Dil Dhadakne Do trailer: In less than 3 minutes, the audience gets to know the relationship problems dogging the family.
Written by Alaka SahaniUpdated: April 16, 2015 07:53 PM IST
4 min read
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Dil Dhadakne Do trailer: In less than 3 minutes, the audience gets to know the relationship problems dogging the family.
The setting is dreamy: a super rich family on an ultra-luxurious cruise trip. Yet, all the luxe and gloss can’t hide the cracks in the relationships. When the trailer of much-awaited Dil Dhadakne Do (DDD), directed by Zoya Akhtar, played out on a big screen, Mumbai’s Lightbox theatre, for the first time on Wednesday evening, it was impossible not to be overwhelmed by its sheer scale. The top-view of the cruise line with expansive ocean as the backdrop, stunning foreign locales and beautiful people in their stylish best make for compelling visuals. But scratch the surface, and you find a dysfunctional family trying hard to act normal to the world.
Let’s talk about the last scene of the trailer first. An agitated Ranveer Singh (Kabir Mehra) questions his family members — father Anil Kapoor (Kamal Mehra), mother Shefalee Shah (Neelam Shah) and sister Priyanka Chopra — why they always talk about superficial things and never address the real issues? Irritated with him, when Shefali Shah asks him to spell out what he wants to discuss, an awkward silence follows. Bewildered, they look at each other. Even Singh, who was raving and yelling his lungs out seconds ago, he seems at a loss. This moment sums up the story that writer-director Zoya Akhtar is trying tell in her forthcoming movie.
In less than 3 minutes, the audience gets to know the relationship problems dogging the family.
Rewind. The trailer opens with a ship gliding through the ocean. Father Kapoor’s question to Kabir regarding a possible match with Noorie is met with chuckles. Even though the parents are keen, neither Singh not the girl seem interested in each other. Yet, the moment his Daddy dangles the bait of an airplane, presumably the super expensive ones that the rich and the famous acquire to pamper their whims, Singh clams up. The other problem threatening to ruin the family’s peace is the daughter’s impending divorce. Adding to the drama is the return of daughter’s old boyfriend Farhan Akhtar (Sunny) from the US. Sunny is armed with a camera and not-so-honourable intention. Expect the equations and equilibrium of the family change as they go on a 10-day cruise to celebrate the Mehras’ 30th wedding anniversary. Primary among those unexpected occurrences is Kabir’s encounter with Anushka Sharma (Farah) and the love that blooms.
Though the trailer gives the impression that DDD is a straight narrative of a dysfunctional family, we have to wait an watch if Zoya is holding some interesting cards up her sleeve. After all, this is just the first promo launch. With the movie slated for a June 5 release, the campaign is likely to build up in the coming weeks.
The dialogues of DDD are crisp and the one-liners carry a punch. Zoya teams up with Reema Kagti once again to write the story and screenplay. This successful team will, hopefully, repeat the magic they had created in Luck By Chance (2009) and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011).
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Zoya’s directorial debut Luck By Chance held a mirror to the hypocritical world of showbiz. She followed it up by Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara — with the fun-filled yet soulful tale of friendship and love, filmed in Europe’s exotic locales. As her third full-length feature readies for release, it would be interesting to watch if she would take the story beyond the glamed-up trailer to reveal the ugly realities that families are grappling with while painting a perfect image of happiness.
Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism.
Expertise & Accolades
In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023.
Global Industry Leadership
Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies:
Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes.
National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema.
Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends.
Focus & Vision
Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More
4 min read
Dil Dhadakne Do trailer: In less than 3 minutes, the audience gets to know the relationship problems dogging the family.
