Critic Mohit's review of 'Love Aaj Kal' :-

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone & Rishi Kapoor
Music: Pritam
Writer & Director: Imtiaz Ali
Duration: 2 hrs, 18 mins.


Firstly, kudos to the young and super talented director Imtiaz Ali..

I am sure we can’t forget his blockbuster hit Jab We Met in the year 2007 for which Kareena Kapoor won the Best Actor (Female) & Imtiaz Ali won the award for the Best Dialogues, in almost all the awards that year incl. Filmfare..

Now wid Love Aaj Kal., he once again brings us a wonderful love story. In fact., two wonderful love stories in one; describing love ‘aaj’ (ie in the present) and love ‘kal’ (in the past).. Jai (Saif) & Meera (Deepika), who are a modern gen-x couple in London, who don’t believe that something called ‘Love’ can really happen.. When Deepika decides to move to India, due to their personal challenges, both Jai & Meera decide to end their relationship but on a happy note.. A "happy break up".. As Saif ironically says, “we are the aam janta (the mango people).. We need to be really practical in life..”
Now both of them stay apart, decide to move on in their lives but are still very much connected and in touch with each other..

There’s another parallel love story running simultaneously that is set in the 60’s.. It’s the story of Veer Singh (a Punjabi Munda) & Harleen Kaur (a Soni Punjabi Kudi) that is Rishi Kapoor’s love story, being narrated by him to Jai.. It’s with this story in the background, that the director is trying to compare and relate the love in the past and in the present.. The way the director manages to connect these two different, yet so similar love stories, is commendable.. The first half of the movie is so fast that you don’t even realize when it’s interval time..

It’s in the second half where you get to see that both Jai & Meera are not at all comfortable staying away from each other and are trying to figure out what actually is keeping them connected?? They still can’t realize that the thing which is keeping them so connected to each other is nothing else but ‘Love’.. As the saying goes, “It’s better late than never”.. It’s then when both Jai & Meera realize that they need each other and can’t stay without each other.. In fact, Meera realizes it post her marriage with Vikram (Rahul Khanna)..
By now, love has completely taken over both Jai & Meera and in the end both of them live together like a happy couple.. Veer & Harleen’s love story also had a similar happy ending.. Happys endings.. After all, yeh bollywood hai mere yaar.. Jahan end mein sab accha hee ho jaata hai..

Saif has done a good job as an actor and Deepika’s acting as well as her looks, is very natural.. Thanks to the director for making her act so naturally.. Rishi Kapoor is fantastic all through..

Dialogues are superb and the Music is outstanding.. My personal favourite being Dooriyan (by Mohit Chauhan).. The screenplay of the movie is also amazing..


Rating: ****1/3


{Additional info: The week one collections of Love Aaj Kal is mind blowing (Weekly Gross 13,89,26,742 INR.) & it’s being considered as Saif’s biggest solo hit till date..}