Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Taapsee Pannu, and Ammy Virk
Rating: 2.5/5
‘Khel Khel Mein’ had created a fair deal of buzz among fans as it marks Akshay Kumar’s return to comedy drama, a genre he redefined with his work in ‘Welcome’ and ‘Hera Pheri’. Moreover, the trailer suggested the film would feature an edgy and bold storyline about modern relationships. So, did Khel Khel Mein live up to the hype?
‘Khel Khel Mein’ centres on Rishabh Malik (Akshay Kumar), a doctor, who catches up with some good friends ahead of a grand wedding. He is accompanied by Vartika (Vaani Kapoor), his wife. The two are joined by their friends Kabir (Fardeen Khan), Harpeet (Ammy Virk), Samar (Aditya Seal), Happy (Taapsee Pannu) and Naina (Pragya Jaiswal). The celebrations start off on a good note but go haywire after they decide to play a “little game” involving mobile phones. The rest of the narrative focuses on the chaos that prevails when dark secrets come out in public.
‘Khel Khel Mein’, which is based on the Italian film Perfect Strangers, features an intriguing premise. Moreover, references to adultery and sexuality make it an intriguing affair. The film, however, does not reach its potential as the screenplay is not engaging enough even though it has its moments.
The film begins with a lively sequence in which Rishabh manipulates an airport attendant to board a flight. He then flirts with Kadambari (Chirangada Singh), a random stranger. These sequences work well because of the natural chemistry between the two. Moreover, the reference to ‘Desi Boyz’ makes this interaction more memorable.
The rest of the first half features a series of sequences that are neither too compelling nor outright boring. Akshay does the heavy-lifting in the comedy sequences. His interactions with his daughter are heartwarming and add a touch of tenderness to the narrative. That said, the subplot has not been explored properly. This is true for the film in general as it features several intriguing characters but their backstories aren’t examined properly. As such, the characters lack depth. This, in turn, makes it difficult for fans to really take an interest in this murky personal lives. Similarly, the track involving Kabir’s secret could have been handled with more sensitivity.
Despite this, ‘Khel Khel Mein’ has its moments, Ammy too shines in the sequences where he literally begs Fardeen Khan to save him from an embarrassing situation. The scene where Samar opens up about a big secret hits hard because of Naina’s reaction. Taapsee Pannu’s drunken antics also tickle the funny bone.
Similarly, director Mudassar Aziz needs to be lauded for avoiding unnecessary profanity and vulgarity.
The climax is mildly funny but it could have made a stronger impact. Given the setup, it had the potential to be as wild and chaotic as the one seen in Welcome but that doesn’t happen.
Coming to the performances, Akshay Kumar is the clear scene-stealer in ‘Khel Khel Mein’. His comic timing here is at par with his what he brought to the table in ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’. It is another matter, however, that ‘Khel Khel Mein’ doesn’t meet the standards set by these films. Akshay’s decision to opt for a mature look too has paid off
Fardeen is a bit over the top in a few scene but tries to channel his character’s vulnerability. Ammy is a treat to watch in a role that is quite different from the one he played in ‘Bad Newz’. Gurbeer was quite and shy while Harpreet is loud and aggressive. Aditya Seal essays the role of a man stuck between his past and present with utmost sincerity. Vaani Kapoor tries to add depth to a weakly-written character and holds her own against Akshay. Taapsee brings out her character’s aspirations and innocence. Pragya Jaiswal delivers a passable performance even though the character is one-dimensional.
The music is not particularly impressive. Moreover, the placement of ‘Do You Know’ is not ideal.
The editing is decent but the climax could have been trimmed a bit.
To sum up, ‘Khel Khel Mein’ is a mildly-ending comedy drama that works in parts but never reaches its potential.