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‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ Is the First Bonafide Bollywood Blockbuster in Years

Proma khosla.

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Twenty-five years ago, I — and millions of Hindi film fans around the world — saw our first Karan Johar movie. “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” — which currently holds the top spot in IndieWire’s list of the best rom-coms on Netflix — was a superhit and instant classic, a story of love and friendship that stood the test of time and charms audiences to this day.

And it’s just a damn good time.

As much as it tracks the blooming romance of Rocky Randhawa (Ranveer Singh) and Rani Chatterjee (Alia Bhatt), “Rocky Aur Rani” starts with the pair reuniting Rocky’s grandfather Kanwal (Dharmendra) and Rani’s grandmother Jamini (Shabana Azmi), who spent a week together back in 1978. Both relationships intertwine the dichotomous Randhawa and Chatterjee families, who go together about as well as oil and water.

That’s not because the families are so drastically different — though the film feels the need to explicitly stress this repeatedly — but mainly because of the iron fist of Rocky’s grandmother Dhanlakshmi (Jaya Bachchan), who runs both the household and a business empire with steely authority. She doesn’t take kindly to her husband openly reigniting an old flame despite their loveless marriage, and even less kindly to Rocky’s idea that he and Rani switch homes and live with each other’s families for three months.

Apart from the tauted hero and heroine, “Rocky Aur Rani” is a knockout showing for Bachchan. A staple of Hindi cinema since the 1960s (her first film was Satyajit Ray’s “Mahanagar”), Bachchan rose to stardom in a time when women’s roles were still constricted, yet still managed to create indelible female characters along with her peers. Her mother figure is the anchor of Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” but still relegated mostly to warm smiles and lots of crying. “Rocky Aur Rani” gives her free reign with comedy and villainy, and she commands the screen with both. Her comedic timing rivals Singh’s, and Dhanlakshmi’s death glare belongs in the Hall of Fame right next to any role played by Amrish Puri.

Two things that make an immediate and wonderful impression are Eka Lakhani’s costuming and Ishita Moitra’s dialogue writing, both of which quickly piece together who these characters are in a film that doesn’t have much time to spend on their lives beyond family drama. Bhatt is draped in one gorgeous sari after another, and Singh appears in a range of designer tees and printed shirts, buttoned as low as public decency will allow.

Though it purports to be a tale of two houses, “Rocky Aur Rani” takes fairly obvious sides, painting heroes and villains and points of view as right or wrong. The Randhawas are portrayed as old-fashioned, conservative, and oppressive, while the Chatterjees, though somewhat snobbish, are liberal, open-minded, accepting. They warm to Rocky far earlier than any of the Randhawas to Rani. The film rarely attributes this to cultural differences between the Indian states of Bengal and Punjab (and why would it, when “Vicky Donor” centered the same conflict so delightfully in 2012?) — but still relies on those stereotypes — and as such becomes a matter of class and education. The themes are less heavy-handed than “Barbie,” even though they grow repetitive (and include a left field connection to cancel culture).

Pritam’s songs are serviceable as always, but no longer the groundbreaking hits he used to deliver; the catchiest track is “What Jhumka?” mainly because of its riff on the 1966 classic “Jhumka Gira Re,” and “Ve Kamleya” for its emotive function.

What remains to be seen is if “Rocky Aur Rani,” like so many modern Bollywood blockbusters, will have any longevity compared to the classics of the past. What makes Johar’s early work so indelible — what his imitators, and even his own later projects, have failed to emulate — is how they keep the audience coming back. I’m part of a generation that grew up watching, rewatching, quoting, and copying “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” and “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.” Nostalgia is nostalgia for a reason, finding comfort in films from childhood, but I can’t imagine young children who see “Rocky Aur Rani” having the same relationship with this film, or with most recent commercial successes.

Then again, the themes skew older, targeting not only Rocky and Rani’s generation but their parents and grandparents stuck in time. For “Rocky Aur Rani,” the true measure of success will be outside of Rockyland (yes, I’m invoking Barbie Land) and out here in the real world.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani review: Karan Johar brings a preachy, never-ending saga of romance

Rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani review: the way karan johar blends emotions and humour is what remains the backbone of the film..

Rich families, over-the-top settings, family values, emotions, love, heartbreak topped with flashy costumes and beautifully choreographed dance numbers... Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (RARKPK) is your typical, if not ideal, masala film. Marking Karan Johar's return to direction after seven years since Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, the excitement and expectations are palpable in the air. But, it all comes crashing down when the film takes too long to take you in, and eventually turns out to be a never-ending saga of romance and preachy lessons. Yes, it does bring back the grandeur of Karan Johar cinema that we missed for long, but not without its fair share of flaws. Amid several other things, what bothered me the most while watching RARKPK is the stereotypical portrayal of Punjabis as loud and uncivil people and Bengalis are overly educated and supremely intellectual lot. Come on, it's such a killjoy to see Bollywood being stuck in these cliches. No women in Punjabi households cover their heads with dupattas. And what's with the unapologetic objectification of the film's hero when for the longest time the audience have called out Bollywood films for sexualizing its female characters? Also read: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani box office prediction: Alia Bhatt-Ranveer Singh could open to ₹ 8-10 cr haul

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in a still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

The film begins with a smashing entry for Rocky Randhawa ( Ranveer Singh ) in his low neckline printed shirt and oily chest, with a over-the-top song set against the backdrop of Punjabi of the Year contest. Rani Chatterjee (Alia Bhatt), on the other hand, gets a much better written introduction scene where she is schooling a politician on rising rape cases. From the very beginning, we are told about the contrasting families that Randhawas and Chatterjees are. The story, pretty much given in the trailer, revolves around Rocky and Rani, whose love story begins when they are trying to reunite their respective grandparents Kanwal (Dharmendra) and Jamini (Shabana Azmi), who had an affair in 1978 that ended owing to their marital status. While the old-world romance is reviving, Rocky and Rani don't have it easy coming from different backgrounds. To convince their families, they decide to switch households for three months and live with each other's families only to realise things aren't as easy as they may seem. What follows next is a series of ups and down, hardships, insults, fights, self-realisations and regrets.

At 168 minutes, the film is unnecessarily stretched and it took me almost an hour to find my grip. The first half, especially, is such a drag that I literally struggled to sit through it while watching the initial few sequences. God knows what was happening there on screen. How did Rocky and Rani fall in love? I still don't know. It was so rushed that I almost went on a rewind mode to think if I missed anything. Alas! it actually is very abrupt. How come Rocky's grandmother, Dhanlakmi Randhawa (Jaya Bachchan) was okay with her husband meeting his ex-lover? We never get to know that either.

A still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani song Dhindora Baje Re.

Predictably, the story picks pace in the second half and there are enough emotionally-charged scenes that are noteworthy and keep you hooked. The scenes where Rocky is bonding with Rani's family are moving and carry wit and humour, while Rani's portions with Randhawas are most intense and not too pleasant. I liked that balance that KJo tried to show while switching between the two households. With his on-point and near-perfect direction, KJo yet again proves that he knows the strength of his actors and how to make the most of it through the characters they portray. The way he blends emotions and humour is what remains the backbone of the film.

Written by Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan and Sumit Roy, RARKPK has some dialogues that are extremely lame and double meaning words and one-liners that seem forced. Guess we've had enough of Bollywood writers trying to make people laugh with wrongly pronounced words -- inter-caste as intercourse and organise as orgasm --we need something cleverer than this please!

Another thing that looks unsettling for most part of the film is the endless preaching sessions. From slamming patriarchy, calling out misogyny to rubbing feminism in our faces, there's no dearth of messaging. There's a whole sequence that stresses on 'talent transcends the boundaries of gender' ideology and I liked that inclusion at first. But, it gets problematic when it's stretched beyond a point and when it's conveyed in a poor taste by ridiculing a classic dance form like Kathak. I doubt many would laud the scene when Rocky tells Rani's father, 'Inko Madhuri chadh gayi hai'. There's another portion where Rani's mother takes Rocky 'bra-shopping' and then lectures him on respecting women but first being comfortable to touch the bra. It comes and goes without any context. Next in the line was a debate on racism where a Rocky has been told all his life by his grandmother to avoid drinking tea as it darkens the complexion, whereas the Bengali household call it extremely racist. This is followed by a mention of #BlackLivesMatter, Beyonce, Rihanna, Kanye West and the Punjabi song Kaala Shah Kaala in the same breath. Oh, there's more. Alia is like a textbook on feminist dialogues, and while I'm all for gender equality and women's rights, I don't understand why in a so-called family entertainer, you would insert so many social messages and take away its essence? RARKPK should have stuck to being a love story and family drama rather than enter these territories and try to send out so many messages.

Saving the day are some decent and convincing performances with very little to complain there. Ranveer as the flamboyant and boisterous Punjabi 'Karol Bagh ka launda' delivers an effortless act, more so because he is playing himself. Not that I'm complaining, but I didn't see much of acting or prep there. Watching him do all those funny antics, it didn't feel any different from the times we've seen him walk the red carpet at events or going overboard during his film promotions. And why isn't he educated despite his family having all the money? Not that there's anything to not knowing English, but there was no reason for KJo to show him as a school or college dropout. In contrast, Alia, as the educated and ambitious TV journalist, looks gorgeous in every single frame and is a sight for sore eyes in those lovely Manish Malhotra chiffon sarees with backless blouses. She delivers equally brilliantly in the acting department. Though there are a couple of scenes where you sense the overacting, thankfully, they don't bother much. In the emotionally charged scenes, both Ranveer and Alia put their A-game forward and convince you that such altercations still happen in the most educated families.

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in a still from the film.

As the strict and orthodox matriarch of the family, Jaya Bachchan is the best of the lot. Even with her own share of eccentricities and strict demeanour, she manages to trigger some genuine laughs at places. She is quite unlike her characters in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham or Kal Ho Na Ho, and KJo makes sure to give her enough scope to let people enjoy her on-screen. Dharmendra has a pleasant screen presence, but sadly, he barely has two dialogues in the film and one song that lights up the mood in the entire theatre. Shabana Azmi, with her finesse, adds the gravitas she's known for and doesn't disappoint. She has enough to showcase and charms with her scenes with Dharmendra. Churni Ganguly and Tota Roy Chowdhary as Rani's parents are on-point with their performances. Aamir Bashir and Kshitee Jog as Rocky's parents are convincing and bring the Punjabi flavour alive in their accent and gestures. Adding a breath of fresh air to all these stereotypical characters is Anjali Anand as Rocky's sister. With enough scenes to showcase her acting prowess, she looks confident and has a great screen presence.

