Khwaabon Ka Jhamela review: A quirky rom-com that feels too casual to deliver its wholesome promise

Khwaabon Ka Jhamela attempts to revive the old-school rom-com charm while staying aligned with today’s more progressive sensibilities but it falls short of achieving the wholesome impact it strives for.

We're living in an era where the absence of a well-crafted love story or romantic comedy is strongly felt, there’s a demand for films that make us feel both giddy and connected while reflecting on the complexities of modern relationships. Hence when recent releases like Nobody Wants This or Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, a Pakistani series, balance the art of blending maturity with romance, the world starts to fall for their nuanced storytelling.  Khwaabon Ka Jhamela strives to do the same but while it carries the heart of a 2010s Bollywood rom-com and tries to weave in a message of self-love, it’s ultimately too breezy for its own good, leaving you wanting more.

Much like the beats of a clichéd rom-com, where opposites attract only to make each other whole, the film introduces us to its protagonists played by Prateik Babbar and Sayani Gupta who find themselves paired together once again in a parallel universe to Four More Shots Please. Zubin (Babbar) is a rule-following, overly disciplined but dull Parsi accountant with intimacy issues, whose girlfriend, Shehnaaz (Kubra Sait), refuses to marry him because of it. On the other hand, Ruby (Gupta) is an outgoing intimacy coordinator dealing with both a complicated living situation and the weight of generational trauma. What’s intriguing is that it’s not just their contrasting personalities but also their professions that bring them together in London. However, despite the charm and potential of their characters, they don’t fully evolve beyond surface-level traits, making it difficult to truly connect with either of them.

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This is where the Danish Aslam's film falters! It’s not that the story lacks substance; the film’s overly casual approach prevents it from exploring its themes deeply. It's understandable that the film's charm lies in its playfulness but the lightness is sometimes so overdone that it leaves the narrative feeling superficial when it could have used more sincerity. This in turn leads the style to overcompensate the lack and rather than working in sync, each frame with an experimental camera trick or edit is a loud, overbearing presentation that is speaking more than the characters and dialogues in that frame. Ruby's apartment or that of her father's is designed in such a way that it distracts more than it highlights their personalities.

And while the influence of Anjaana Anjaani or Ek Main Aur Ek Tu is evident in the film’s tone, with its opposites-attract love story leading to a journey of self-discovery, the movie lacks the emotional depth necessary to explore its unique premise. The idea of falling in love with oneself being more important than finding a soulmate is intriguing, but it feels only half-developed here. That said, there are a few moments that keep the film from being a complete drag. The thoughtful portrayal of Ruby’s profession as an intimacy coordinator, the subtle plea for queer acceptance, and her father’s quiet sacrifices all add meaningful layers to the narrative. The film’s songs and poetry also provide much-needed emotional texture. Prateik Babbar brings his charm to the role of the coy Zubin, but it’s Sayani Gupta who truly steals the show as the complex and fiery Ruby.

While the film’s breeziness makes it approachable, its easy resolutions and simplified approaches turn it into a rainbow-colored spectacle and in 2024, Pride needs more than just a parade, sex education needs to go beyond the basics. Even a woman’s quest for freedom and a man’s inability to understand certain complexities require deeper, more sensitive exploration. Hence Khwaabon Ka Jhamela falls short of fully embracing the complexities of its themes and vibrant characters leaving you desperately craving for more of that elusive romantic magic, quirky hilarity, and emotional intensity that makes a rom-com what it is- deeply satisfying!

Khwaabon Ka Jhamela is currently streaming on JioCinema! 

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