A still from “Khel Khel Mein”

As our lives become more password-protected and smartphones appear as a third party in the bedroom, relationships are becoming more complicated than ever. In 2016, Italian filmmaker Paolo Genovese followed the chaos that smartphones can wreak on marriage and created the comedy-drama Perfetti Sconosciut (Perfect Strangers). The subject matter is so relatable that the film has been remade more than two dozen times in different languages ​​and cultures. So how did it fail to catch the attention of Akshay Kumar, who seems to love ready-made recipes to meet his quota of three films a year? Khel Khel My is his third release in 2024 and another is planned.

But when we thought Akshay Kumar had lost touch with his game, Khiladi regains form as the poor woman’s George Clooney. The subject matter fits with the strong Indian sentiments surrounding fidelity in marriage, and writer-director Muddassar Aziz uses Akshay’s natural flair for low-key humour in a high-flown comedy to desi Bring some excitement to Italian cuisine.

When seven friends, three couples and an ageing bachelor, come together for a wedding, they decide to play a game that involves giving up the privacy of their phones. As their secret ingredient is squirted onto the table over the course of the evening, their bond is tested and put to the test. The jokes always spark, and even when you know where they’re going, the story has an inherent honest vibe that keeps you interested. The girls look stunning in designer outfits, and the guys bring bling, but the emotional core of the issue isn’t buried under fluff. Starting with a cameo by the charming Chitrangada Singh, the conversations and contradictions don’t feel contrived.

Flamboyant plastic surgeon Rishabh Malik (Akshay), who specializes in breasts and story-making, is trying to breathe life into his second marriage to writer Vartika (Vaani Kapoor maintains her composure amidst the pantomime). Since Akshay’s wife is also a well-known writer who often muses on relationships, the narrative is infused with a touch of self-referential humor. After ‘Nuptial Nonsense’, Vartika is looking for a topic for her next title when she suggests this crazy game to her friends on the eve of her sister’s wedding. Samar (Aditya Seal) and his wife Naina (Pragya Jaiswal) are trying to cope with a freak accident. Harpreet (Taapsee Pannu) and Harpreet (Ammy Virk) are also going through a rough patch and cricket coach Kabir (Fardeen Khan) is struggling to cope with the fluctuations of life. Everyone is wearing a fake smile, but as the game progresses, their smartphones reveal the reality behind the image displayed.

From infidelity and infertility to a lack of inclusivity, the causes are well-known, but the way they are rooted, addressed and expressed keeps us entertained. Mudassar has a talent for finding something funny in chaos, as we see in Happy Birthday, Bhag Jayegi And Pati Patni Aur WohHere, he has assembled a competent ensemble cast that brings out the spirit of the subject with the right dose of drama and comedic timing. Apart from a scene where he plays with suicide and mental health, Mudassar ensures that froth and substance blend seamlessly in the realm of family entertainment.

Taapsee, who was quite matter-of-fact last week in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillrubais a hoot here as a feisty Punjabi girl trying to keep her marriage going despite being insulted by her husband and his family. Ammy is a delight as a wife with an inflated ego, and a confident Pragya shows up in a Hindi film for a change, playing the role of a spoiled brat without caricaturing it. Aditya still needs polishing, and despite some well-written character development, Fardeen is the weak link in the group of effortless performers.

Khel Khel Mein is currently in cinemas