Highlights
LOVEYAPA, starring Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor in lead roles, has reached theatres near you. Set in Delhi, this remake of the 2022 Tamil romantic comedy ‘Love Today’ highlights a big aspect of the digital age. But can it actually become a blockbuster?
LOVEYAPA is getting mixed responses from the audience. Many like the film’s subtle message for Generation Z and others are hailing the humour quotient. But there is another part of the audience that isn’t exactly pleased by the lead stars’ chemistry.
Directed by Advait Chandan and starring Junaid Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, Grusha Kapoor, Yuktam Khosla, Kiku Sharda and Tanvika Parlikar, LOVEYAPA is an interesting take on the impact of the digital era on Gen Z.
LOVEYAPA: Understanding the plot
Gaurav or Gucci (Junaid) and Baani (Khushi) are in a steady relationship. The couple are yet to disclose their love to their families. Baani has also told her father Atul Sharma (Ashutosh) that the latest phone she is using has actually come from a lottery contest.
In reality, the phone is a gift from Gucci. One day, Baani’s musically inclined father stumbles upon their relationship – thanks to their mobile phones, again. He invites Gucci to his house. Their interaction is hilarious, to say the least.
But things start to turn South as Baani’s father asks both Gucci and his daughter to exchange their phones for 24 hours – making this the only condition before they get engaged. Initially, the duo do not mind exchanging their phones, fully trusting each other.
Later on, as Atul insists that the love birds open each other’s phones too, things get quite interesting. This condition is going to make all the difference. Hell shall break loose soon. Gucci and Baani are going to stumble upon each other’s acts.
Essentially, Baani (played by Khushi Kapoor) finds that the love of her life is fond of p*rn, invites girls to send pictures for casting them, and many more things. Gucci, on the other hand, finds that his girlfriend is still talking to some of her old boyfriends.
LOVEYAPA: Script analysis
Sneha Desai, the brilliant mind behind ‘Laapataa Ladies’ and ‘Maharaj’, is also responsible for LOVEYAPA. The original story by Pradeep Ranganathan is already a big success. Sneha did an amazing job at filling the story with consistent lifelike humour.
LOVEYAPA is certainly entertaining. Nonetheless, it felt that Sneha’s screenplay is a bit segmented as the first portion largely focuses on Baani Sharma’s secrets and the next section brings Gucci into the limelight.
The film’s youthful and entertaining take on modern love brilliantly captures digital-age dilemmas. In some places, the story feels over-extended. The supporting actors have lend able support. Perhaps, a more focused narrative could have enhanced the impact.
LOVEYAPA: Connection to real-life scenarios
Does trust actually hold any significance in a generation that thrives on situationships? Temptation is like around the corner as modern-day distractions, such as messaging apps, social media platforms and endless choices, increase the number.
Beyond the humour, LOVEYAPA also focuses on some of the most serious dark realities of the digital era, such as fake identities and deepfake. There is a sharp line dividing Gen X and Gen Z – and the film carefully highlights that. “Repair karna seekho, replace nahin.”
LOVEYAPA: Lead actors’ performance and public response
Junaid Khan – playing the character Gucci – has done an outstanding job in LOVEYAPA. Khushi Kapoor (Baani) also delivers a notable performance. Many netizens are applauding the male and female lead as a convincing young couple.
But there are some people expressing dissatisfaction about the lead couple, stressing that Junaid and Khushi’s pairing appears forced. For fans of the romantic comedy genre, LOVEYAPA is going to be an easy-breezy experience.
Junaid and Khushi are taking centre stage in this romantic comedy. The lead actor’s performance has been a talking point for many netizens. Take this user for example. Fenil Seta on X said: “He doesn’t look like an apt ‘Delhi ka launda’”.
In his debut project, ‘Maharaj’, Junaid attracted a lot of positive attention. But this does not appear to be the case in LOVEYAPA. Some people appreciate his efforts, others feel that he could have done much better in certain aspects.
For many netizens, Khushi is in the limelight. She has been praised for her portrayal, especially in scenes demanding more emotions. Nonetheless, both the stars are bringing fresh energy to the screen and should be offered a chance.
LOVEYAPA: Understanding the supporting stars’ contribution
Besides Gucci and Baani, there is another couple leading their days parallel. Gucci’s sister Kiran (Tanvika Parlikar) and her fiance Anupam (Kiku Sharda) add the necessary support to the plot. The main thing about this couple is Anupam’s obsessive phone-guarding.
Ashutosh Rana has done a great job at playing Baani’s father role. His strict parenting and classic expressions are thoroughly notable. Gucci’s mother (Grusha Kapoor) is also a key character in LOVEYAPA. Gucci’s friends steal the limelight in many shots.
Essentially, the supporting cast of LOVEYAPA adds much more depth and humour to the story. Ashutosh’s role in the film is notable as he does a fabulous job at playing a character that is both authoritative and affectionate.
Grusha’s one-liners in LOVEYAPA are literally the cherry on the cake. She has used her vast experience in the field to present a fan-favourite Gucci’s mother. There is another person needing a special mention here.
He is none other than Kiku. He seamlessly brought his trademark humour to the big screens. Kiku, besides Tanvika, together brings an emotional depth to the romantic comedy. This couple addresses some serious issues, such as body image.
LOVEYAPA box office collection: Day 1
Starring Himesh Reshammiya in the lead role, ‘Badass Ravi Kumar’ also released on the same day as LOVEYAPA. The former story minted an approximate Rs 1 crore at the Indian box office on Day 1. The latter raked in Rs 1.25 crore, as per Sacnilk.
LOVEYAPA: Our verdict
LOVEYAPA Rating: 3/5
LOVEYAPA is a fun ride. There are many things to improve. But isn’t that the case in plenty of releases? This Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor starrer definitely deserves a decent audience size. The supporting cast lends a good deal of backing.
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