What stood out in RARKPK has to be its music. While Jhumka and Dhindhora Baje Re are full-on party tracks, Tum Kya Mile and Ve Kamleya are soultouching. The film also pays an homage to classics by Mohd Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar and that ode to the old world charm of Bollywood music is what I truly enjoyed. Oh, and there's also Baba Sehgal's famous track, Aaja Meri Gaadi Mein Baith Jaa, played more than once. Watch the film to know why it is a crucial one in the story. And KJo has not forgotten his nepo starkids (hint: watch out for starry cameos).

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra, Churni Ganguly, Tota Roy Chowdhary, Aamir Bashir, Kshitee Jog

Director: Karan Johar

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani
Ranveer Singh
Jaya Bachchan
Shabana Azmi
Karan Johar

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‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ movie review: Karan Johar’s celebration of imperfections looks well-groomed, but lacks a beating heart

The rich pool of talent led by ranveer singh and alia bhatt is let down by shallow writing that gains momentum only in the second half.

July 28, 2023 02:27 pm | Updated December 27, 2023 03:16 pm IST

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’

Karan Johar redesigns his signature space of family drama to mount a glitzy essay against the entrenched cancel culture in our society that doesn’t really believe in unity in diversity when it comes to marriages. There are paragraphs on misogyny, casual racism and fat shaming, and the film goes on to say that we can learn to live with each other’s imperfections.

However, the art of an essayist lies in creating a wholesome entertaining experience but Karan first dresses up an ostentatious love story between opposites and then studiously starts ticking the boxes so much so that the prem kahani starts reading like a lesson in social science. Of course, it looks well-groomed and starts sounding politically correct by the end but RARKPK lacks rhythm and a beating heart.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Hindi)

The jaunty Rocky (Ranveer Singh) is a prosperous urban Punjabi youth or ‘pupy’ who enters the refined Rani Chatterjee’s (Alia Bhatt) life like a storm from another planet. A conscientious journalist, she comes from an ‘enlightened’ background where her father is a Kathak exponent (Tota Roy Chowdhury) and her mother (Churnee Ganguly) is an English professor.

In contrast, Rocky runs a family sweetmeat business that is controlled by his grandmother Dhanlakshmi (Jaya Bachchan), who is patriarchal in her mindset and misogynistic in her behaviour. Over the years, Rocky’s father Tijori (Aamir Bashir) has treasured the jaundiced worldview of his mother, reducing his wife (Kshitee Jog) to a doormat and her daughter to only an object that needs to be married off. When Rocky and Rani realise there is more than just physical attraction between them, they try to convince their respective in-laws to get over the cultural differences by living with them for three months.

Also read: Top 10 Bollywood films of 2023

There was a time in Hindi cinema when lovers hailing from two warring clans were told that when their uncles and aunts tried to break the rule, they met with a violent end. Here the troika of writers (Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khetan and Sumit Roy) have tweaked the trope by telling us that Rocky’s grandfather Kanwal (Dharmendra) and Rani’s grandmother Jamini (Shabana Azmi) could not turn their love into a relationship because of social conditioning and kept on squirming in loveless marriages. How the new-age couple draws from the past and helps their parents in getting over the cultural prejudices forms the rest of the story.

As a producer, Karan has been dealing with cultural differences as obstacles in love stories for some time now. One was expecting a more nuanced take on the subject but he disappoints. In its treatment, it seems the film indulges those who get away with casual misogyny as long as they promise a golden heart beneath a gold chain. Perhaps, the segment constitutes the paying public in multiplex these days.

So, the pitch - soch nayi, swad wahi (new thought, same taste) - doesn’t really hold and finds traction only in the second half. Till then, it pans out as a laboured rom-com, laced with broad humour, that needs to be told because Karan hasn’t directed one for a while. In the first half, it lacks a voice and when it gets one, it gets into a high-pitched social messaging mode.

Also Read | ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’ movie review: Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani shoulder an unusual romantic drama that takes time to find its voice

To begin with, the gaze is infantile, the characterisations caricaturish and the writers have come up with bumper sticker logic to take the narrative forward. Cast as a man born with poetic sensibilities in a business family, Dharmendra is unnecessarily reduced to a laughing stock. So is Jaya Bachchan whose Dhanlakshmi seems to have been referenced from Amitabh Bachchan’s characters in Mohabbatein and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham but the execution remains strangely uneven, especially in the first half.

Despite a bevy of old hits playing in the background, the spark between Dharmendra and Shabana fails to ignite any magic. The romantic frisson between Ranveer and Alia is only slightly better. Karan curiously seems to believe that kisses can automatically generate chemistry. Ranveer needs a haircut and some heartfelt lines to make his natural charm and energy take over. So does Alia whose deep expressions don’t match the shallow lines she has been given to work with. For the most part, the hard-nosed journalist comes across just as a label, for Rani is presented as the same old chiffon sari-clad Bollywood heroine. Before she takes on a boorish politician, she is introduced with a shot of her back, with the camera focusing on the deep-neck blouse. The gaze parity is quickly achieved when Ranveer is equally objectified.

The borrowed old melodies light up the mood but they create an unnecessary comparison with what Pritam has composed for the film. Obviously, despite his best efforts, everything that comes after ‘Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai’ and ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ pales in comparison.

The narrative gets some much-needed heft when Rocky and Rani shift to each other’s homes. With a message ensconced in humour, the second half has moments filled with some inspired writing where both sides of the divide learn and unlearn many things they grew up with. The scenes where Rocky performs Kathak with Rani’s father and the one where he goes shopping for lingerie with his prospective mother-in-law make a strong statement even if they are made with a bleeding pen. As Karan employs the good old tricks of high-pitched melodrama, the entitled brat learns what it actually means and takes to truly respect women and Rani’s family finds that golden thing beneath the six-pack abs of the cocky Rocky.

The best part is when Rocky, in a rare moment of candour, complains about how can somebody be politically correct all the time and Rani’s grandmother talks about her husband who was no different from Rocky’s grandmother. It kind of counters the stereotypical representation of Punjabis and Bengalis in the film as it goes on to suggest that patriarchy is not exactly defined by geography and gender.

Shabana adds some gravitas to the proceedings and is fun to watch in lighter moments. After the initial struggle, Jaya immerses in the half-baked villainous role. Chowdhury and Ganguly also bring in an air of freshness. Having said that, things get increasingly preachy and self-conscious as Karan refuses to say cut. Someone needs to tell him that a good film doesn’t necessarily mean a long film. As the film approaches its denouement, the emotions start resembling a visual flowchart that you have solved many times over.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is currently in theatres

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Record at THE STUDIO by Rolling Stone India at Creatorland Mumbai

‘Rocky Aur Rani’ Review: Karan Johar’s Funniest, Joyful and Most Political Film In A While

Apart from challenging cancel culture, gender roles and calling out body shaming, the film even questions that which Karan Johar’s enterprise rests — the desi obsession with marriage

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.' Photo: Dharma Productions

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (U/A)

Cast : Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, Aamir Bashir, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly, Kshitee Jog, Anjali Anand

Direction : Karan Johar

Rating : ***1/2

Showing in theaters .

I was quite certain that I was going to hate Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani . Apart from my irritation at the numerically-protected title, the film’s trailer looked like Karan Johar had decided to relocate his brand of parivarik melodrama about papaji, mummyji, biji-baoji to the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali .

Everything looked grand but Malhotra. As if we were in the company of Punjabi baraatis attending a Mugaliya Saltanat nikaah .

And when the film began, all the expected tropes came trotting out. The big bungalow, the stern and scowling patriarch, the crorepati waaris on one side, and on the other the quieter, cultured but pretentious Bengalis.

Yet Rocky Aur Rani scooped me up and carried me along with its funny jokes, melodrama and subversive gender politics.

Rocky Aur Rani is Karan Johar’s funniest and most joyful film. And after My Name Is Khan , his most political one.

True to Karan Johar’s style, everything in Rocky Aur Rani is over-the-top — the decor, the costumes, the drama, the dance sequences, the confrontations and cars. The story isn’t original either, but the screenplay cleverly serves Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Khubsoorat (1980) and Abhishek Verman’s 2 States with a twist and in designer bling.

The film is about the prem kahani of a Punjabi boy and a Bengali girl who are very different culturally, politically, financially, historically and temperamentally. But woven in their story is the story of everyone deserving love and respect despite differences of gender, sexuality, culture, body sizes and age.

The film challenges stifling stereotypes, gender expectations and prejudices. It questions patriarchal bade-buzurg who control the lives of others not out of love, but because they love their power. And in a moment so dramatic and fabulous, Rocky Aur Rani shatters a taboo so brilliantly that even now my tears won’t stop rolling.

Big Bollywood and our dreams have a symbiotic relationship. This perfect, gorgeous, world of papaji and jhappiyan , of mummyji and shadiyan , of pyaar and izzat , sanskar and ahankar is born out of our own familial complexes and fantasies. But it’s also a world that embellishes our dreams and controls not just how we want to see ourselves, but also how we want to be seen, how we want to live and be loved.

Rocky Aur Rani has all the childish silliness and delusions of that dream world. Yet the film is special because it does what the best of Bollywood does — toote hue dilon ko jodne ka kaam .

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is set in Delhi where, in a palatial white bungalow called Randhawa Paradise, lives a Punjabi family. Every morning they do aarti to thank Mata Rani for their flourishing Boondi Laddoo business. The business and the house are controlled by dadi Dhanalakshmi (Jaya Bachchan) and her son, Tijori (Aamir Bashir).

Dhanlakshmi’s husband, Kanwal Bauji (Dharmendra), was once a man more interested in sher-o-shayari than tallying accounting figures. But an accident left him paralyzed and now he is a silent relic in a wheelchair.

As per Randhava’s parampara , Dhanalakshmi runs her parivaar with a disapproving scowl and diktats. But at a party one day, where Rocky ( Ranveer Singh ) is dancing with four nepo-kids, Bauji suddenly starts muttering “Jamini, Jamini”, and proceeds in his wheelchair to cause some social embarrassment.

Dadi frowns, Tijori frowns in solidarity but Rocky discovers a phool and a photo in Bauji’s poetry ki kitab which leads him to Rani Chatterjee (Alia Bhatt).

A saree-draped, sexy Bengali celebrity anchor, in the first scene itself Rani establishes her feminist credentials by delivering a woke lecture on air.

