Bewafaa

Dharmesh Darshan is well known for his ability to handle films with sensitive subjects. So after Haan Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya comes yet another woman-centric film from his kitty. Bewafaa is about Anjali (Kareena Kapoor) who lives in Montreal, Canada. Daughter of an Indian father (Kabir Bedi) and a Canadian mother (Nafisa Ali), Anjali is leading a happy-go-lucky life. She has a boyfriend too-aspiring singer Raja (Akshay Kumar). Of course, her parents do not know about him. Anjali speaks about her boyfriend only to her sister Aarti (Sushmita Sen) who has flown to Canada because she is expecting her child. Aarti assures Anjali that she will convince her parents about Indian Raja once they become nana-nani.

Here comes the twist. Aarti dies leaving two twins. Anjali now has to make a choice. Either to tell her parents about Indian Raja or marry her sister's husband and take responsibility of the motherless twins. Predictably, Anjali opts for the latter. She migrates to Delhi. Aditya (Anil Kapoor) is busy as a bee and does not have time for Anjali or the kids. It is only after a confrontation with Anjali that Aditya realizes about him being unfair to her.

At the airport Aditya tells his manager that after his trip from Germany, he plans to go on a world tour with his wife and daughters. And that he would return a changed man. Aditya leaves. And enters Anjali's ex-lover Indian Raja. Anjali tries to avoid him initially. But soon lands up having a rolling affair with him. Aditya returns. Anajli by now all prepared to elope with Raja. She fears that Aditya would come to know about her affair with Indian Raja. What's more there are Aditya's friends Dil (Manoj Bajpai) and Pallavi (Shamita Shetty) who tease Anjali about her extramarital affair.

Finally when the truth is out and Aditya gives Anjali the option to be with Indian Raja. Does she opt to be with Indian Raja? No. What follows is predictable Hindi film climax.

Bewafa is a typical love triangle movie with a script that has been seen 100s of times. The movie starts with Kareena waking up from bed after a sleep with so much make up on. Perhaps, she woke up 1 hour ago,added make up, lied on the bed and woke up again. She is in love with Akshay Kumar, who loves her dearly. Her Sister Sushmita marries Anil, has a child and dies. Nobody forced or even suggested Kareena to marry her brother in law, but she immediately did. She never bothered to tell Akshay, she just quickly decided to get married. Years later, the movie focuses on the married couple, who are always distant from each other. Does it take years to get to know one another, here it does. Akshay suddenly returns, and the question is will she become unfaithful. Kareena Kapoor delivers yet another disastrous performance, I would slap her up if i see her. Akshay Kumar is generally a good actor, but why he chose to star in this. Anil Kapoor has given us great performances in the past, not anymore. Sushmita Sen is hardly there, and with a blink she is gone. Manoj Bajpai and Shamita Shetty are ever so annoying and so unrealistic. Manoj has given us Powerful performances in the past, in this film he was pathetic. A complete disaster coming from a good director, BOREDOM.

If you've seen Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, then you'll know what I am talking about when I say that the idea for the story came from the 90s blockbuster. I'm going to start of with the performances. Akshay Kumar's performance is well below average; he doesn't do much and his costumes don't do him any favours. Kareena Kapoor is also well below average, and the way in which she's acted in the film doesn't convince the viewer that she can do those kinds of roles. Sushmita Sen was OK, as was Anil Kapoor. The music is good. The two best tracks are 'ek bewafaa hai' and 'yaad yaad'. The direction though, it has to be said, is quite bad, but the screenplay is OK.

Overall: this film is a waste of time. I give it 3/10.

