Sometimes, one just wants a fun movie—no deep messages, just popcorn, candy floss, and entertainment. If you too want fun, enter the rom-com!
Amid directors’ obsession with dark stories, violence, and CGI, Bollywood and Hollywood seem to have forgotten the charm of a classic rom-com. Thankfully, Bollywood’s Valentine release, Loveyapa, brings a refreshing surprise.
Expectations were low for this Junaid Khan-Khushi Kapoor romance, mainly because it’s yet another remake—this time of the Tamil hit Love Today. The original had a great concept but faltered in execution. Thankfully, the Hindi adaptation, directed by Advait Chandan (Secret Superstar, Laal Singh Chaddha), smooths out its flaws, trims the excess, and delivers a polished, if not groundbreaking, rom-com.
The premise is simple yet intriguing. A Gen-Z couple must swap phones for a day to win a stern parent’s approval for marriage. What seems easy soon unravels secrets—chats with exes, hidden download, secret plans—that shake their ‘honest’ love to its core. With endless possibilities to explore modern relationships, this setup is both fun and relatable.
Gaurav (Junaid Khan) and Baani (Khushi Kapoor), affectionately calling each other ‘Babbuu’ and ‘Baani Boo,’ are glued to their smartphones, conducting much of their relationship through screens. Their chats are sweet but superficial until the aforementioned phone swap shakes things up. Meanwhile, Gaurav’s sister, Kiran (Tanvika Parlikar), embarks on an arranged marriage with a kind-hearted but overweight doctor (Kiku Sharda). Their love story unfolds smoothly — until, once again, a phone disrupts the equation.
Loveyapa is rooted in a strictly middle-class Delhi milieu, yet its characters' language and concerns feel universal — a testament to how technology has homogenized cultures and values. This is a generation where moving from one relationship to the next is as effortless as changing a phone cover. Exes frequently resurface, and people seamlessly juggle past and present romances, always keeping an emotional backup on standby, much like a power bank.
This raises some compelling questions about our phone-obsessed lives. Do our mobile devices reveal our true selves more than our words and actions? Do our online identities act in ways we’d hesitate to offline? More intriguingly, have iPhones and Samsungs become the ultimate tools for exposing betrayals, denials, infidelity and vulnerabilities?
These thought-provoking ideas hold the potential for a deep, layered exploration, but Loveyapa opts for a linear, straightforward approach. Everything is spelled out, lectured and written on the wall. Some serious consequences of phone misuse are rushed through so quickly that it feels like the writers were simply ticking off a checklist from a "how phones ruin relationships" template. The climax, loud and melodramatic, feels straight out of a 2000s soap opera, clashing with the otherwise breezy tone of the film.
Moreover, much like its Tamil original, Loveyapa packs in possibly every single phone-related theme in its running time. From e-mocking and body shaming to morphing and deep fakes to sex pranks, there is little that is left untouched. The core message on how relationships need to be nurtured with patience and trust is delivered in the most unimaginative way possible - a parental spiel. Despite the dialogues and circumstances being a fairly accurate representation of youth today, it gives an impression of a boomer’s take on Gen-Z relationships.
That said, these aren’t necessarily flaws. Despite its overly simplistic writing, the film remains entertaining and engaging. The twists and drama are predictable, but you don’t mind, because the weighty theme is handled with a feather-light touch — exactly what a Valentine’s Day release needs.
Besides, there is some genuinely funny, laugh out loud moments and dialogues. My personal favorite is the one where a very desi habit of stocking unnecessary chargers and wires is poked fun at. The way it’s delivered is guaranteed to bring the house down.
What could have elevated Loveyapa, is effortless, sparkling performances and sizzling on-screen chemistry. Alas, this is where the lead pair stumbles! Junaid Khan initially comes across as stiff and self-conscious, though he finds his footing as the film progresses. However, he lacks the easygoing charm and goofiness that this character requires. And no, the Delhi street lingo is not meant for this Bandra boy!
The same applies to Khushi Kapoor. She’s pretty, and her vibrant kurtas and flowing skirts are a visual delight, but she feels too prim and proper for a middle-class Delhi girl. Like Junaid, she gradually settles into the role, and by the end, the duo manages to win you over. It’s the senior actors who save the day. Grusha Kapoor as Gaurav’s exasperated mum is a hoot while Ashutosh Rana, playing Baani’s sly, wise father is great.
Overall, if you are looking for fluffy entertainment that doesn’t tax your brain cells, offers a lot of hilarious moments and a chill time at the cinemas, Loveyapa is worth the popcorn. Go for it with your date. Or your parents!
Courtesy: Khaleej Times
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