She lives with her Thakur ma (Shabana Azmi), an English professor mummyji who talks like Shashi Tharoor’s badi behen , and a kathak dancer dad. She also has a pesky tag-along Soumen (Namit Das) who has ingratiating plans.

When Rocky comes to meet Rani in his red Ferrari, sipping a post-workout protein shake and thinking West Bengal is in the West, it’s a merry clash of civilizations.

But a story about a life-altering holiday in Shimla in 1978 gives them both a project they need to collaborate on. Several rounds of double dates follow where Johar seduces us with romance conducted around bhule bisre geet and a very funny moment with “ buddhon ka Emraan Hashmi.”

Things go as planned till they don’t. There is some jhagarna-bicharna and then a swap.

The well-preserved, traditional prejudices of Punjabis and Bengalis that have been honed for generations are now all out in the open. All show them off and poke fun at the other, sometimes funnily, but sometimes in ways that hurt and make them all teary.

The Bengalis, with their Tagore portrait, Rabindra Sangeet and cultural get-togethers, sit cross-legged sipping wine. And in between sharing shotti kathas , talk airily about their Punjabi houseguest.

In the Randhawa mansion, Rani is shown her aukat again and again, and then the aukat of women in general, except Dhanalakshmi, of course.

At the bhadralok’s classy baari , Rocky learns to get comfortable around bras, teaches them the importance of pappiyan-jhappiyan and generally tries to lower their pretentious quotient.

Rani, meanwhile, begins to engineer small kitchen revolutions.

But Dhanalakshmi, played by Jaya Bachchan, creates moments of epic kalesh with the meanness that makes it stand out.

But after tears, comes joy. And a lot of credit for that goes to Ishita Moitra’s dialogue which uses the peculiarities of Punjabis and Bengalis to superb effect.

Sometimes it’s Rocky’s sister whose vocabulary is like an ashleel auto-correct that turns intercaste into intercourse, but mostly it’s Rocky’s “Means ke ?” “Are you takaoing ?” and, of course, the Punjabi motto, “Family pe mat ja .”

Rocky Aur Rani ’s writers and director give the film so many taaliyan-bajana and tassue-bahana moments that despite its ass-numbing length of 168 minutes, I was hooked.

Rocky Aur Rani has a nice, talented cast, and I especially liked Churni Ganguly who plays Rani’s mother. But Dharam paaji and Ranveer Singh are the heart and soul of the film. They create moments of such heightened joy and emotions that I was smiling while crying bilak-bilak ke .

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt warm up to each other in the course of the film and develop chemistry that grows on you. They share some nice-nice kissiyan , including one in upside-down Spider-Man style.

Alia Bhatt is lovely, but her key job as Rani is to soften Rocky’s Punjabi onslaught.

Rocky’s wardrobe deserves a review of its own. It’s all Versace, Fendi, and thick gold chains dangling not just on his shaved, bronzed, gym-toned torso, but also on his colored suedes.

If I were to give his brand of haute couture a name, I’d call it Hadasa Couture. Each ensemble is like a mishap, a roadkill in bling.

This wardrobe isn’t just an extension of Rocky’s loud, Punjabi personality, but the two seem to be contestants in a competition of garish. And Ranveer Singh repeatedly outdoes the crazy hysteria of his attire.

But Singh is an excellent actor. And in between all this craziness, where his clothes seem to be dragging him to dance on stage at a Daler Mehndi concert, he is able to pause the film to create moments of such high emotions and intensity that even his lime green, mirror- wala achkan seemed to be looking for a hanky.

Rocky Aur Rani has terrible songs, but its politics is fab.

Apart from challenging cancel culture, gender roles and calling out body shaming, the film even questions that thing on which the entire Karan Johar enterprise rests — desi obsession with ladki ki shaadi . And what I liked the most about Rocky Aur Rani is that in the end, the film didn’t feel the need for a happy family photo. It seemed to say that sometimes, when your loved ones don’t get you and won’t be with you, it’s okay to let go.

There’s respect for the other in that, and a lot of self-love.

Karan Johar
Rocky Aur Rani
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Reviews

This is a long movie, but it never feels like it. It’s a movie that makes me smile even when thinking about it. Do yourself a favor, find this movie and watch it.

Full Review | Feb 29, 2024

Karan Johar delivers one of the best Bollywood films of 2023 in the form of Ranveer Singh & Alia Bhatt's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 20, 2023

The film is a shiny but shallow family drama that uses disappointingly obsolete methods to serve up contemporary, pertinent theories about the need to be mindful in love, loyalty and language.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 20, 2023

The rich pool of talent led by Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt is let down by shallow writing that gains momentum only in the second half.

Full Review | Dec 20, 2023

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt face off as two unlikely lovers whose families clash over progressiveness and tradition – culminating in a finale that out-pinks Barbie.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 20, 2023

Directed by Karan Johar, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani stands out as one of the director's most transgressive films, challenging ideas that dominate Indian society.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 22, 2023

[It] marks a tectonic shift in mainstream Hindi cinema’s perception and representation of gender dynamics...

Full Review | Nov 17, 2023

Jaya Bachchan as the angry old matriarch is a masterstroke in casting.

Full Review | Sep 14, 2023

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is a complete entertainer, having something for everybody. Watch it for its funny as hell storyline and some cracking performances from the entire ensemble cast.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 14, 2023

The patriarchy gets a takedown that is about as believable as an attempt to embrace imperfection in a landscape where no impeccably styled character ever repeats a costume.

Full Review | Aug 14, 2023

It has elements of a stereotypical romantic comedy/drama, but there's also some clever satire, as well as plenty of interesting commentary about society's gender role restrictions. The movie's production design and cinematography are visual treats.

Full Review | Aug 2, 2023

A movie that simultaneously embraces everything that Karan Johar stands for, and in one fell swoop, dismantles the very foundation upon which he has built his career.

On the surface, it appears to be a boisterous parody in the body of a soap opera and the soul of a musical. Dig deeper and you'll discover a shrewd subversion of traditions and values by the same man who popularised and glamorised its virtues to the hilt.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 1, 2023

Karan Johar wins hearts and updates the Bollywood spectacle.

Full Review | Jul 31, 2023

The central love story is backed by the sadder story of the grandparents, all played by giants of Hindi cinema, with a respect for life’s complications and disappointments that has almost entirely vanished from American movies.

Rocky aur Rani kii Prem Kahani is very much its own movie. It’s delicious eye-candy with a rebellious core. Despite the flabby portions, I exited with a smile, wishing that Rocky was real and wanting to give my family a jhappi.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani, though, never snaps. It soars, endlessly, because it energises — not defines — itself with these references.

This Alia Bhatt-Ranveer Singh film has ginormous sets, blingy naach-gaana and a lot of emotions, but little originality.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 31, 2023

The way Karan Johar blends emotions and humour is what remains the backbone of the film.

Two things that make an immediate and wonderful impression are Eka Lakhani’s costuming and Ishita Moitra’s dialogue writing.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Jul 31, 2023

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Rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani review: ranveer singh-alia bhatt are having fun, 'rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani' hit theatres on 28 july..

Karan Johar returns to the director's chair with Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, a film that is a journey between "it's all about loving your parents" and "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb".

A strapping, brawny Rocky Randhawa (Ranveer Singh), endearing in his theatrics, is the heir apparent to his family's confectionery, Dhanlakshmi Sweets; the eponym is his grandmother played by Jaya Bachchan.

Adversely, Rani Chatterjee (Alia Bhatt) is a feisty news anchor who doesn't answer to anyone; goes as far as to throw her earpiece out before an interview (nobody monitoring the many cameras trained on her notices).

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' hit theatres on 28 July.

Alia Bhatt in a still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)

The film, at the crux of it, positions the cultural differences between the Punjabi and Bengali families. The latter sticks to traditional and stifling patriarchal values and the former is more progressive and challenges those very norms in the way their family operates.

These ideological differences naturally affect the way Rocky and Rani behave. And yet somehow, these two poles-apart characters find each other and start a steamy situationship.

Rocky's family consists of his grandmother who is ever-brooding and seemingly runs the family and the business with an iron fist, his bitter and indignant father Tijori (Aamir Bashir), his demure but ambitious mother-sister duo (portrayed with ample heart by Kshitee Jog and Anjali Anand), and his grandfather who suffers from memory loss, longing for a fragment of the past (Dharmendra).

A still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Dhanlakshmi started and Tijori maintained a cycle of generational trauma that has affected every person who was born into or has married into the family. But Rani is not going to be just another cog in this horribly oiled machine.

Rani’s family is on the other side of this progressive to not binary. Her mother (Churni Ganguly) is an English professor who speaks with an accent even unnecessary to the plot. She is said to be the family’s Shashi Tharoor (she doesn’t say GPS, she says ‘Global Positioning System’). I can’t even place if it’s a caricature of Bengalis or every literature professor to exist.

One of the film’s most endearing characters is Rani’s father (Tota Roy Chowdhury) who has left the grandeur of the stage in Kolkata to teach and perform Kathak in Delhi. It’s the film’s most nuanced portrayal of masculinity and it makes sense that this is the character who shows up for the brash Rocky.

Then there is Jamini, Rani’s grandmother played with an ethereal ease by Shabana Azmi. Both Chowdhury and Ganguly imbibe their characters with the honesty they require.

Rocky is taught to expect everything to go the Randhawa way and Rani grew up knowing she never needs to take anything lying down. So when these two characters switch families (and circumstances), a web of teaching, learning, questioning, and introspection is imminent.

The first half is frivolous and funny. The main focus is on two relationships, one being Rocky and Rani’s. Twitter was abuzz with theories about their chemistry but what do we see as chemistry? Is it the fact that the two look naturally great together? Is it that it’s easy to believe why they would find each other endearing? If yes, they have sizzling chemistry.

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in a still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

It is not the chemistry of finding each other irresistible (they do). It is also the fact that chemistry can sometimes just be calm; it can rest in the efforts of remembering that your partner doesn’t like a certain colour or food, or that they frown a certain way when something is bothering them. Johar weaves this easy chemistry into the folds of his typical Bollywood story.

Karan Johar fits in every bit of Bollywood he can get his hands on into Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Extravagant sets? Check. Lovers forced to separate because of family differences? Check. Past lovers reuniting with a (large) tinge of infidelity? Check. Song and dance? Elaborate monologues? Loud background music? One-liners? Check, check, check, check.

