‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ tries to recapture the charm of small-town drama and comedy but stumbles with a tired script and overfamiliar performances. Rajkummar Rao delivers yet another version of a role we've seen him play too often in a film that struggles to find its footing.
A familiar formula that fails to spark
‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ wants to bottle the same small-town flavour that’s worked wonders for Maddock Films in the past. Unfortunately, this time, the magic is missing. The comedy-drama flickers with promise here and there but never quite catches fire. The writing feels loose and sluggish, and there's a noticeable lack of energy throughout. Midway through the film, Rajkummar Rao’s character starts experiencing déjà vu—and as an audience member, you can’t help but feel the same. It’s a role he’s played many times before, and the film ends up as a warning sign—not just for the producers, but perhaps for Rao too.
Love, loops and the search for a government job
Set in Varanasi, the story follows Ranjan Tiwari (Rajkummar Rao) and Titli Mishra (Wamiqa Gabbi), two young lovers who plan to elope. But when the police catch them in the act, their dream hits a roadblock. Titli’s father, unimpressed with Ranjan’s unemployment, agrees to the wedding on one condition: Ranjan must land a government job within two months. In desperation, Ranjan turns to a shady fixer, Bhagwan (Sanjay Mishra), who promises to get him a job in exchange for six lakh rupees. Titli helps by pawning her mother’s necklace to raise part of the amount. When the job finally comes through, wedding preparations begin in full swing—only for Ranjan to find himself trapped in a strange time loop, endlessly reliving the day before the wedding.
Supporting cast left in the shadows
From the very beginning, it’s clear the film is trying to recreate the charm of earlier heartland stories, but it never quite gets there. Usually, in films like this, at least one supporting character manages to steal the show. Here, everyone other than Rajkummar Rao feels like background noise. Despite having seasoned actors like Raghubir Yadav, Seema Pahwa, Zakir Hussain, and Vineet Singh in the cast, they’re barely given anything to work with. This isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s a failure of the script to flesh them out in the first place. There are a few genuinely funny or warm moments, but they’re scattered too thinly to make a real impact.
Rajkummar Rao repeats while Wamiqa shines
Rajkummar Rao, as always, gives it his all. But even his best efforts can’t hide how tired the performance feels. He’s done variations of this role so many times that you start to feel fatigue creeping in as a viewer. Wamiqa Gabbi brings a bit of freshness as Titli—she’s assured, confident, and more interesting to watch. Sadly, Raghubir Yadav and Seema Pahwa, playing Ranjan’s parents, don’t get much screen time, and the same goes for Zakir Hussain, Sanjay Mishra, and Vineet Singh. If there’s one exception, it’s Ishtiyak Khan, who plays Ranjan’s mama. He brings a grounded charm to his scenes, but he’s working in isolation. The film also struggles to maintain a consistent Banaras tone—it drifts in and out, which feels like a disservice to the setting.
Bizarre plot twist undermine the story
One particular subplot sums up the film’s problem with logic: Sanjay Mishra’s character vanishes after taking a two-lakh advance from Ranjan, only to casually call back later saying he’s arranged a job. The whole thing feels thrown in just to stretch the runtime. The music doesn’t help either—none of the songs leave a mark. The second half leans into the déjà vu idea, but instead of adding intrigue, it just makes the plot messier. ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ doesn’t offer anything new and ticks all the familiar boxes of a typical small-town rom-com without much heart or originality. It’s deeply rooted in Banaras, yes, but without fully embracing the soul of the city. If the makers had at least nailed the local flavour, the film might’ve had a fighting chance—even if the screenplay stayed weak.
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sanjay Mishra, Raghubir Yadav, Seema Pahwa and Zakir Hussain
Director: Karan Sharma
Rating: 2.5/5
(‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ is running in theatres)
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