Fortunately, the crazy and glittery first part is a lot of fun. The bad newz is that the second half is depressing because it is dominated by groans and sighs. All in all, a mixed bag.
With his colonization of bread pakode ki kasam in Band Baaja Baraat and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani, Ranveer Singh is undoubtedly the most iconic Wast Dalhi kid. Rajma takes center stage in Anand Tiwari’s Bad Newz, and for good reason—as one character puts it, “Punjabiyon ke liye rajma khana nahin, emotion hai.” Perfect.
#BadNewz – INTERVAL !
bakchodi , not even 10% of good newzz
let’s see how the 2nd half turns out .. pic.twitter.com/P1U1xG7Lln— dk (@filmyyguy) July 19, 2024
Ranveer Singh’s Iconic Delhi Kid Legacy
Vicky Kaushal, who plays “sabton vadda” Akhil Chadha, is now a formidable rival for Ranveer Singh, with a litany that plays every time he appears on the screen. He performed a similar scene in the movie Manmarziyaan, which is obediently shown here, but he kills it here: With his lady-love Saloni Bagga (Triptii Dimri) coming in a clear third, Akhil suffers from a severe case of phonomania (cannot be separated from his “saal” even for a second) combined with mummymania (every call from Mummyji, played by the steely-soft Sheeba Chadha, must be promptly answered, whether it is “first night” or honeymoon).
Five years ago, Bollywood’s deeply ingrained beliefs about parenthood and legacy were rocked by the film Good Newwz, which featured Kareena Kapoor Khan speaking candidly and jaw-droppingly about the discomforts faced by nursing new mothers and IVF pregnancies. This time, Bad Newz follows suit. It was a jaw-dropping first for Bollywood, which is enmeshed in its unrelenting adulation of “maateys,” who are supposed to suffer in silence for their cherished boy-children, never allowing them to become men, and always stuffing their faces with “apne haath ka halwa.”
Vicky Kaushal’s Star Turn as Akhil Chadha
In this case, the situation involves one would-be mother, two dads, and twin embryos (apparently, superfecundation is a real ailment, not a fabrication of film imagination). Yes, it is feasible, and although if the movie doesn’t exactly make fun of Saloni for acting as the lead when the buns end up in her oven, she gets an explanation, and everything is resolved quite quickly. Never let it be stated that a “good” Bollywood heroine in the modern day is incapable of confessing her passion.
Here we have it: Akhil the Biggest and Gurbir Pannu (Ammy Virk) engaged in a competition to see who will be the real dad, forcing Saloni to put her own goals—becoming a fine cook and winning India’s first Meraki star—on hold.
Comparisons to Good Newwz: Bollywood’s Evolution on Parenthood
Bad Newz could have achieved greatness if it had stayed true to its humorous roots instead of incorporating the teary, too-sweet scenes that dominate the second part of the film. Dimri and Kaushal have genuine chemistry; he’s done some hilarious things in the past, but she’s been forced into serious roles in the last few movies, where she’s been required to lick the hero’s shoes and lived in psycho-bubbles. She can hold her own here; she is vibrant, energetic, and attractive. Despite having more screen time, Virk is a blatant third wheel and seems considerably more reserved.
With the writing so infatuated with Sabton Vadda Akhil, what can Virk or anybody else do? I mean, how can you even imagine a Bollywood romantic comedy when the hero isn’t allowed to prove that he is a grown-up, look ma? Everyone else handles the lesson he learns and receives his growth arc. Though Kaushal is enjoyable from start to finish, I can’t help but be bemused by his moves—ufff, tauba, those moves to light up the dance floor? Hey, look at this.
READ: Vicky Kaushal Addresses Katrina Kaif Pregnancy Rumors…