Jaya Bachchan in a still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Karan Johar’s unrealistic extravagance must have the support of style, a responsibility fulfilled by fashion designer Manish Malhotra and stylist Eka Lakhani. The Sabyasachi Angarakhas flow and swish in the air with aplomb and chiffon floats against a snowy landscape (despite Rani’s mismatched blouses). It is a reminder of why Bollywood cinema felt so easy to escape into.

The Bollywood mass appeal is right there but at some point, you wonder if there should've been some balance. Maybe a little less. But the Johar directorial magic hits every frame of the screen.

He knows how to frame Jaya Bachchan’s scowl as threatening and comic just with a smart use of camera work (this credit, of course, is shared by the actor and the cameraperson).

He brings his almost cheesy Bollywood-ness and mixes it with old Bollywood nostalgia dialed up to the maximum. Yes, it seems exaggerated. Yes, it makes little sense and is so overly melodramatic. I wish I was someone who had the strength to resist a character crooning ‘Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar’ or ‘Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan Hai’ but I don’t.

Tota Roy Chowdhury in a still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

As Rocky, Ranveer is impossible to peel your eyes away from; he has an infectious energy that lends itself to the film’s demand of uproarious laughter from the audience. The way he throws around phrases like, ‘But obvio?’ and ‘Hello babes’ feels like second nature to him. And yet, when the film moves into its melodramatic and emotion-heavy second half, his performance is heartbreaking.

This is a man who knows there’s always been something wrong with the lessons he has been taught growing up but nobody ever taught him what. He is torn between what he sees as himself and what his family wants him to be.

Alia pulls no punches in playing Rani, when she’s spouting her lessons on Feminism 101 or trying to find a way to get a word in while talking to her golden-retriever boyfriend.

Alia Bhatt and Shabana Azmi in a still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

The film does make attempts at being more than it can be. There is a commentary on patriarchy, on misogyny, on cancel culture even. But all of them, except maybe the former, lack any nuance. It’s all monologues followed by angry looks and while it does get the point home, the point in itself is shallow.

Even the commentary on cancel culture comes so close to actually getting it but it doesn’t.

‘Must we cancel all people instead of giving them a chance to learn’ is a very nuanced subject that delves into matters of privilege, of understanding, and of opportunity amongst all things. A confused monologue really cannot and does not cover it.

This brings us to the actual screenplay. An actual story is sacrificed at the altar of drama. The characters outside of Rocky and Rani do not get their due. They yell their backstories and problems at the faces of their family but the actual emotional heft of these sermons is absent. Dhanlakshmi gets the shortest end of the stick.

Even with the mandate that this is not a film rooted in realism and shouldn't be seen that way, there are parts of the film that still seem too unnatural. At points, I found myself checking if I was laughing with the film or at it.

Ranveer Singh in a still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani doesn’t have anything new to speak of; it doesn’t really have a proper, clear message. It is the spectacle the film mounts that makes it and the fact that the cast seems to have given their everything to make the screenplay work.

And maybe that is one of the true feats of acting? To elevate a film beyond even its own means. And of everyone, Ranveer Singh does it best here.

( At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a membe r . Because the truth is worth it. )

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Review: Ranveer, Alia shine bright like diamonds in KJo's return to form

'rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani', starring ranveer singh and alia bhatt, is karan johar's comeback. he impresses and how read our review here..

Listen to Story

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' features Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh in lead roles.
The film marks Karan Johar's directorial comeback after a hiatus.
'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' released in theatres on July 28.

Cast & Crew

Karan Johar Filmmaker

Ranveer Singh

Alia Bhatt Actor

Release Date: 28 Jul, 2023

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' is the perfect rebuttal to the troll culture that has seeped into the crevices of the film industry. Karan Johar returns to the director’s chair with Alia as muse - Alia Bhatt, who often becomes instant fodder for naysayers to pinpoint and make toxic comments about. Call her nepotism’s poster child and him the godfather of the “Bollywood mafia” all you want, but there’s no denying their time-tested, unbreakable, unshakeable love and passion for their craft. So, when Karan Johar returns to direction after a hiatus of seven years, there is a lot that has changed. His lead pair, Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, were last seen in a gritty rustic setting in the underbelly of Mumbai in 'Gully Boy'. No designer labels and chiffon sarees were adding to the glamour of their already radiant stardom.

Is RARKPK a misfire or is it the revival of the 70mm larger-than-life blockbuster cinema experience that we have long forgotten? Let’s find out!

Ranveer as Rocky Randhawa is every bit the flamboyant, boisterous dude he is in real life. Rocky’s persona mirrors the loud, camp, boombox-clutching boy, whose cleavage routinely gives the fairer sex a run for their money. When Rocky meets an unlikely match in Rani (Alia Bhatt), who is the polar opposite of him, sparks fly. It doesn’t take too long for these sparks to ignite embers from the past.

Rocky’s grandpa Kanwal (Dharmendra), who slips in and out of amnesia, and Rani’s grandmom Jamini (Shabana Azmi) have a history. In this amalgamation of two states where North (Delhi) meets East (Kolkata), a lot of cultural differences and hilarious awkward exchanges fill in much for a fast-paced and sharp first half. Jaya Bachchan plays the vamp (Rocky’s granny), who becomes a hurdle for Rocky and Rani to manifest their true love. She stands for everything that is traditionally righteous for women in the family to do. Her values are regressive and she has a temper that could roast any YouTuber who thinks he’s the Ricky Gervais of his universe.

Karan Johar’s films have become part of a legacy and spawned a genre that has often been imitated but rarely duplicated. So, when the OG comes to play, you can tell that he’s come loaded with some serious ammo. His sense of humour, sarcasm, wit, dark humour and rebuttals are all in place. The playoff between the cultured Chatterjee family and the loud Randhawas sets the tone for some of the most hilarious scenes.

Performances are delicious and that has a lot to do with the fact that the right actors have been cast for these parts. Right from Tota Roy Chowdhury, who plays Rani’s dad, to Aamir Bashir as Rocky’s father, the casting is on the money. Jaya Bachchan as the vampish dadi is a master stroke. At a time when the veteran actress spurs a meme fest each time she steps out in public, her character and expressions as the CEO of the Randhawa ladoo factory are just brilliant. The star of the show is Ranveer Singh, whose Rocky will remind you of the likeable and playful Bittoo Sharma from his debut film, 'Band Baaja Baarat'. He is a perfect fit for the part, almost as if he were playing his real self. His comic timing and the sensitive vulnerability he brings in the scenes with Alia are just brilliant. Alia, as Rani, can breathe and do ample justice as the charming Bong girl with a mind of her own.

While the first half is light and fun, the second half has multiple messages and commentary on topics like cancel culture, body shaming, defining toxic masculinity and racism. The ‘Dola re Dola’ performance is a definitive moment for the LGBT community and KJo has weaved it into the narrative so beautifully that you have to give him an applause for the sheer genius that it is. There is a huge nostalgic value and sentiment attached to Shabana and Dharamji’s song sequence that is borrowed from hits of the late 70s and 80s.

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' also has a lot of references to KJo’s own films. The cameos in the title track by Gen-Z stars Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday and Janhvi Kapoor and some dialogues that are an ode to Karan’s previous work are superb ideas to keep you entertained.

The second half does slow down towards the end and KJo feels a bit caught up in the trope of having too much on his platter. Nevertheless, 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' is a family entertainer that is a gentle reminder of Karan’s legacy and his love for blockbuster cinema. Go watch it at a theatre near you. Or in Jaya ji’s words - bas keh diya so keh diya!

4 out of 5 stars for 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'. Published By: Nirali Kanabar Published On: Jul 28, 2023 --- ENDS --- ALSO READ | 'Rocky Aur Rani...' releases tomorrow! All you can expect from Karan Johar's film

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' movie review: Old-Bollywood fun with new-age sensibilities

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani'.

Watching Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is like experiencing a Ranveer Singh embrace. It makes its way towards you when you least expect it ( Barbie and Oppenheimer are still playing in theatres). At times it feels unwarranted (Karan Johar making a family drama again? Why?). It might chase you if you try to escape it (We all have a friend who has pre-booked our tickets). You get into it with a bit of reservation, some hesitation. “It won’t last long,” you tell yourself. But then a warm, fuzzy feeling settles in, and before you know it, it has been over two hours.

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, Dharmendra

Directed by: Karan Johar

Written by: Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan and Sumit Roy

Karan Johar, after exploring love trios and quadruples ( Kuch Kuch Hota Hai , Student of the Year and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil ), returns to the director’s chair after seven years, this time, to tell a family-iar tale. If your imagination is wacky enough, Rocky Rani… is Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… with Robbie (“Movie tonight?”) in the lead and Nandini Raichand (Jaya Bachchan) as the evil one. Bachchan plays Dhanalakshmi Randhawa, the matriarch of the Randhawa clan. She rules with an iron fist which might be shaping laddoos on the side (they have a sweets empire). Although the family has named their sprawling mansion “Randhawa Paradise”, it’s a suffocating hell for its members. By way of a monochrome flashback, we are told that Dhanalakshmi married Kanwal Lund (pronounced: loond), played by Dharmendra, hoping to inherit his family’s sweet business. Kanwal turns out to be a romantic who finds more solace in verse than in trade. A determined Dhanalakshmi takes over the business and the family, names her son Tijori (Aamir Bashir) in view of her bourgeoisie beliefs and keeps him away from the influence of his father. After an accident confines Kanwal to a wheelchair and gives him amnesia, Dhanalakshmi takes free reign. There is no space for emotions or artistry in the Randhawa household.

Rocky (Ranveer Singh), son of Tijori and Punam (Kshitee Jog), is the loud-mouthed, blingy, scion of the Randhawa family. After his “ bade papa ” Kanwal mutters the name ‘Jamini’, Rocky suspects an old fling. Jamini (played gracefully by Shabana Azmi) turns out to be Rani Chatterjee’s (Alia Bhatt) grandmother. Love sparks between the younglings as they sneak out the oldies for meetups. Rani realizes her love for Rocky is deeper than his low-cut shirts, but the bhadralok Chatterjees are in stark contrast to the rustic Randhawas. Based on a logic that doesn’t feel odd in Joharverse, they decide to live with each other’s families for three months to convince them of this union. A live-in with kin, if you may.

