“Shuddh Desi Romance” releases

Looking for pure unadulterated desi fun in a Bollywood film? For an unusual, fresh plot line that departs from the usual boy meets girl, the two fall in love, complications, and if you are lucky action thrown in until the inevitable happy ending. Yes you could say that “Shuddh Desi Romance” has some of that but it's far more: a witty  redefinition of romance in the 21st century.
For a start Raghu (played by Sushant Singh Rajput) is not your stereotyped  filmi hero. He's so-so looking, a little scruffy yet funny. A tourist guide in Jaipur, he also has a side “profession”: as “baraati” who gets paid for enlivening wedding parties. He works for Goyal (Rishi Kapoor), a desi wedding planner.
Gayatri (Parineeti Chopra) is a chain smoking, uninhibited, but as it turns out vulnerable character who dares to push the frontiers of romance. The two engage in some great verbal sparring on a bus taking Raghu to his own wedding. Such is the chemistry between the two that they end up madly making out in the bus. Which gives the already commitment phobic Raghu reason enough to stand up his beautiful bride Tara (Vaani Kapoor) at the mandap.
Raghu and Gayatri live in and love in. To reveal more would make one a spoilsport. Just a hint: Tara reappears on the scene. It's difficult to tell how the triangular romantic comedy will end. Suffice it to say that there's no conventional happy conclusion for the more staid among us.
Director Maneesh Sharma gets the best of his actors, particularly Rajput and Chopra, who are complete naturals. Newcomer Kapoor makes a hesitant start but gradually steps into her role as the bold and beautiful Tara. Rishi Kapoor who plays confidante to Raghu gets better with every movie. Clearly he's come a long way from his boring lover boy days in “Bobby”, “Prem Rog” , “Chandni” and a string of other box office hits.
Of course writer Jaideep Sahni is the stealer. The snappy one-liners make for some great moments. And it is intelligent conversation between the characters not the usual dumb dialogues. Raghu, Gayatri and Tara dare to dare and even the most blasé amongst us can't help but laugh along.