Two decades have passed since the iconic film, **Ishq Vishk**, with Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao, captured the innocence of young love and left an indelible mark on Bollywood’s portrayal of teenage romance. The film, accompanied by Alisha Chinai’s memorable track “Chot Dil Pe Lagi, Pyaar Hone Laga”, struck a chord with many. Now, in a bid to recapture that magic, Tips has released a spiritual sequel titled **Ishq Vishk Rebound**. Unfortunately, the sequel proves to be more of a financial burden than a cinematic delight, highlighting the deteriorating state of youthful romance in current Hindi cinema.
This new installment features a rather lackluster love story set against the backdrop of a **desi** Halloween, which serves as the only spirited highlight in an otherwise dull romantic narrative involving three-plus-one lovers whose storylines fail to engage. The movie kicks off with a producer, played by Kusha Kapila, investing in the creative aspirations of a budding screenwriter named Raghav, portrayed by Rohit Saraf. Drawing inspiration from his personal romantic experiences, Raghav’s narrative centers around his feelings for Riya, depicted by Naila Grewal, while his best friend Sahir, played by Jibraan Khan, is romantically involved with Sanya, brought to life by Pashmina Roshan. However, the relationships are on shaky ground as Raghav and Sanya find themselves drawn towards each other, leading to emotional entanglements.
The much-anticipated continuation of the **Ishq Vishk** saga, helmed by director Nipun Dharmadikhari, plays out more like an extended episode of the reality show **Splitsvilla**. In this setting, the young characters endlessly navigate through **vishk** (unpleasant experiences) and **vyar** (infatuation without commitment) in their pursuit of “**ishq**” (true love) and **”pyar**” (affection). The film lacks the depth of real emotions, focusing instead on superficial posturing and glamorous appearances. The plot twists come across as obligatory rather than organic, and the romantic dynamics, far from being heartfelt, are more synthetic than anything else.
Dharmadikhari tries to inject credibility into his characters’ actions by delving into their backgrounds.
. Sanya’s insecurity stems from her upbringing in a broken home, Sahir’s indecisiveness is attributed to his strict upbringing under a regimental father, and Raghav’s generosity is explained by his supportive and understanding parents. However, these backstories fail to be effectively communicated through the film, remaining confined to the script without being convincingly portrayed on screen. Though it is supposed to be a tale of four individuals, the narrative heavily emphasizes Sanya’s character, perhaps due to Pashmina Roshan’s lineage as Hrithik Roshan’s cousin.
Rohit Saraf showcases the charm required to dazzle in a commercial or a music video, but he falls short in holding the audience’s attention for the film’s duration. Pashmina, though confident in front of the camera, lacks the magnetic screen presence to captivate the audience fully. The director’s emphasis appears skewed towards her physical appeal rather than her emotional expressiveness. On the other hand, Naila Grewal, who previously impressed audiences in **Mamla Legal Hai**, carries her confident persona into this film but is handicapped by an underdeveloped character. In a bewildering move, the film brings in Sheeba Chaddha in a cameo role to clarify the director’s vision, a task that should have been achieved through more competent storytelling.
**Ishq Vishk Rebound** stands as a testament to the struggles of modern Bollywood in capturing the essence of youthful romance that its predecessor managed so effortlessly. While attempting to navigate the complexities of young love in today’s fast-paced world, the film trips over its own intricacies, ending up as a superficial display rather than a genuine exploration of emotions. Despite its attempts to resonate with a contemporary audience, the sequel falls short, appealing only to viewers who value style over substance.
Currently, **Ishq Vishk Rebound** is running in theaters, but it remains to be seen if it can evoke the same affection from audiences that the original film did twenty years ago or if it will simply fade into the background noise of Bollywood’s crowded romance genre.
