Dream Girl
Year: 2019
Director: Raaj Shaandilyaa
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Nushrat Bharucha, Manjot Singh, Annu Kapoor, Vijay Raaz

A North Indian small-town youngster with a quirky secret to hide. Ayushmann Khurrana has made a successful career out of this formula. Dream Girl is an extension of the same formula that succeeded in comedies like Vicky Donor, Shubh Mangal Savadhan, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Badhaai Ho.

What’s the plot?

Using his vocal skill to perfectly sound like a lady, a young man (Ayushmann Khurrana) lands up a lucrative job in a shady company offering phone callers dirty talk with young girls. As he soon becomes the most popular ‘dream-girl’ for the callers with his ‘creative’ talk, the money starts to flow in. Unfortunately the job is nothing to write home about; and with the help of his best friend (Manjot Singh), he keeps it under the wraps from his fiancée (Nushrat Bharucha) and his father (Annu Kappor). Little does he know that his ‘dream-girl’ act is going to spur many unsuspecting enthusiastic suitors into action!

What’s hot?

• It is a plot with an interesting premise.
•  Raaj Shaandilyaa’s direction makes the most of the multiple wacky characters and farcical situations.
• Ayushmann Khurrana essays the lead role with élan and his romantic pairing with Nushrat Bharucha looks good.
• The supporting cast- Manjit Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Annu Kapoor and Vijay Raaz provide an excellent foil.

What’s not?

• A tad too stretched.
• Coarse humor at times.
• Nushrat Bharucha’s sanitized, saccharine sweet role goes against her famed spiky spunky image.
• The message about lonely hearts seeking an outlet in this online world feels forced.

Verdict

Despite its flaws and shortcomings, Dream Girl entertains and makes you laugh aplenty. Ayushmann’s successful ride continues!

Rating

3 stars