Having cemented his status as the sequel king of Bollywood, Ajay Devgn is back once again with a fresh instalment of a recent film which was a runaway success at the box office. Having tasted sequel success with comic capers, thrillers and action franchises, this time he experiments with the rom-com genre with De De Pyaar De 2, which takes forward the story of the 2019 hit De De Pyaar De, and follows the lives of Ashish Mehra (Devgn) and Ayesha Khurana (Rakul Preet Singh), a pair of lovers with a huge age gap.
Composed of an almost entirely new cast of interesting characters except the leading duo, De De Pyaar De 2 is also firmly set in the format of a contemporary urban love story. Essentially a fun, family film, it promises to offer clean entertainment and a pleasant, relaxing watch. Its ‘meet the parents’ template allows director Anshul Sharma to prepare a convenient stage for playing out various themes related to family, romance and relationships, which is done organically as a part of the ups and downs of the love story and with minimum melodrama.
One of the important ideas that De De Pyaar De 2 attempts to explore and debunk is that of ageism, a prejudice that has managed to survive in the so-called modern and progressive society in which educated, wealthy, upper-class Indians claim to live. Ayesha’s affluent, educated parents’ (R Madhavan and Gautami Kapoor) genuine concern and disapproval of their daughter’s choice of partner simply because he is much older than her, serves as the main point of conflict of the story and sets off a chain of ridiculous and unacceptable reactions by her dad, who is otherwise the most kind, loving and understanding father figure anybody could hope for. De De Pyaar De 2 also raises relevant issues of morality, trust and judgment insofar as parents’ right to influence their children’s choice of partner is concerned. The storytelling, however, ensures that uncomfortable questions are raised in a way that the audience empathises with Ayesha’s parents. Thus, Rakesh, the father, is also burdened with guilt when he realises that he has betrayed his daughter’s faith while attempting to protect her from what he considered a bad marriage.
Though there are subtle clashes of power and ego between Ayesha’s father and lover, the mood of the film is kept cheerful and light-hearted. Madhavan and Devgn make a fine — though unusual — pair on screen as a prospective father-in-law and son-in-law, their initial comedic exchanges giving way to more complicated interactions, and through which both reveal the depth and versatility of their acting range. Madhavan is convincing as the typical Indian father, conflicted between ego and fatherly love, and highlighting the truth that modern fathers are vulnerable to almost the same fears and anxieties as traditional patriarchs. The glint in his eyes as his Rakesh deals with the utmost decency and restraint with Ashish, almost reminds audiences of his not-so-decent turn as Vanraj in Shaitaan, making them conscious of the rage Rakesh feels inside and what he could be capable of.
Devgn comes across as classic filmy boyfriend material — his Ashish is rich, successful, head-over-heels in love with Ayesha, mature, sensible, and with excellent manners. Reflecting his experience in both romantic and comic roles, his performance in De De Pyaar De 2 is calm and almost muted. What makes his role memorable is the way he spoofs his own dramatic, hyper-masculine image in his earlier films, delivering in the process some truly enjoyable moments.
Rakul Preet Singh is at the top of her game in this film. Her chemistry with Devgn is sparkling and spontaneous and she demonstrates that perfect blend of sweetness, feminine charm and confidence that works so well in a romantic comedy. She also gives Ayesha warmth, energy and an unexpected humour, taking complete charge of the action in the second half of the film, and leading the plot towards its hilarious climax.
Perhaps one of the film’s most attractive characters is played by Jaaved Jaaferi, as Ashish’s loyal friend, with characteristic flair and aplomb. The other supporting cast comprising Ayesha’s family and friends ensure that the tone of the film stays lively and upbeat. And though many of the questions raised by the film are never addressed, its riot of fun, colours, music, emotions and happy vibes provide reason enough for the audience to leave the theatre refreshed and in high spirits.