Captured by : pg 3- anchor_1
Aditya Chopra
Ranveer Singh, Vaani Kapoor
Shot entirely in Paris, Befikre is a story of free-spirited love shot in a city of unchained passion and boundless love, Paris. Made on a budget of Rs. 70 crore, the film released on 2900 screens worldwide.
The rom-com follows the story of Delhi boy Dharam Gulati (Ranveer Singh), who travels to the French capital in search of adventure and a future and Shyra Gill (Vaani Kapoor), a French-born Indian who works in the city of love as a tourist guide. And while Singh's character is that of a relentless flirt, Kapoor plays a free-spirited lover who lives life on her own terms.
A chance meeting, some drinks and dancing, a casual one-night stand, and a break-up. The film then explores the events of the past year (leading up to the said break-up) and the year ahead -- leading up to a double wedding.
And while the film might identify with the audiences of today (read collegians), there are also innumerable throwbacks to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (Aditya Chopra's debut film released 21 years ago), most of which tend to bring a nostalgic smile to your face. There is even a mother-daughter scene-- remember Farida Jalal and Kajol in the kitchen where Jalal's character tells Kajol's that women have to suppress their feelings? In Befikre, however, Shyra's mother tells her to stand up for herself.... in keeping with the changing times, of course.
All in all, it's a breezy watch... what with the incessant kissing scenes and both Ranveer and Vaani taking their clothes off at any given time. And even though Ranveer isn't breaking the mould with his latest film, it is definitely a refreshing change of scene from the serious roles he has been doing off late. Also, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else in the role of a 'Garam' Dharam. He brings the required energy and infectiousness to the role... although his stand-up comedian act is a tad stale and his jokes are not even close to funny.
Vaani is definitely memorable as far as her acting is concerned and her French accent and dance moves are spot on.
The beginning montage of people kissing and snogging on the banks of the Seine is also a bit much. I mean, we all know going in that the film is about unbound love... Chopra did not have to rub it in our faces for what was a repetitive and seemingly-unending five minutes.
That being said, Befikre did bring Aditya Chopra back to the director's chair after eight long years (In between DDLJ and Befikre, Chopra directed only two films: Mohabbatein in 2000 and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in 2008).