'Hum Aapke Hain Bewafaa Dhadkan'

Bewafaa Dir- Dharmesh Darshan Cast- Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Sushmita Sen, Manoj Bajpai, Shamita Shetty and Anil Kapoor. Written by- Robin Bhatt, Dharmesh Darshan and Raj Sinha. Rating- **

There is this game where you watch a movie, go back home and think of different alternate endings to it. After the many versions, if the actual ending still seems more interesting then you've lost. Dharmesh Darshan probably played this game after watching Sooraj Barjatya's 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun…' and his very own 'Dhadkan'. Mr. Darshan must've thought- what if Madhuri Dixit had actually married Mohnish Behl in the former and Sunil Shetty had returned in the latter to find Shilpa Shetty willing to leave hubby Akki? Now develop these plots, and what you get is a fair idea of Darshan's 'Bewafaa'. Sadly, even though Mr. Darshan must've considered his endings more interesting, he still is the loser!

Welcome then to the shakalaka baby family in Montreal, Canada. We have papa Kabir Bedi, firang(?) mummy Nafisa Ali, badi beti Sushmita Sen and chotti beti Kareena Kapoor. Sen is Aarti, married to Aditya(Anil Kapoor)- a businessman(we're not quite sure what business he does?) who has little time for his family and probably mistakes his wife for a personal assistant! Aarti dies, leaving behind two twin daughters. You guessed it right! Within a reel, chotti beti Anjali(Kareena) is married off to Aditya and sent packing to New Delhi. Living in a loveless marriage, her life is provided a pacemaker with the return of her former love, hold your breath, Indian Raja?!?(Akshay Kumar)- a popular popstar. Old flames are lit again and the lovers decide to elope. But there's a spooky couple(Manoj Bajpai & Shamita Shetty) to cope! Oh nope!! The audience is left with no hope!!! Follow a predictable storyline then to a tiring climax where everything is restored. The audience is bored. Yeh dil manage no more!!!

The whole movie is riddled with songs that emerge out of nowhere like land mines in a war zone! Mind you- the songs are good to listen, they are just not used properly. The first half drags along with only the beautiful sights of Montreal keeping you interested. The second half promises a similar fate but things are made lively with the entrance of Dil(Manoj Bajpai) and Pallavi(Shamita Shetty). Bordering on the line of vulgarity, Manoj Bajpai delivers a hammy performance but there is a guilty pleasure in watching his antics. A tip Mr. Darshan- publicize Bajpai's character. Kareena is passable(sorry Bebo, 'Bewafaa' won't do for you what 'Raja Hindustani' did for Lolo) while Sush is seriously challenging the position of Simi Garewal as Miss Grace. It is common knowledge that Akshay Kumar has a cocky attitude which can be used to his advantage when cast in roles similar to the ones he essayed in 'Khakee', 'Aankhen' and 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'. But here as a lover boy, he is at his stolid best! That leaves us with Anil Kapoor. This man is like wine- he's only getting better with age. In a thankless role, he acts his part with dignity. Only for him and a fairly decent second-half, 'Bewafaa' is not as bad as it sounds!

• Abhishek Bandekar

Rating- **

* Poor ** Average *** Good **** Very Good ***** Excellent

25th February, 2005

This is boring and a disappointment from Dharmesh and Sridevi.The direction is plain bad.The dialogs are worse.The story is boring.It tells about Anjali who is from Canada.Her sister Aarti is pregnant.She loves Raja.Before she can marry him Aarti dies giving birth to twins.She has to marry Aartis husband Aditya.You would next thing that Aditya would realize Anjali and Rajas feelings and both wold get married.Noooooooooooooooo.She marries Aditya and goes to India.Then later comes Raja.Akshay is wasted and suffers from poor direction,dialogs.Anil is wasted.Kareena is useless as always.Kabir and Nafisha are wooden.Manoj and Shamitha are irritating and are annoying big time.Sushmitha is wasted ..The cinematography is tacky and unimaginative.The screenplay is utterly predictable.The story is a rip off.The songs are forgettable.The only memorable song was Kaise Piya.The others are forgettables.Cheap sets,Camp Wardrobe,Corny dialogs,Forgettable songs and plastic performances are no excuse for entertainment.Above Average stuff .Sucks big time.Avoid it.To cheer you up a bit this is much better than the overrated torturous"Bunty Aur Bubly"