It’s a tale of ambition and dreams coming true, as she’s driven and he just wants the best for her. The latest film by Laxman Utekar, ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke,’ takes a simple love story of a married couple seeking privacy and adds unnecessary complexity. The movie attempts to delve into the challenges faced by modern Indian marriages, where couples struggle to balance family responsibilities with the need for personal space within marriage. However, the execution of the storyline is so exaggerated that it falls short, resulting in a mediocre outcome. Kapil (played by Vicky Kaushal) and Saumya (portrayed by Sara Ali Khan) have been married for two years. In their inter-caste marriage, they and their families are from different worlds. Saumya, a teacher who earns more than her husband, is driven by ambition, while Kapil, a yoga instructor, is practical and prioritizes his wife’s happiness. The couple yearns for privacy, a luxury hard to come by in a cramped flat filled with intrusive relatives and overbearing parents. This leads them to make a decision to purchase their own home – a sanctuary they can truly call their own.
With limited funds, they can’t afford a luxury apartment in an upscale neighborhood. While Kapil is willing to wait it out, Saumya becomes restless and suggests applying for a government program that offers affordable housing to those in need. The only catch is that the scheme is for individuals burdened by heavy loans and unable to purchase a house. Following advice from the agent Bhagwaan Das (played by Inaamulhaq), Kapil and Saumya decide to stage a divorce so that Saumya can apply for their dream flat under the scheme as a single woman with limited income. Despite their desire to be together and own their own space, the fake divorce creates marital issues, putting their future in jeopardy. Penned by Utekar, Maitrey Bajpai, and Ramiz Ilham Khan, the dramedy employs situational comedy to depict the challenges of contemporary marriages. While some scenes and dialogues may evoke laughter, the overall storytelling feels slow-paced, leaving you questioning the exaggerated emotions of the main characters. In recent years, narratives set in small towns have emerged as a distinct genre. These stories often feature protagonists grappling with societal norms and stereotypes as they strive for a better life. Such films aim to tackle relevant issues through humor, with quirky supporting characters adding depth to the narrative. ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’ follows this pattern, resembling an Ayushmann Khurrana film minus his presence. The movie includes a meddlesome aunt who is more interested in others’ affairs than her own, along with a ‘cool’ father-in-law.
The idea behind the movie seems promising, but its execution falls short. With a talented actor like Vicky Kaushal in the lead role, you’d expect a solid performance. Kaushal manages to shine even with a weak storyline, but there are moments where even he can’t rescue a poorly written script. It’s disappointing to see such a skilled actor, known for his work in films like Masaan, Uri, and Raazi, not given a role that truly showcases his talent. On the other hand, Sara Ali Khan faces challenges in certain scenes. Playing a strong, ambitious character, Khan’s performance is inconsistent. While she shows flashes of brilliance in some scenes, her portrayal of the character feels slightly off. Her role in Atrangi Re demonstrated more depth compared to her portrayal of Saumya in Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. The interactions between Kaushal and Khan lack balance. Khan tends to overact in these scenes, while Kaushal remains grounded and natural in his delivery. His responses feel genuine to the situation, whereas Khan’s come across as rehearsed. It’s quite jarring to watch! Supporting actors like Inaamulhaq, Sushmita Mukherjee, Neeraj Sood, Rakesh Bedi, and Sharib Hashmi do justice to their roles, but they are limited by the constraints of a poorly written script. Zara Hatke Zara Bachke suffers from an overly dramatic storyline that would be more suited for a typical soap opera rather than a movie. It tries to blend romance, comedy, marital issues, and interfering relatives, but the execution falls flat.
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