Karan returns to celluloid with glitter guns-blazing, chiffon sarees-swaying charm. Rocky Rani … offers an extravaganza of a bygone Bollywood, updated with modern sensibilities, with enough coherence to keep it afloat. In between the boisterous Punjabi humour and the larger-than-life canvasses, Karan manages to introspect. It’s almost as if the director is purging for his sins. A plump sibling doesn’t transform into a Greek god by the second half but decides to not marry and instead focus on her career. Rocky gets schooled by Rani’s mother Anjali (Churni Ganguly) on racism and the taboo surrounding women’s lingerie. Although Karan’s depiction of the Punjabi Randhawas and the Bengali Chatterjees is all forms of cliché (they have a Rabindranath Tagore painting in between bookshelves), there is something raw and novel this time in his portrayal of family ties. Most of Rocky Rani … feels like a questioning of patriarchy, of set gender norms, of joint families shackling desires and dreams. Writers Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan and Sumit Roy pen a script that updates the Karan Johar palette of fam and glam and makes it more palatable for a modern audience.

The deftness of Rocky Rani…, however, lies in its casting. Ranveer Singh plays an over-the-top hunk who expresses with his blitzy clothes (In a scene his car’s green colour matches with his jacket). Alia’s Rani talks about feminism and liberating women (In a cheeky sequence, she even asks Rocky who is the President of India). Jaya Bachchan’s Dhanalakshmi is cold, stern and judgmental. Shabana Azmi’s Jamini falls in love with a shayar . Dharmendra plays a cute, old grandpa who is an innocent presence for the entirety of the film. On the other hand, Aamir Bashir, Tota Roy Choudhury, Churni Ganguly and Kshitee Jog fit well in the big Bollywood vehicle.

Although Rocky Rani… at times does dip itself too much in syrupy melodrama, it springs up whenever it gets dreary. With the film, Karan seems to own his aesthetics while questioning his long-standing ethics. In what is probably one of the most iconic scenes of the film, the macho Rocky swirls with aplomb along with Tota Roy on Devdas’s Dola Re Dola , a song originally shot with the feminine grace of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit. It is almost cathartic, like an artist understanding and accepting himself.

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani review: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt deliver heartwarming family entertainer of the year

Karan Johar delivers one of the best Bollywood films of 2023 in the form of Ranveer Singh & Alia Bhatt’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

Cast: Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Tota Roy Choudhury, Churni Ganguly, Aamir Bashir, Kshitee Jog, Anjali Anand

Director: Karan Johar

Language: Hindi with a little bit of Bengali

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is easily one of the biggest releases of the years. The trailer and songs have hit the right notes among the audience. But does this rom-com family drama has managed to win the hearts of the cinegoers? Let’s find out…

The plot of the movie deals with Rocky (Ranveer Singh) a typical fun-loving Punjabi boy, who falls head over heels for Rani (Alia Bhatt) a simple but strong-headed ambitious Bengali girl. While they are madly in love with each other, their family background and culture are poles apart. So, to understand each other families, the duo decide to stay with their would-be in-laws for three months. While Rocky and Rani go all out to impress each other families, during this journey we see some beautiful moments, which are tied with brilliant screenplay and impeccable narrative.

The maverick filmmaker Karan Johar, who returns to the director’s chair after 7-long years, brings out a delightful family drama, which is not boring even for a single frame. Apart from showing cultural differences in the most apt manner, which is complemented by beautiful songs, exotic locations, vibrant feels and larger-than-life sets, KJo gives some important social messages of contemporary society in a subtle yet impactful manner.

Talking about the performances, Ranveer Singh delivered one of his best performances as Rocky Randhawa. He rules every frame with his naughtiness, charm and charismatic aura. Alia Bhatt is vibrant as Rani and gives one of the most mature acts of her career. Dharmendra is adorable and makes his emotional scenes are clap-worthy. Watching him on the big screen is indeed a visual treat. Shabana Azmi is pitch-perfect while Jaya Bachchan leaves a mark with her meaty role. Tota Roy Choudhury and Churni Ganguly are superb as Rani’s parents while Aamir Bashir and Kshitee Jog as Rocky’s father and mother are impressive. Anjali Anand shines as Gayatri Randhawa (Rocky’s sister).

On the whole, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is easily one of the best films of the year and needs to be watched on the big screen.

Rating: 4 (out of 5 stars)

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Rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani, common sense media reviewers.

Bollywood romantic comedy-drama touches on adult themes.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani: Ranveer Singh, who plays Rocky, puts his arms around a smiling Alia Bhatt, who plays Rani.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Despite different upbringings and lifestyles, peop

Rocky and Rani are supportive of each other and ot

All characters are Indian; the film pans across De

Someone falls down the stairs and is injured. Char

The film has a lot of romance with song and dance

"Witch," "moron," "bloody," "damn," "shut up," "fo

A character drives luxurious cars and lives in a p

Characters are seen drinking on numerous occasions

Positive Messages

Despite different upbringings and lifestyles, people can still foster healthy relationships if they put in the effort. Patriarchal ideologies are flawed, orthodox, and toxic.

Positive Role Models

Rocky and Rani are supportive of each other and other members of their family, despite their cultural differences. They work toward being accepted by each other's family. Gayatri, Rocky's sister, and Punam, Rocky's mother, find their own voices and overcome the restrictions imposed on them.

Diverse Representations

All characters are Indian; the film pans across Delhi and Kashmir. The film actively challenges ideologies of misogyny and body-shaming. Characters perform the Kathak, a classical Indian dance form. A character suffers from memory loss and is a wheelchair user, but they are not reduced to their condition.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Someone falls down the stairs and is injured. Characters playfully smack each other. Threats of violence are made. There is one prolonged discussion about rape. Individuals drive recklessly causing two cars collide; no injury. There are heated verbal arguments between characters. A conversation surrounding domestic violence and child abuse takes place. Someone is slapped and another person's arm is smacked at. A character passes out and has to be rushed to the hospital, eventually dying.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The film has a lot of romance with song and dance sequences. There is cheesy flirting and heartbreak. Sexual jokes and innuendoes are present. Characters are seen kissing and making out on multiple occasions.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

"Witch," "moron," "bloody," "damn," "shut up," "fool," "hell," "mad," "crazy," and "loser." "God" is used as an exclamation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

A character drives luxurious cars and lives in a palace-like property.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters are seen drinking on numerous occasions.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is a Bollywood romantic comedy-drama with some adult themes. The two central characters, Rani ( Alia Bhatt ) and Rocky ( Ranveer Singh ), come from utterly different social and cultural backgrounds, and subsequently must win over each other's families so that they can be together. There are multiple verbal disagreements and heated arguments between characters over the course of the movie. People threaten to hurt each other. There are also prolonged conversations about rape, domestic violence, and child abuse. A character accidentally falls down the stairs and they are hurt. People are slapped and smacked. In one sequence, characters drive dangerously and there is a small collision between two cars; no one is injured. After falling ill, someone is taken to the hospital where they die. There is romance, flirting, and heartbreak, and sexual jokes are made. Characters kiss and make out numerous times. Throughout the film, characters are seen drinking alcohol. Language includes "witch," "moron," "bloody," "damn," and "loser." The film is in Hindi with English subtitles. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani: An Indian woman and man argue in the middle of the road.

Community Reviews

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There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI, Rani ( Alia Bhatt ), a successful and self-reliant journalist, falls for the flamboyant Rocky ( Ranveer Singh ). But Rani and Rocky come from very different family backgrounds. Can they overcome their social and cultural differences and be with one another?

Is It Any Good?

This Bollywood romantic comedy-drama initiates serious conversations by poking at themes such as patriarchy, misogyny, and body-shaming. Directed by Karan Johar , Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani stands out as one of the director's most transgressive films, challenging ideas that dominate Indian society. Yet despite these heavy themes, and a runtime of nearly three hours, the film delivers a fun, flamboyant, and funny romance between its two leads Bhatt and Singh, with some feet-tapping Bollywood bangers to boot.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani 's messages of courage , empathy , and communication . Why are these such important character strengths to have?

Various characters are trapped under social obligations based on stereotypes of gender and patriarchal codes. Talk about how they deal with and overcome them.

How did the film deal with body-shaming through the character of Gayatri? What is body image?

Movie Details

In theaters : July 28, 2023
On DVD or streaming : September 22, 2023
Cast : Alia Bhatt , Ranveer Singh , Dharmendra
Director : Karan Johar
Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian directors, Female actors, Indian/South Asian actors
Studio : Phars Film
Genre : Romance
Topics : Music and Sing-Along
Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Empathy
Run time : 168 minutes
MPAA rating : NR
Last updated : November 20, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani movie review and release LIVE Updates: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt starrer has a decent start at the box office

Manish Malhotra decodes Alia's saree look from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani

"Working on 'Rocky and Rani....' with Karan was pure fun as it always is. Karan had this idea of having Alia in sarees to portray her character of a bright Bengali journalist, and everyone knows how much I adore chiffon. Bringing back that old school cinema vibe into her look was the aim - the drama, the romance, all of it. With the play of colours and chiffon sarees, I wanted to showcase not just her journey but also the golden era of rom-com cinema," he said.

Friends, R and R ki prem kahani Film ???? … please see the film…..and inform .. ..how successful is your Dharam in playing his role …. at this age….????

There have been some minor cuts that have been asked by the board and we respect that completely and that has been coordinated but whatever cut (of 'Khela hobe') you're talking about is not the case.

Alia Bhatt on cuts suggested by the CBFC

Fan hails Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt's chemistry!

— versatilefan (@versatilefan)

Javed Akhtar calls RARKPK a Must Watch!

— Javedakhtarjadu (@Javedakhtarjadu)

Internet user reviews Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

And no one should ever doubt the direction of karan johar he brings out best on screen and some critics were right that #RockyAurRaniKiiPremKahaani is on KKKG level maybe better and he brought the cancel culture in such a unique and emotional way and not a single boring scene

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' box office day 1 early estimates: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt starrer has a decent start

RockyAurRaniKiiPremKahaani reports are GOLD!! As twitter often puts it.. BLOCKBUSTER loading!! Massive congratulations to @RanveerOfficial @aliaa08 MrsB. Dharam-ji, @ipritamofficial and above all, Karan! Big boost to the film business!

Vishal Dadlani congratulates team RRKPK.

Do watch Rocky and Rani..funny. Moving. Wholesome, entertaining with cracking performances. The dialogue writing needs a special mention too.

Farhan Akhtar

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is winning hearts!

