddy”

Narendranath Razdan, the grandfather of Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, passed away on Thursday, June 1, at the age of 95. According to reports, he had been battling a lung infection, which led to a deterioration in his health in recent days. In a poignant tribute to her late grandfather, Alia took to her social media handle on Thursday afternoon to share a heartfelt note. 

Alongside the note, she posted a throwback video of him celebrating his 92nd birthday. The caption of her post encapsulated the essence of her beloved grandfather's life, stating, "My grandpa. My hero. Played golf till 93. Worked till 93. Made the best omelette. Told the best stories. Played the violin. Played with his great-granddaughter. Loved his cricket. Loved his sketching. Loved his family. And till the very last moment... loved his life!”

The Gully Boy actress further added, “My heart is full of sorrow but also full of joy... because all my grandpa did was give us joy, and for that, I feel blessed and grateful to have been brought up by all the light he had to give! Until we meet again." Speaking of the video, Alia can be heard requesting him to share some “wise words.” In response, he said, “Smile all the time.”

 

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Meanwhile, Soni Razdan, the daughter of Narendranath Razdan, also expressed her deep emotions through a heartfelt note dedicated to her father. In her touching message, she referred to him as "Daddy, grandpa, Nindi - our Angel here on earth." Soni conveyed her gratitude for having the privilege of calling him family and for the immense joy he brought into their lives. She acknowledged his radiant presence, describing him as kind, loving, gentle, and always full of vibrant energy.

 

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Also Read: Alia Bhatt shares screen space with Julia Roberts, Idris Elba, and other Hollywood celebrities in a Gucci video; watch

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Movie Review: Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (English) SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is an entertaining, gripping saga.

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is the story of multiple Spider-Men coming together for a common cause. In Earth 65, Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) is grappling with the death of her close friend, Peter Parker. On top of it, her cop-father George Stacy (Shea Whigham) is unaware that Gwen is none other than Spider-Woman. He detests her actions and feels she killed Peter. Hence, he’s longing to arrest her. One day, while fighting a monster, Spider-Woman aka Gwen bumps into Miguel O'Hara (Oscar Isaac), who’s a Spider-Man from another universe. He is joined by a pregnant Spider-Woman, named Jessica Drew (Issa Rae). They inform Gwen that this monster is from another universe. They further tell her that when the collider was opened, a lot of monsters jumped from one universe to another. Miguel has a watch that helps him travel from multiple universes without suffering a glitch. He is putting these monsters back into their respective universes. Jessica works with him and so does Spider-Men from many other universes. Miguel asks Gwen to join them. Gwen agrees. Meanwhile, In Earth 1610, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) continues to be Spider-Man and save the city. He also struggles to be the ideal son of his parents, Jefferson Davis (Brian Tyree Henry) and Rio Morales (Luna Lauren Vélez). One day, he comes across a mysterious villain named Spot (Jason Schwartzman). He seems harmless at first but Miles soon realizes that it’s not the case. On top of it, Spot tells Miles (when he’s in his Spider-Man suit) that he’s the one responsible for his condition. Miguel and Drew, meanwhile, send Gwen to Earth 1610 to locate Spot. Gwen meets Miles, whom she considers her only friend. However, she doesn’t tell Miles about her mission. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and David Callaham's story is splendid. Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and David Callaham's screenplay is highly effective. The script has a lot of acts and chapters and the way the writing flows seamlessly is praiseworthy. Also, the writers pepper the narrative with some impactful funny, action-oriented and emotional sequences. Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and David Callaham's dialogues are funny and hard-hitting. The opening dialogue is highly memorable.

Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K Thompson's direction is stylish yet simple to comprehend. A lot happens in the sequel and the director ensures he paces ahead swiftly but not too quickly. The Indian connection is terrific and would be loved by the audiences in our country. Besides, there are many surprises that will create a frenzy among fans in the theatre. The climax is highly unexpected and even nail-biting.

On the flipside, the film is too long at 140 minutes. In some places, the film feels quite lengthy and even dragging. Secondly, the unique and novel animation sometimes gets too overwhelming for the senses.

The voicovers are quite good and the ones that stand out are that of Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Vélez, Karan Soni (Pavitr Prabhakar) and Daniel Kaluuya (Hobie). Daniel Pemberton's music enhances the impact. The various songs used in the background give a nice touch. The animation is very appealing. Mike Andrews' editing is fine but could have been crisper.

On the whole, SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE is an entertaining, moving and gripping saga. The Indian connection and the various surprises in the narrative would be lapped up by the fans. At the box office, it is all set to emerge as the biggest opener for an animation film in India and has the potential to have a very healthy run.

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