Ladies vs Ricky Bahl review

Cast: Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra, Dipannita Sharma, Aditi Sharma, Shireesh Sharma

Directed by Maneesh Sharma

Rating: * 1/2

Films about conmen rarely con the audience since we love watching people getting fleeced. There's just something special about someone who can massage egos and charm one and all to part with their wallets (or purses in this case). Also, who doesn't want to learn how to tweak human emotions for capital gains? Or how to pursue fancy vocations with much diligence and little credentials. Many personalities for the price of one single multiplex ticket: a Christmas bargain indeed!

The title clearly spells out the unimaginative plot. Our slicker-than-the-rest hero, Ricky Bahl (Ranveer Singh) dons many avatars to enchant and deceive women from diverse worlds. And as difficult as it is to digest, these cheated women from different cities not only find each other but also join forces to avenge their collective wounds. But how do they find him? How do these self-respecting women who've never wronged anyone suddenly break bad? Look beyond these trivial logical concerns and this can actually be a fun ride.

The lady plotters include a sharp and aggressive business manager called Raina Parulekar (Dipannita Sharma), a demure and impeccant widow from Lucknow, Saira Rashid (Aditi Sharma) and a bubbly buffoon of a teenager from Delhi, Dimple Chaddha (Parineeti Chopra). The trio hires 'saleswoman of the year', Ishika Desai (Anushka Sharma) to pose as an NRI millionaire heiress, Ishika Patel. The plan is to get Ricky (known by many names through the movie) to buy into Ishika's business plan and invest in it. Now, conning a conman isn't child's play but doing so in a Yash Raj movie needs meticulous scripting and may be some well-choreographed dance numbers. So our catty conspirers weave a plan so clever that it could only flop if Ricky or the lady imposter fall in love. And to our miserable fate, that happens.

A big thumbs-up surely goes to the lead pair. Anushka is radiant and enigmatic and beneath the façade of a stunning scammer, she reveals streaks of a simple girl who has obvious wishes and dreams like any other. Ranveer's knavish avatar is an odd mix of suave, sexy and awkwardly simple. Among the rest, Parineeti's cheeky one-liners evoke chuckles and her character is equally adorable and dimwitted. Salim-Salaiman drum-up dance numbers which may do the rounds at a few New Year parties but will surely be forgotten post that. YRF is known for its glossy production values and this one lives up to their reputation.

So in the contest between Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, it is the audience who loses out as it concludes as a sappy story, with the lead couple drifting out of character blinded by love (Sheesh!). Luckily, what leads up to the end is a journey packed with mild laughs, milder scheming and cunning that is almost there. If asked, 'Con banega crorepati', the answer surely wouldn't be the producers of this film.

Posted in: Entertainment.