— AChandna10 (@AChandna10)

This film has a dream star cast .. @aapkadharam ji, Jayaji, @azmishabanal8 ji -ufff can't ask for more, I was such a thrilled audience last night.. @aliaabhatt there's a reason why you are -where you are, because you are so damn good, @ranveersingh -phenomenal, had my heart throughout the film .. Congratulations to the entire star cast too I @manishmalhotra05 you are a magician who just makes everything look so good .. Congratulations @inritamofficial and @apoorval972 and to everyone who is a part of this beautiful film. Absolutely loved it.

Genelia Deshmukh

Sriti Jha spills the beans on her cameo in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sriti Jha (@itisriti)

Raveena Tandon, Kajol, Atlee, and others shower praise on Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

So much to say.This movie isn't K3G of my time it's a freshly made family drama. It's Rocky aur Rani ki prem kahani.This movie is EVERYTHING this includes laughter,cries,masala and what not... My Bollywood heart is so happy after longggg time????#RockyAurRaniKiiPremKahaani

Netizen hails Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh's performance in RARKPK

Kajol reviews Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani: Must watch! @karanjohar u are BACK!

Raveena Tandon hails RARKPK

Gauri Khan watched Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani with her girl gang!

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Devesh Sharma , Jul 27, 2023, 14:00 IST

Rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani.

	Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly, Aamir Bashir, Kshitee Jog, Anjali Anand
	Karan Johar
	Romance, Comedy
	2

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review: ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI is a wellpackaged entertainer.

Rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani is a well-packaged entertainer that has ample merits to strike a chord with the youth as well as families., rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani review {4.0/5} & review rating.

Let me start with a proverb…

“Stab the body and it heals.

But injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.”

Matters of the heart can get complicated at times. That, in a nutshell, is the essence of ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI , which marks Karan Johar’s return to direction after seven long years.

On face-value, ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI may come across as yet another prem kahaani from Dharma. After all, KJo has a penchant for love stories, which is evident in his choice of films as a storyteller. However, ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI packs a lot more than Rocky and Rani’s romance in those [approx] 2.49 hours.

Now to the pertinent question: Does KJo get it right? Oh yes, he does. ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI wins Round 1 by casting the right names for the pivotal characters, namely Rocky [ Ranveer Singh ], Rani [ Alia Bhatt ] and the three stalwarts [Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi]. Having said that, the real triumph lies in its storytelling, which surprises you at several points. More on that later!

The plot *without* spoilers… Opposites attract! Rocky Randhawa [Ranveer Singh] and Rani Chatterjee [Alia Bhatt] are drawn towards each other, but realize that it’s not easy to win over their respective families. That’s when they hit upon the unique idea to switch places: Rocky will reside with Rani’s family in her house, while Rani will move into Rocky’s palatial mansion and win over his family.

Of course, there’s another subplot that moves concurrently, but we aren’t revealing that.

ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI is not an easy film to write and execute. It’s clear that KJo has moved on with the times. This is evident in the screenwriting — it’s progressive and addresses societal issues. Also women empowerment. Additionally, KJo knows how to translate emotions on screen, an aspect that plays out in the third act of the film.

It’s fascinating to see how the women [Alia, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Churni Ganguly, Kshitee Jog] take the centre stage this time. Sure, the men [Ranveer, Dharmendra, Aamir Bashir, Tota Roy Choudhury] are integral to the story, but the dramatic moments involving the women and some of the lines delivered by them are sure to leave an impact.

ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI bears the stamp of an accomplished storyteller, with KJo avoiding the tried-and-tested rom-com template to move things. For instance, the integration of timeless tracks in the narrative is so refreshingly hatke. Also, the dramatic twist before ‘Dhindhora Baje Re’ and the heated argument that follows is brilliant.

The writing [Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, Sumit Roy] doesn’t fall prey to mediocrity at any stage. It encompasses drama, emotions and romance seamlessly. Would like to make a special mention of the dialogues [Ishita Moitra], which garnishes the sequences beautifully. DoP Manush Nandan creates some stunning frames and does complete justice to the scale.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani – Official Trailer | Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt

The film overstays its welcome and how one wishes KJo and his editor [Nitin Baid] would’ve kept the run time in check, not stretching beyond 2.30 hours.

The soundtrack [Pritam] is catchy and peppy. ‘Tum Kya Mile’ has a strong shelf life, while ‘What Jhumka?’ is already popular on reels. ‘Dhindhora Baje Re’ — released few days prior to its theatrical release — is sure to climb the popularity charts once you watch the film and realise its relevance to the proceedings.

The choice of actors is perfect, that’s also one of the reasons why the written word carries weight. Ranveer Singh is terrific in a role that seems tailored for him. Agree, he has portrayed a North Indian character in the past [including his launch pad BAND BAAJA BAARAAT], but you cannot accuse him of repeating his act. He makes you laugh with his faulty English, but it’s in the emotional moments that he proves his calibre.

Alia Bhatt is in superb form. Her confidence — especially in sequences with Jaya Bachchan — is remarkable. And the outburst towards the pre-climax deserves brownie points. Also, her Bengali dialect will win her immense praise. Alia proves, yet again, that she’s in a league of her own. Moreover, she shares a wonderful chemistry with Ranveer.

The veterans leave a mark in their respective parts. Dharmendra is so good, it’s great to see him on the big screen after a hiatus. Jaya Bachchan is electrifying. Her commanding presence, authoritative attitude and cold stares — this is a stand-out act that’s sure to be talked about by moviegoers. Shabana Azmi is fantastic, delivers a controlled performance without going overboard in any sequence.

Aamir Bashir and Kshitee Jog [Ranveer’s parents] and Tota Roy Choudhury and Churni Ganguly [Alia’s parents] excel in their respective parts. Would like to make a special mention of Tota Roy Choudhury’s graceful dance on two occasions and Churni Ganguly’s sequence in a store.

On the whole, ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM KAHAANI is a well-packaged entertainer that has ample merits to strike a chord with the youth as well as families. At the box-office, it has the potential to emerge a success story.

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From Tamasha to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani: Does the re-release mantra work?

Ranveer Singh – Alia Bhatt’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani & Ranbir Kapoor – Deepika Padukone starrer Tamasha to re-release in theatres on May 24

Bobby Deol praises Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani star Tota Roy Chowdhury: “I am so happy for you”

EXCLUSIVE: Saiee Manjrekar says she wants to date Rocky Randhawa from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani; Guru Randhawa picks THIS character from Dangal

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani actress Shabana Azmi opens up about her ‘naughty’ niece Tabu teasing her about her kiss with Dharmendra

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Movie Review: Karan Johar's Comeback Film Revels in Alia Bhatt And Ranveer Singh’s Chemistry

Director: Karan Johar

Writer: Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, Sumit Roy

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi

Duration: 169 minutes

Available in: Theatres

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Movie Review

A strange question looms over Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani . Do the leads — the Bengali Rani (Alia Bhatt) and the Punjabi Rocky (Ranveer Singh) — have chemistry?

On the one hand you can say, that if we have to ask the question, then the answer must be no. Chemistry is intuitive, immediately grasped, and eternally locked, right? There has been a lot of pointed chatter online about this. A viral tweet asked why Ranveer Singh, for example, jerked his head back when Alia Bhatt’s hair whipped it with her twirl in "Tum Kya Mile"? A similar moment featuring Shah Rukh Khan breathing in Kajol’s whipped hair from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) was deposited as evidence of contrast. Why does this longing feel glossy, as though Johar was more charmed by the gloss than the love? I felt a frigidity, too, in the way the two shared space — like two stars being stars, by themselves, separately — but reserved judgement because so much of chemistry is also what happens before, the things left said and unsaid, stewing in the gap between lovers as they lock eyes (or lips).

And that is, perhaps, the greatest vindication of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani — it gives chemistry context. This is not cloth-ripping intensity, but a more familiar, easier, less desperate kind of longing. When they kiss, it isn’t about it being inevitable as much as it is comfortable. Off-screen they call each other "sakhis" (companions). Their brand of chemistry, too, is coloured by this easy, unbothered companionship. You don’t have to see them come together. They already look together.

Quirky Blend of Love, Laddoos, and Cultural Contrasts

Rani works for a news channel, Rocky works at a gym — and also for his grandmother’s (Jaya Bachchan) laddoo company, Dhanlakshmi Sweets, named after her. This would be the second big-budget film this year with a gorgeous, ab-inflected Punjabi hero in Delhi working lazily — hazily, barely — at his parent’s company, thumbed under a matriarch, falling in love with a woman cut from a culturally different cloth, far more ambitious than he is — the other being Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023).

What connects Rocky and Rani at first is not love, but something stranger. Rocky’s grandfather Kanwal (Dharmendra) and Rani’s grandmother Jamini (Shabana Azmi) spent a few days a few decades ago in Shimla, with just their ache and one half of a photo as memory. Rocky and Rani, in their pursuit to unite them, get united themselves. A lovely medley that references all of the old croons from "Yeh Shaam Mastani" from Kati Patang (1971) to "Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan Hai" (which had Dharmendra) from Loafer (1973) plays out to both couples coupling — one cooing and the other kissing against Delhi’s monuments.

Alia Bhatt (L) and Ranveer Singh (R) in a still from the movie

To pair an old and a young couple is not new — Love Aaj Kal (2009) and OK Kanmani (2015) also furnished an older, more stable couple to steer the course of the rudderless younger couple. That is not the only familiar trope tapped. To have cross cultural love affairs souring because of the cultural gap — no, chasm — was mined for humour in both 2 States (2014) and Vicky Donor (2012).

This is the thing about Karan Johar’s cinema. From Mohammad Rafi to Diljit Dosanjh, it derives from so much, so widely, and yet is never derivative. If you flip this sentence around, however, and chew over its implications, you can see the chinks emerging. How can a film both play an ode to the past and ground itself firmly in the present? Does it not smell of cultural anxiety — to be relevant to as many people as possible, casting a net so wide that it has nothing to do but snap?

A Nostalgic Soaring Tale of Love and Humor

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani , though, never snaps. It soars, endlessly, because it energises — not defines — itself with these references. The film in the first half comes so close to collapsing because so much of it plays out gorgeously — but statically — to old music. Like Johar’s last film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), it has made an ode into narrative trope, and spot-the-reference an extreme sport. Nostalgia can only take you so far. The rest is cinema, which is Johar’s home turf — burnished with Eka Lakhani and Manish Malhotra’s costume design which is full of colour blocking, pushing the boundaries of silhouettes and cuts and prints and pairings, with the Manish Malhotra ankle length sari and the Sabyasachi angrakha with pleats that flare when twirled. Take the music, which vibrates with a swooning intensity for scenes after. Or even the scene where Rani professes her love for Rocky, in the middle of Delhi traffic with their faces lit by the headlamps of cars zooming about.

