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Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is a rom-com sprinkled with emotional beats, something of a cross between My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) and I Want You Back (2022). What stands out is that no one plays the villain here. All four central characters are simply muddled in matters of the heart, and it takes a string of misadventures to set them straight.

Sunny Sanskari (Varun Dhawan), the only son of a jeweller, is hopelessly in love with Ananya (Sanya Malhotra). But to her, theirs is merely a ‘situationship’, leaving him heartbroken. His misery deepens when he discovers she is engaged to Vikram (Rohit Saraf), a billionaire. Determined to win her back, Sunny vows to sabotage the wedding. Soon, he learns that Vikram too has a past. He has ditched his long-term girlfriend, Tulsi Kumari (Janhvi Kapoor), a schoolteacher, in order to get married to Ananya. Spotting common ground, Sunny proposes a pact with Tulsi: they will crash the wedding together and reclaim their exes. With Sunny’s best friend Bantu (Abhinav Sharma) in tow, they masquerade as a couple and land up at the lavish Rajasthan venue where Ananya and Vikram’s nuptials are set to unfold.

But their plans don’t quite play out as expected. In trying to wreck the wedding, Sunny finds himself warming to Vikram, and the two strike an unlikely friendship. Meanwhile, Tulsi and Ananya avoid the predictable trope of women at war; instead, they recognise that they are merely two women caught in circumstances beyond their control.

The narrative ambles through varying definitions of love, allowing the leads to gradually make sense of it all. Along the way, it slyly touches upon the unspoken truths of arranged marriage and the pressure of ‘adjustment’ still expected of women. Women’s empowerment isn’t the core theme, yet the film nudges in that direction.

The writing hits its stride in the comic set-pieces. There’s a hilarious mirror duel where Janhvi and Sanya attempt to appear slimmer by holding in their breath, and a riotous bhaang-fuelled sequence in which all four characters crawl across a lawn, spilling secrets. Sunny’s penchant for atrocious poetry, and Maniesh Paul as the eccentric wedding planner, add further levity. Even the jealousy games between the two pseudo-couples manage to charm. Yet, the comedy doesn’t undercut the emotional heft. A moving moment where Janhvi breaks down and Varun consoles her lingers long after. Similarly, the confrontation between Sanya and Varun is as raw as it is well-acted.

The film, however, stumbles on pacing. The editing is loose, with a couple of abrupt scenes that jar, and lip-sync issues in certain songs are distracting. The soundtrack is overstuffed too, with numbers that serve their purpose onscreen but lack recall value afterwards. The standout is the recreated Sonu Nigam classic Bijuria (1998), spruced up by Tanishk Bagchi and given a dazzling choreography. Another shortfall is the absence of seasoned supporting actors. Veterans like Pankaj Tripathi, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra or Sheeba Chaddha could have brought gravitas; instead, the parental roles are essayed by largely unknown faces.

Director Shashank Khaitan has made sure everyone gets their moment in the sun. Rohit Saraf gets plenty to do. His scene with Sanya towards the end shows both his vulnerability and strength. His bromance with Varun is another highlight of the film. Janhvi Kapoor gets to showcase her dance skills and her comic timing. Be it with Varun or with Sanya, it’s down pat. And she’s good in emotional scenes as well. Overall, a well-rounded performance from the actor. Sanya Malhotra is expressive as hell and uses her eyes and face effectively to convey her inner conflict. It’s the little things which count and Sanya makes sure that less is effectively more. Varun Dhawan is in his element here. He’s in fine form giving his own take on Govinda and Shah Rukh Khan, his chemistry with the two leading ladies is on point and he knows how to walk the thin line between comedy and drama.

The final product feels equal parts Karan Johar (who pops in with a delightful cameo) and Sooraj Barjatya. It’s designed for the family audience rather than the youth alone, and it offers a bit of everything, comedy, drama, songs, emotion, and a message tucked in lightly.

All in all, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is a good-hearted rom-com that never turns cynical, delivering mischief, warmth and relationship chaos in equal measure.

Also Read: Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari Cleared By CBFC