Love Aaj Kal opens to huge expectations

Director Imtiaz Ali's much awaited Love Aaj Kal, marking the debut of national-award winning actor Saif Ali Khan as a producer, released worldwide today to huge expectations.

With this, the Omkara star has joined the Khan bandwagon--Shah Rukh and Aamir, who are established producers.

Love... is a story eulogising the importance of heart over head theme for a commitment phobic, where Saif plays two diverse characters, featuring Deepika Padukone as the female protagonist.

The actor essays the characters of Jai representing today's alpha male, and Veer, the younger version of Rishi Kapoor, a shy but sure lover, set in the 50s; and in both the phases, he listens and follows his heart to win the lady love in different circumstances.

While some critics dubbed the Imtiaz Ali's latest as cliched, others said good locales and foot-tapping numbers may help it to pick up with word-of-the-mouth publicity.

"Expectations are high especially after Jab We Met and comparisons between both the films were evident," said another film critic.

An additional highlight of the film is a cameo by yesteryear actress Neetu Singh opposite her real life husband Rishi Kapoor.

Akash, a college student, who caught the first show today, went ga-ga over the Om Shanti Om girl Deepika Padukone. "A few more such classy performances and she would be in the top league," he said.

However, Shashi Sharma, a bank manager in his mid 40s, did not find the film to be riveting but found Deepika impressive.

Senior journalist Ajay Brahmatmaj, felt that the Imtiaz used the flashback sequences in a very innovative manner.

On Deepika's performance he said," the character required a lot of maturity. Especially in the sequence depicting her longing for Saif and dilema to choose between love and marriage could have been handled in a better way."

"Saif has handled two different characters ably showing his versatality." As usual, Rishi Kapoor was very likeable even in a small role, he added.

The movie also had its share of controversies with the All India Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Board objecting to two scenes in a Gurudwara and the trimmed beard of Saif's Sikh character in the film.

However, Saif has given a written apology to the board, its president Charan Singh Sapra said yesterday.