You know what the beauty is of an Ayushmann Khurrana film? You look at its trailer and you're convinced director ne actor dekhke role likhi hai. Imagine a wizened, battle-hardened director saheb/saheba sitting at their desk and jabbing at a computer keypad, going, "What can I write that'll make Ayushmann Khurrana truly shine?" That's the kind of space Ayushmann has managed to create for himself - and it's a well-deserved one.
It is with that promise that the premise of Dream Girl is set up - a role you'll begin to realise, 5 minutes in, that no one other than Ayushmann would be able to pull off this well.
In Raaj Shaandilya’s film, AK is a dream girl - and has been, for generations of boys, ever since he's been a child to now - an adult working at an, ahem, adult call centre. Ayushmann, who plays Karam, has always been super efficient at yodelling in the voice of a woman, something that everyone - from his childhood best friend/drinking buddy to his town's Ramleela in need of a Sita, has always exploited.
Desperate for a real job, when Karam finally lands up by accident in an "underground" call centre where the lonely men and women of the world phone in to "make friendships." Karam decides to stay and play the role of ‘Pooja.’
Without missing a single beat, Karam becomes Pooja and soon IS Pooja to everyone from his fiance's brother - to his own father (!), from a cynical Haryanvi cop to a tattoo-toting young chap. However, the inevitable problem arises when the lines between Karam's and Pooja's lives begin to intermingle - and soon, all hell breaks loose.
The biggest letdown of Dream Girl is its lacklustre second half and the fact that it relies too much on Ayushmann’s punches – and not enough on the script’s – to save it.
The biggest letdown of Dream Girl is its lacklustre second half and the fact that it relies too much on Ayushmann's punches – and not enough on the script's – to save it. There is nothing about Dream Girl that you couldn't have predicted - but plenty you wish they'd left out.
For instance, what was with Karam's fifth most regular caller - a woman who claims she has fallen in love with him, or rather her (her being Pooja) simply because she's been hurt in love by three men and therefore, thinks all men are dogs?! Huh. Clearly, the makers of this film missed a few key stops on the equality bandwagon and went straight to homophobic hell. Why is a woman, who acts like a bad hangover from the 80s gay stereotypes, in love with a woman all of a sudden - just because she's been dumped by a few men?
Why is a woman, who acts like a bad hangover from the 80s gay stereotypes, in love with a woman all of a sudden - just because she’s been dumped by a few men?
Also, you expect a little more from Karam in terms of eventually coming to terms with what women, hounded by entitled men, go through - but the film doesn't dive too deep into that facet.
Eventually, what you get is a semi-funny movie starring an Ayushmann, once again unafraid of pulling off an unconventional role for a lead male actor - and some promising turns by Annu Kapoor and Fukrey's Manjot Singh.
Dream Girl could have been SO SO much better. Which is why, you leave the theatre, clucking your tongue and going, kaash.
Dream Girl could have been SO SO much better. Which is why, you leave the theatre, clucking your tongue and going, kaash. For its attempts at unconventionality - albeit missing the mark - and for Mr Ayushmann Khurrana, I'm giving this one 2.5 Quints out of 5. So close, yet so far.
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