Loveyapa review:- Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor navigate a unique relationship. While the film features some strong performances, its pacing remains an issue.
Loveyapa Review:- Let’s start with the elephant in the room: the term ‘Loveyapa’ is obviously a play on the slang that rhymes with it. Now, the question is: Is the film slang? Hmmm… it missed. Barely.
Aamir Khan is bringing Junaid Khan into the spotlight with Loveyapa, where he stars alongside Khushi Kapoor, the younger daughter of the late Sridevi. Both made their acting debuts on OTT: Junaid shines in Maharaj, while Khushi appears in the easily overlooked The Archies. While he passed through with great evaluations for a rookie, she was heavily mocked. Will Loveyapa redeem them?
Can you summarize the storyline?
The plot revolves around the quintessential Generation Z pair, Baani Sharma (Khushi) and Gaurav Sachdeva (Junaid), who are discovered talking on the phone by her father, Atul (Ashutosh Rana). With their relationship exposed, he summons Gaurav to a meeting. Before agreeing to marry Baani, he sets a condition: the couple must exchange unlocked phones for one night. If they make it through, they earn the right to marry. Sounds straightforward, doesn’t it? But without complications, there’d be no movie.
It’s an interesting concept, and I’m on board with it. The film, based on the Tamil film Love Today from 2022, begins with a mobile phone advertisement. I’m not talking about the pre-film advertising, but rather an ENTIRE TITLE TRACK created to highlight a phone, replete with specifications. As we carry on, the plot appears to be simple and relevant.
Is it unrealistic to seek unwavering commitment in a world overflowing with choices, from cuisine to romance? Furthermore, why is communication difficult between couples while being connected 24/7 via smartphones?
Sneha Desai, who adapted the screenplay and dialogue, nails the Punjabi lingo, resulting in some genuinely funny moments, with the exception of Gaurav’s annoying ‘bhains ki aankh’. But not everything is rosy. A rubber band and a story cannot be stretched past their limits. Because one breaks, while the other tries your patience.
Loveyapa explores a diverse range of subjects, such as Gen-Z’s attachment to smartphones, the rise of internet trolling, the impact of deepfake technology, issues surrounding body shaming, and the evolution of artificial intelligence. It becomes a bit much to manage. The first half is about the guy finding out about the girl’s undisclosed exes, and the second half is about what she discovers on her boyfriend’s phone. The movie holds promise for drama, yet it falls short due to weak editing. By the time the couple resolves their trust difficulties, it’s a shame they don’t cancel their wedding.
Performance report card.
The leads here work hard. It’s really hard. Junaid’s deer-in-the-headlights face is permanent, as is Khushi’s 120-watt smile.
as she has progressed dramatically since The Archies, Junaid’s acting feels as if the camera was turned on as he was rehearsing the sequences on set. Romance on screen does not come naturally to him, but it is their first big screen appearance. There is certainly potential for growth. Khushi, in particular, shines when it comes to delivering emotional performances.
Ashutosh Rana offers Loveyapa the much-needed anchor to keep him from drifting too far away. Fun fact: in Dhadak and Loveyapa, he played Janhvi’s father and now Khushi’s! He has a certain charm, even when his persona forces him to speak only chaste Hindi. It could easily have grown tiresome, yet this experienced performer never fails to deliver.
Grusha Kapoor, who plays Gaurav’s mother, has a lot of screen time and uses it well. It’s great to see Kiku Sharda in a position beyond comic relief… However, Aaditya Kulshreshth, affectionately known as Kullu by fans, could have had a more prominent role.
Overall, Loveyapa is not the same as Jaane Tu. Ya Jaane Na (Aamir’s nephew Imran’s debut), which has become a cult favorite over the years and has a high repetition value. This film, on the other hand, is hardly a one-time watch, and only because there is a severe lack of good rom-coms.
