Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari

Even before a grossly unconvincing twist derived from a popular multi-season web series (in which one of the actors in this film plays the lead) pops up towards the end, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari has ‘mismatched’ written all over it. Now we aren’t just talking about its central premise — of two ditched exes seeking to win over their respective former partners who are marrying each other at their destination wedding (yes, confusion hi confusion hain, solution ka pata nahin) — but of Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari as a whole.

Shashank Khaitan’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari feels like a film that’s already over before it begins. The title practically spoils its own ending. What we experience is a 135-minute journey which is more of a decorative detour than a meaningful ride. Packed with lavish costumes, picturesque Udaipur, endless pre-wedding functions, than one can count, this is the kind of movie that dazzles the eyes but barely stirs emotions. Khaitan and producers Dharma have embraced what one could call ‘wedding album cinema’—opulent sets, attractive costumes and meticulous staging. High on style, but low on logic or storyline.

Wedding crashers. Five star Rajasthan hotels. Brand endorsements for glittery apparel. And not to forget the most important element, shiny baubles standing in for characters: Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari settles creakily back in the sangeet-sagaai-shaadi template awash with star-crossed lovers and their parivarik conflicts. In short, everything we’ve seen before, in multiple iterations, over the years, because that’s literally all mainstream Bollywood rom coms seem capable of these days. Even the usage of the word ‘situationship’ feels familiar, even when it is mouthed by Ananya (Sanya Malhotra) to describe the thing between her and Sunny (Varun Dhawan): why should only boys have all the fun? She was his, and now she’s not, and he needs to deal with it, even as a BFF Bantu (Abhinav Sharma) shoulder comes in handy. Of course, there’s a bestie; how else will heroes be propped up?

It’s 2025, and Bollywood is still peddling the trope of two youngsters pretending to be lovers just to make their exes jealous. Shashank Khaitan’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is a remake of a remake of a hundred other remakes. And no, it’s not a spoiler to say Sunny will end up with Tulsi. So how do you sell it? Shoot a string of glossy music videos and hope nobody notices the lack of effort.

What are the items you would look for in a new Shashank Khaitan film? Let’s tick them off.

A story like a ray of sunshine: X

If only Khaitan and company had a plot as long as their title, there might’ve been a smidgeon of a story out there. But Sunny Sanskari (Varun Dhawan) and Tulsi Kumari (Janhvi Kapoor) teaming up and self-inviting themselves to the wedding of their respective former lovers is about as garden fresh as a joint family in a Barjatya movie.

Once upon a time, Varun Dhawan was an interesting actor. He experimented with promise and, later, when his choices became conventional — leaning mostly on playing a man-child oblivious to the ways of the world till told otherwise by his female counterpart — the actor managed to inject intrigue in repetition. Once upon a time, his performance was a crossbreed of the 90s’ excess and modern alertness, evoking more nostalgia than awe. Today he is unable to not just diversify but even essay the same roles with conviction; this devolution, and not lack of evolution, is a thing of wonder.