Befikre, starring Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor, follows the storyline that pretty much any friends-with-benefits film has – two people enter an arrangement with the understanding of keeping things casual but end up falling in love. That doesn’t mean that Befikre isn’t an enjoyable watch. Dharam (played with easy charm by Ranveer) is a Delhiite living in Paris who has just broken up with his live-in girlfriend. He meets Shyra (Vaani) and the pair eventually fall in love, decide to move in, before having a fall out. Here, Befikre departs from the conventional formula and we see the leads getting engaged to other people and just when we think we’re in for a more seasoned love-story, it takes a U-turn and the leads end up together anyway. This is an Aditya Chopra film, after all.
While the plot is flimsy, Befikre scores by substituting romantic melodrama with having the pair engaging in dares, mischief and all-round good-natured fun instead. This is largely Befikre’s selling point – we’re not really thinking about how casual relationships work, we’re just enjoying the ride of two lovable leads figuring out how they feel. The film lives up to its promise of numerous lip locks and skin show – fans of both actors will leave theaters happy.
Like most movies of the genre, there are parts of Befikre that feel too contrived. Case in point – the church scene, which is so ridiculous, it almost breaks the charming spell of the film. Paris makes for a visually vibrant setting and the chemistry between Vaani and Ranveer is undeniable.
Verdict: Don’t expect to find your answers about casual relationships here, but a fun-filled watch is guaranteed.
Rating: ***
