A sequel to the 2019 film Pati Patni Aur Woh, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do is a classic Ayushmann Khurrana’s film universe with a single lie leading to complete chaos, a relationship getting tangled up, a lot of miscommunication and somehow, everything being dramatic and funny at the same time.
The film is directed by Mudassar Aziz and co-written by Ravi Kumar and Aziz is labelled as a “spiritual sequel” to the 2019 film, but it has its own new cast and setting, with the confusion-comedy alive.
The story follows a seemingly perfect married couple Ayushman Khurrana and Wamiqa Gabbi living in Prayagraj whose life suddenly becomes chaotic after one decision creates endless suspicion, confusion and misunderstandings. When Ayushmann agrees to pretend to be the boyfriend of a former college classmate, Sara Ali Khan because she is secretly dating someone and family would never approve of due to caste differences. What was meant to be a simple favour can very easily turn into a full-blown catastrophe of lies, misunderstanding, suspicions of infidelity, conflicts and exaggeratedly humorous scenarios.
The humour in the movie is definitely stereotypical Bollywood marriage comedy humour – husband keeping secrets, wife suspecting affair, lack of communication, awkward lies and emotional outbursts. The question of whether the husband is truly being unfaithful or not is constantly raised, and it is in the wife's assumptions, miscommunications and emotional responses to the plot of the film that most of the comedy lies. Yes, it's cheesy sometimes, with cringe worthy dialogue and moments that have you, “Oh my God, what is happening?” but still, give you a laugh.
The dialogues in particular come across as purposively dramatic and exaggerated. Some jokes hit the mark and really are hysterical, others are just overdone. The humour is inconsistent but when it is, it is really good, and the actors' comic timing does their job well. This movie is never subtle or realistic. It is fully in sync with the loud Bollywood chaos.
Ayushmann Khurrana has yet again proven how he is a perfect fit in these middle class social comedies. His acting is quite natural and he acts smoothly through his reactions, expressions and comedic timing. It is truly a film that is another take on a normal social issue that is slowly spiralling into madness like Dream Girl.
His movies are always funny in the beginning and then have a deeper meaning on the social level, the relation level or the communication level, and that's the case with this one too.
Underneath all of the jokes, the film discusses the emotional mess and the loss of trust that can arise when a single misunderstanding and lack of communication can destroy a relationship.
The cast is a solid ten, with Wamiqa Gabbi being the highlight in an ensemble that is actually mostly impressive. Her acting was natural, expressive and believable despite the rest of the film getting loud and dramatic.
Her expressions were incredible and she did a great job as the character. She brought an emotional balance to scenes which might otherwise have been overly dramatic.
Rakul Preet Singh's character was also quite different from her usual glamorous Bollywood roles. She is a self-assured, independent woman with a somewhat unconventional, rough-edged.
Her personality is refreshing, as it's not the typical sweet female lead.
Sara Ali Khan on the other hand stars as the character who is simple, clingy but innocent, who can be emotionally manipulative with her smile and innocence.
One of the other highlights was Vijay Raaz, his performance as the funny, corrupt officer added another layer of humour to the film. He was hilarious in his dialogue delivery and the expressions he made even smaller scenes were fun to watch.
Overall, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do may not reinvent the Bollywood comedy wheel, but it delivers exactly what it promises, a messy, entertaining ride packed with misunderstandings, awkward humour and relationship chaos. It’s the kind of film you roll your eyes at, laugh through anyway, and secretly enjoy as a full-blown guilty pleasure.
The narrative is entertaining, the acting is solid, and even though the film's dialogue might seem cheesy, it still gets audiences to laugh. It is messy, dramatic, funny and utterly predictable and that's what makes it feel like a classic Bollywood entertainer.
Vidhhi Panchal a journalism student at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Journalism.