27 April,2013 05:57 AM IST | | Shakti Shetty
2013 is touted to be the year of sequels in Bollywood with more than a dozen franchise-based films hitting the marquee. Well, after watching Aashiqui 2, the definition of sequel needs to be visited once again. This particular romance-drama might come across as a sequel to the 1990 hit Aashiqui but it's not. What the film does though is it religiously follows the Bhatt model - in which winsome music plays a huge role - with dull moments.
Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in a still from the film.
In a nutshell, the whole story is about fame, failures and feelings. In hindsight, it's also about a woman who wants to reform her alcoholic mentor-boyfriend with love. And fails miserably. But that's also where the charm lies. Sending him to a rehab would have done the trick but then, it wouldn't have added to the melancholy. Also, it's advisable to ignore common sense in a film attempting to measure the equations of a showbiz couple, right? Wrong. Abhimaan (1973) did a comparatively better job in this regard. What Aashiqui 2 does is negate the jealousy factor and microscope more on trust between the protagonists.
Aashiqui 2 begins with this has-been rockstar who is busy destroying himself with alcohol but his life changes one night when he runs into - quite literally - this beautiful girl who also happens to be a gifted singer. From that point onwards, he tries to nullify his excesses by wholeheartedly supporting her career. That is before he comes to terms with his own realities.
Director Mohit Suri chooses to follow the set template. There are barely any remarkable sequences. As the result, the movie relies heavily on the actors. Performance-wise, the first half scores an own goal whereas the second half is a revelation. Shraddha Kapoor's portrayal of a conscientious lover is noteworthy as she showcases the emotional flair without going overboard. Overall, Aditya Roy Kapoor is promising but he struggles; especially during the scenes where he has to present a wasted artiste. Ranbir Kapoor effortlessly aced those very moments in Rockstar (2011).
The editor could have kept this film shorter without losing on the essence. Ironically, the loveliest scene happens in the end but you'll have to go through a lot of tears and few smiles to reach that point. u00a0