There is a tonal shift between the film’s two halves, and those schooled in the glistening classrooms of Johar’s filmography will know this — burying the emotional strains of the film in humour in the first half, and dousing it in melodrama in the second. Johar is a sensational comedic director with a clear sense of how the cinematic cut, the zoom, the scoring, can elevate a funny moment into a rip-roaring one. Some scenes are so unstable, you almost feel the humour is upending, distracting from the emotional thrust of the scene. But the thrust is kept for later. The humour sparkles throughout the first hour. The melodrama, though, shines only as bright punctures every now and then, but enough to keep the night lit.

Melodrama & Morality in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani

The melodrama takes the form of an extended catechism. All characters teach and are taught. Rocky’s mother (Kshitee Jog) dreams of being a singer but is too meek against her abrasive husband (Aamir Bashir) to assert herself or her talent, and has raised a daughter (Anjali Anand), who also hides her talent, in financial trading of all things (the most off-beat as far as Dharma jobs go; remember Alizeh from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil who would spend her days between yoga, Bollywood Zumba, and French lessons?).

Ranveer Singh (L) and Alia Bhatt (R) in a still from the movie

Rani’s father (Tota Roy Chowdhury) teaches and performs kathak — this gives space for one of the most moving and secure expressions of masculinity in Hindi cinema. Her mother (Churni Ganguly), an English professor, is haunted by the spirit of Shashi Tharoor — both his vocabulary and his pride in it. Everyone has something to impart or learn. For the most part, the Bengalis teach, and the Punjabis learn. Rani teaches, Rocky learns.

The thing about morals in melodrama is that it is never about the morals, but the conviction of melodrama that matters. Johar does not give a character a background story of domestic abuse because he is moved by the violence. It is to shore up the dramatic momentum of the film. The morals can be flat — easy, convenient, bourgeois — but it is how these morals rumble into monologues, how they are delivered, the way you walk away, the way you pause, the crinkle of the nose, the glazed eyes. Rani keeps spouting Feminism 101 like a leaking tap with this patronising pout, and it never rankles because the grating simplification of every interaction into victim-saviour, oppressed-oppressor is overcome by the sheer force of her kohl-eyed presence. Rocky’s earnestness leaks from every pore of his gaze, it is a heartbreaking performance. This is what, perhaps, people call charisma, the capacity to not just elevate a film but transcend it.

Jaya Bachchan's Comically Stern Role

Jaya Bachchan is playing up her public image, eternally unsatisfied, comically stern. The film begins with her and ends with her nowhere in sight, and perhaps that best describes how Johar sees her character — as a figure of authority who must be first weakened, then blurred out. Redemption is like a scarce resource, not to be wasted; his narrative only gives some characters so much of it. It is a smart decision, but as a film, it plays out as an incomplete arc. A lot of the film feels hasty because too much has to be taught, to be learned, and after a point, the film is aware that pedagogy is not narrative. Abruptly, but thankfully, it swerves to an end, using that lazy “few months later” crutch to tie the bow over the film.

A Predictable Yet Poignant Ending

Now, unless you thought that Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani was a horror film or an edgy and subversive stab at modern love, this won’t come as a spoiler. At the end, as the dust first raised gets settled, Rocky and Rani end up married. We even see shots of her wedding attire in the teaser — that’s how deeply predictable the genre is. But the film does not give this marriage the dignity of the big screen. It is flung into a post-credits smaller square, for people to peek at on their way out, much like OK Kanmani did. But some of the most moving, striking moments, shot by Manush Nandan, are buried here, the way the lights flare into semi-circles, the way the blurs hone in your attention, the soft ivoriness of the whole thing pricked at by Shabana Azmi’s gorgeous, colourful sari, the way characters look at one another, sighing, thinking how far they have come and that strange odyssey they just experienced.

One question lurks uneasily, which Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar unsatisfyingly but clearly articulated. Where will the couple stay after marriage? This was the central issue that spurred the film’s thudding second half. But in the larger context, this is not important. The film isn’t interested in making a statement as much as it is in how it is making that statement. Form over substance, always. That they (and the jhumka) fell in love, is enough for Johar. What next, where next, who is to know, who is to care?

Watch Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Official Trailer

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Review: Shiny But Shallow Family Drama

Rocky aur rani kii prem kahaani review: there is nobody in the mumbai industry who could have pulled off rocky as well as ranveer singh does. alia bhatt strikes the right notes in the role of a girl who embraces her beliefs with confidence.

Alia and Ranveer in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani .(courtesy: karanjohar )

Built upon a surfeit of stereotypes, Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani hinges on a pulpy Punjabi-Bengali culture clash that serves as a means to explore the ups and downs of relationships, the often-crushing pressures of family ties and the shackles of gender roles in a changed world.

The noises that the mawkish and musty melodrama makes is sporadically spot-on, but the film, overly keen to play to the gallery and take recourse to storytelling tics that feel out-of-date, lacks consistency of purpose. Parts of it are fun but most of it is marred by an undisguised urge to pontificate.

The screenplay is erratic - it goes back and forth between taking its eyes off the ball and hitting it out of the park, with the ratio tilted markedly towards the former - but the performances are robust enough to help the film paper over its creases.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, written by Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan and Sumit Roy, aims to deliver a mix of hearty laughs and 'useful' marital advice. It makes rather heavy weather of both although in the matter of taking cracks at unmasking patriarchy, outdated notions of masculinity and cultural chauvinism, it does deliver a few pointed home truths.

But what takes away much of the film's sheen are a whole bunch of cliches. Faded chestnuts abound in this tale of modernity squaring off against tradition in a very physical form and in very obvious ways.

On one side is Randhawa Paradise, a sprawling mansion somewhere in National Capital Region. On the other is Chatterjee House, a no less impressive bungalow in (as we are tangentially told) in South Delhi. The two families that reside in these buildings are so different from each other that they could be from different planets.

In the orthodox Punjabi business family, a matriarch (Jaya Bachchan) calls the shots, her arrogant son (Aamir Bashir) scowls and growls in perfect concert with her whims, but the other women in the household - the man's wife (Kshitee Jog) and daughter (Anjali Anand) have no agency. The Bengali brood is made up of three women from three generations and a man who makes a living as a Kathak guru.

Predictably, a few of the hackneyed ideas that are propounded by one of the two families are torn to shreds in the battle that erupts when a flashy Punjabi boy (Ranveer Singh) who wears his heart on his sleeves meets a sedate Bengali career girl (Alia Bhatt) with a Columbia University degree.

Rocky Randhawa and Rani Chatterjee's love story sets off a chain of events that is entertaining to an extent till the point that the film refrains from taking itself too seriously. When it begins to strike 'reformist' postures half way through and goes the whole hog with them post-intermission, it runs a touch ragged.

The paths of Rocky (Ranveer Singh), the scion of a family that owns a Karol Bagh Market sweet shop famous for its desi ghee laddoos and Rani (Alia Bhatt), a television news anchor who lives with her parents (Churni Ganguly an Tota Roychowdhury) and grandmother (Shabana Azmi), cross in unusual circumstances.

Rocky goes looking for Jamini Chatterjee, a married woman who his dementia-afflicted grandfather (Dharmendra) met at a kavi sammelan in Shimla in the late 1970s and still remembers. He hopes a reunion would revive his badly impaired memory.

Jamini is of course Rani's grandmother, whose brief encounter with Rocky's grandpa was a weeklong affair that had a lifelong impact. The septuagenarian lady regrets not having the courage to turn her back on her marriage to be with her lover.

Recognising that it would take the involvement of their two families to get their impending marriage off the ground, Rani and Rocky decide to spend time in each other's homes to test the waters. At both ends, the beginning is frosty. How the thaw begins and pans out in the two households as Rani and Rocky try to build bridges against heavy odds is what the rest of the film revolves around.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani , filmed on lavish (when not outright garish) sets, deals with regrets and renewals, accusations and apologies, showdowns and patch-ups. All its inferences and truisms are delivered in unsubtle, simplistic ways with an eye on ensuring that no 'message' that it delivers goes abegging.

Glitzy and rambunctious -that is the least you'd expect a Karan Johar movie to be - Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani has peppy songs composed by Pritam (with linguistically and idiomatically varied lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya), a range of retro numbers (to highlight a love affair from the past as well as underline the differences in ethos that separate the younger lovers), some rough and ready humour, and a generous springling of caramelised, sickly sweet pearls of wisdom.

On the screen and off it, flamboyance comes easy to Ranveer Singh. There is nobody in the Mumbai industry who could have pulled off Rocky as well as he does. Is his exuberance toned down in a way that generates coiled, consistent energy? Well, almost.

Alia Bhatt strikes the right notes in the role of a girl who embraces her beliefs with confidence and confronts all the imperfections in her and in the people around her without letting any of it get the better of her. She is the real star of the show.

Dharmendra delivers a performance that you cannot but fall in love with. In fact, the supporting performances are all from the topmost drawer. Jaya Bachchan as the hero's testy grandmother who yields no ground to anybody and Shabana Azmi in the role of the heroine's spirited but soft-hearted granny are terrific.

Churni Ganguly, cast as the flowery English-spouting mother who has instilled a spirit of independence in her daughter, has far less to do but the impact that she has on the film is second to none.

Tota Roy Chowdhury carries off the role of an accomplished kathak dancer redefining the boundaries of maleness with noteworthy aplomb. Aamir Bashir does an impressive job of presenting the ill-advisedly confrontational face of masculinity.

Tu hai kya, yaar ? That is a question that Rani poses to Rocky a number of times. Exactly our question. Not to Rocky, but to the film. In one scene, Shabana Azmi's character, responding to a request made at a wedding to her dancer-son to perform a number from Devdas, says: So typical! The film need not have been so typical.

Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

For all the subversion that runs through Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and pretty boldly at that (as in the lingerie store sequence or in the discussion on being a male Kathak dancer), the film is a shiny but shallow family drama that uses disappointingly obsolete methods to serve up contemporary, pertinent theories about the need to be mindful in love, loyalty and language.

Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Churni Ganguly, Tota Roy Chowdhury

Karan Johar

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Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani movie poster

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review

English | Hindi

28 Jul 2023 | U/A | 168 Mins

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Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review: It’s a Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt show

Planning to watch the Karan Johar directed Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt on the big screen? Here's the Pinkvilla review of this Family Entertainer

By himesh mankad.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review: It’s a Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt show

Key Highlight

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is a breeze of fresh air in the midst of all the action thrillers
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani could have been shorter by 15 minutes
Karan Johar attempts to make a pure family entertainer after K3G and will be liked by urban audience

Name: Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani

Director: karan johar, cast: ranveer singh,alia bhatt,dharmendra,shabana azmi,jaya bachchan,ronit roy,arjun bijlani,namit das,aamir bashir,shraddha arya,sriti jha,anjali anand,bharti singh, writer: shashank khaitan.

Movie Genre: Romance, Drama

Running Time : 168 Minutes

Writer: Shashank Khaitan, Ishita Moitra, Sumit Roy

Release Date: 28th July, 2023

Where To Watch: In theatres. Digital premiere 56 days after theatrical release

Keeping all the complexities of family dimensions aside, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is essentially the story of Rocky Randhawa ( Ranveer Singh ) and Rani Chatterjee ( Alia Bhatt ), who fall in love through the process of staging a reunion for their grandparents, Kanwal (Dharmendra) and Jamini (Shabana Azmi). The core plot of the reunion gets a twist with the introduction of a family swap before the wedding for Rocky Aur Rani. How do the two of them win over each other’s family? What do they learn and discover through the process of family swap? All of this unfolds in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

What works?

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani serves as a proper love story with families in the backdrop after a while. It’s a genre that resonates with director Karan Johar through the growing-up years and comes across as a breeze of fresh air in the midst of all the action-packed dramas. Unlike the last few Karan Johar directorial, which catered to a certain segment of the audience, the potential of the plot and conflict of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is a lot wider and relatable riding on scale, color, music, comedy, and drama.

The film has some genuinely funny moments with laugh-a-riot dialogues - Whenever the pace dips, there is an attempt to light up the atmosphere with a quick punch line. The moments of romance between Alia and Ranveer in the first half bring a smile to your face, though the romantic proceedings are a little rushed through. The entire birthday episode, followed by Kashmir and the redemption of chemistry between the leads is among the best moments of the film. Rocky and Rani's introductory acts are also done well. The drama in the second half works in bits and pieces, especially one act in the pre-climax around Dharmendra’s character. The climax also hits the right emotional note. The drama post the Dhindhora sequence also lands well to create an impact.

The performances are solid by the entire cast, whereas the use of old classics in the narrative is done well.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Trailer

What doesn’t work?

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani tends to get superficial in its treatment at certain places. Karan tries to say and wrap too many social things in the narrative, which results in him divulging from the core plot points of family drama. The humor tends to go a little too loud in the first half, and not all jokes land well. Certain episodes in the first 40 minutes of the second half are stretched and could have been easily edited to make for a tighter film. The episodes of ‘Lingerie Shopping’, ‘Dhanlaxmi Sweets’, and ‘Some of the Romance between Kalwa and Jamini’ didn't land well. The film needed some more romantic sequences between Rocky and Rani for the proceedings in the second half to have a bigger impact.

The film is more of a family drama than a love story – and this can be the biggest plus or the biggest negative for the film depending on what section of the audience ends up consuming the film in the long run. For the 40+ audience, this is a plus point, but for the youth, this might be a little alienating. The music of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani by Pritam could have been a lot better, as good music would have pushed the buzz and curiosity around the film to another level.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Cast Performances

Ranveer Singh shines as Rocky Randhawa. He’s a firecracker throughout the film living the character, that’s very close to his real self. It’s a loud and over-the-top character that could have completely misfired, but it’s his aura that ensures a safe landing. The fate of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani actually depended on the portrayal of Rocky and not many in the industry have the ability to pull off such an outlandish act with ease. Alia Bhatt is the soul of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani – from the first frame to the last, her screen presence makes up for all the flaws. She gets to display a wide range of emotions – from being fearless to emotional and comical – and she aces the role with flying colors. It’s actually the performances of the two leads that lift the film even in the dull moments.

Dharmendra as Kanwal brings about the laughter moments, whereas Shabana Azmi as Jamini makes her presence felt despite a limited screen time. Jaya Bachchan as Dhanlakshmi Randhawa does well in the part written for her, however, her character reaps of being a stereotypical mother-in-law that one has grown up seeing in the daily soaps. Aamir Bashir, Kshitee Jog, Anjali Anand, Namit Das, Churni Ganguly, Tota Roy Choudhary, and Abhinav Sharma among others do well in their respective roles.

Karan Johar treats Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as an entertainer that is sure to find its audience in the metros. It could have gone in the negative zone but is a result of the director’s conviction to make some of the most outlandish sequences land in the right way, especially for his audience. While some of the humor doesn’t land well, and trimming is needed in both halves, it’s Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt who lead the film to be a decent family entertainer. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is a teamwork of Karan's conviction followed to the T by Ranveer and Alia in their performances that should win appreciation in the urban audience and lead to a successful venture.

About Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

A flamboyant Punjabi Rocky and an intellectual Bengali journalist Rani fall in love despite their many differences. On facing family opposition, they decide to live with each other's families for three months before getting married. Will they succeed to win over each other's families shall be known once the film releases.

Where And When To Watch Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is now playing at a theatre near you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Ranveer Singh
Karan Johar

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Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani Movie Review & Rating
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023)
Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani movie review: Ranveer Singh and Alia
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023)
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‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ movie review: Karan Johar’s

VIDEO

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COMMENTS

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' Film Review
Johar's latest, "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani," ("Rocky and Rani's Love Story") written by Shashank Khaitan, is the kind of Bollywood bliss audiences have been craving.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Nov 17, 2023 Full Review Anupama Chopra Film Companion Rocky aur Rani kii Prem Kahani is very much its own movie. It's delicious eye-candy with a rebellious core. Despite the flabby portions, I ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani review: Preachy, never-ending saga
Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in a still from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. The film begins with a smashing entry for Rocky Randhawa ( Ranveer Singh) in his low neckline printed shirt and oily ...
'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' movie review: Karan Johar's
The jaunty Rocky (Ranveer Singh) is a prosperous urban Punjabi youth or 'pupy' who enters the refined Rani Chatterjee's (Alia Bhatt) life like a storm from another planet.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani movie review: Karan Johar packs a few
Having finished watching 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', I have to confess I am conflicted: do I turn my back on this brand new film from Karan Johar because it's loud and melodramatic in the way mainstream Hindi family dramas used to be and still determinedly are, refusing to budge from broad-brush-stroke-y conventions, 2023 be damned; or do I cherry pick some of the better, braver ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Movie Review: Karan Johar Wins Hearts
Rocky's grandfather (a poignantly cast Dharmendra), whose memory is fading, had a fleeting romance in 1978 with a woman who turns out to be Rani's grandmother (Shabana Azmi). While getting them back in touch - contact rejuvenates the old man in true Bollywood style - Rocky and Rani fall for each other.
'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' Review: Karan Johar's Funniest
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (U/A). Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, Aamir Bashir, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly, Kshitee Jog, Anjali Anand. Direction: Karan Johar. Rating: ***1/2. Showing in theaters.. I was quite certain that I was going to hate Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.Apart from my irritation at the numerically-protected title, the ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Karan Johar delivers one of the best Bollywood films of 2023 in the form of Ranveer Singh & Alia Bhatt's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 20, 2023. The film ...
'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' Review: Ranveer Singh & Alia Bhatt
Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt star in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, a story of two people from different cultures finding love. With spectacular sets and costumes, and Ranveer's ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Review
'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' is the perfect rebuttal to the troll culture that has seeped into the crevices of the film industry. Karan Johar returns to the director's chair with Alia as muse - Alia Bhatt, who often becomes instant fodder for naysayers to pinpoint and make toxic comments about.
'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' movie review: Old-Bollywood fun with
Watching Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is like experiencing a Ranveer Singh embrace.It makes its way towards you when you least expect it (Barbie and Oppenheimer are still playing in theatres).
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.5 stars, click to give your rating/review,At heart, 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' is an entertaining and sweet love story, with ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Review
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Movie Review: Delicious Eye-Candy With A Rebellious Core. Director: Karan JoharWriter: Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, Sumit RoyCast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana AzmiDuration: 169 min ... Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Review. In the dazzling Durga puja song, ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani review: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt
The plot of the movie deals with Rocky (Ranveer Singh) a typical fun-loving Punjabi boy, who falls head over heels for Rani (Alia Bhatt) a simple but strong-headed ambitious Bengali girl. While they are madly in love with each other, their family background and culture are poles apart.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review
Kids say: Not yet rated Rate movie. This Bollywood romantic comedy-drama initiates serious conversations by poking at themes such as patriarchy, misogyny, and body-shaming. Directed by Karan Johar, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani stands out as one of the director's most transgressive films, challenging ideas that dominate Indian society.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani movie review and release LIVE Updates
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani movie review and release LIVE Updates: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt starrer has a decent start at the box office; THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jul 28, 2023, 22:08:59 IST.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review
Quick take: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is a love story with a twist. Cast: Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi. ... Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review. Follow On. Devesh Sharma ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was released on 28 July 2023 to positive reviews from critics. Made on a production budget of ₹160 crore (US$19 million) and a marketing cost of ₹18 crore (US$2.2 million), it has grossed over ₹355 crore (US$43 million) worldwide, emerging as the year's tenth highest-grossing Indian film and seventh highest ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review: ROCKY AUR RANI KII PREM
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review 2023 : Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Critics Rating 4.0/5. Let me start with a proverb… "Stab the body and it heals. But injure the heart and the ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Movie Review
Director: Karan Johar Writer: Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, Sumit Roy Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi Duration: 169 minutes Available in: Theatres Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani Movie Review. A strange question looms over Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani.Do the leads — the Bengali Rani (Alia Bhatt) and the Punjabi Rocky (Ranveer Singh) — have ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Review: Shiny But Shallow Family Drama
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, written by Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan and Sumit Roy, aims to deliver a mix of hearty laughs and 'useful' marital advice. It makes rather heavy weather of both ...
Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani Review Live Updates: Dharmendra and
Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani Movie Release Live Updates: The film stars Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, and is directed by Karan Johar. Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani Movie Release and Review Live Updates: Filmmaker Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is out in theatres. Starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in lead roles, the film is a romantic drama and also marks Karan's ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review
Alia Bhatt is the soul of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani - from the first frame to the last, her screen presence makes up for all the flaws. She gets to display a wide range of emotions ...
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review: Script Analysis
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Movie Review: Direction, Music. From what I could count, Karan Johar has used a little over 20 on-the-face references to classic Bollywood films through songs ...

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