Akshay Kumar’s latest venture, Khel Khel Mein, is a comedic romp that leans heavily into the chaos and charm of a big, fat Indian wedding. Directed by Muddassar Aziz, the film is a light-hearted mix of family drama, romantic entanglements, and plenty of slapstick humor, serving as a welcome return to form for Kumar.
A cosmetic surgeon with a "PhD in lying," Rishabh Malik (Akshay Kumar) is the desi, George Clooney. He is currently traveling to Vartika's (Vaani Kapoor) sister's wedding. Though their marriage appears to be a dream come true, it is not as successful as their friends Harpreet, also known as Happy (Taapsee Pannu) and Harpreet (Ammy Virk). While Happy has been working for years to mend the fissures in their marriage while attempting to provide for his family, Harpreet feels that he is keeping Happy "happy" and feels that his work in the marriage is done.
In addition, there is Aditya Seal's character Samar, Pragya Jaiswal's character Naina, and Fardeen Khan, the cricket coach, who appears to have abandoned his lover at home. When the calls and messages start rolling in, the perfectly polished smiles and expensive clothes begin to show.
This is Akshay Kumar's home ground; the humorous moments fit him in admirably, and he gets to explore his craziest side to show the public the Kumar they have not seen on screen in a while. On the other hand, Ammy Virk and Taapsee Pannu give outstanding performances. Pannu delivers another powerful performance in Khel Khel Mein that makes you feel something, even without the emotive monologue, following her dark turn in Haseen Dillruba. Virk also leaves a mark as the husband who attempts to cover up his shortcomings by making his wife experience them.
Although the creators of Khel Khel Mein do not seem to want to take the chance of allowing their protagonists to be a bit grey, the film does attempt to get beyond its concept. It takes the silly comedy and attempts to have serious debates with it. Anyone who displays an emotion that can be viewed as somewhat unlikeable is immediately given a redemption story. Additionally, that is not the best course of action for a movie that depends on viewers' commitment to a study of human nature.
Khel Khel Mein is not a film that will win awards for originality or depth, but it’s a fun, breezy watch that delivers exactly what it promises—entertainment. Akshay Kumar’s return to comedy is the highlight here, making this nuptial nonsense worth the price of admission. If you’re in the mood for something light-hearted and don’t mind a bit of silliness, this one’s for you.
