Mere Husband Ki Biwi Review: Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar Shine Bright In This ‘Love Circle’

Last Updated:February 21, 2025, 11:18 IST

Kudos to Arjun Kapoor for shedding his inhibitions, if any, and letting the women – Bhumi Pednekar and Rakul Preet Singh – shine!

Mere Husband Ki Biwi is running in cinemas now.

Mere Husband Ki Biwi Movie Review: Mudassar Aziz’s latest film Mere Husband Ki Biwi is no Pati Patni Aur Woh and that’s what makes it novel. Here, there’s no cheating involved and therefore, no glorification of the same. However, the problem stems from the fact that the intention – sometimes – doesn’t meet the execution. And before we proceed further, let us reiterate that Mere Husband Ki Biwi is a ‘love circle’ and not a triangle and what makes it interesting is the front-footed screen time both the women – Bhumi Pednekar and Rakul Preet Singh – enjoy. They’re the driving force of the narrative and kudos to Arjun Kapoor for shedding his inhibitions – if any – and letting them shine!

The film revolves around the lives of Ankur, Prabhleen and Antara. Set in Delhi, it starts with the voice of Piyush Mishra describing weddings and marriages of modern times. Shortly after, Ankur is seen tortured by his wife Prabhleen, who is made to look like a ghost trying to strangle him with her choppy long hands. No, this isn’t a horror-comedy because this sequence turns out to be a dream – or a nightmare – that Ankur experiences in his sleep. The couple has recently divorced and Ankur has been going through a rather tough time trying to move past the whole episode. While he often sees Prabhleen in other women around him, it gets clearly established that he isn’t in love with her anymore.

Ankur’s best friend Rehan who is introduced as ‘Lajpat Nagar ke langoor’ tries to set him up with a Russian dancer at a bachelor party but things don’t go as planned. A few days later, when Ankur is on a work trip to Rishikesh, he meets Antara, who accidentally falls from the skies on Earth when her hang glider lands at the wrong place. Ankur is instantaneously mesmerised with London-bred Antara, who turns out to be his college crush. After some initial bumps, sparks fly between them and just as he plans on marrying her and moving on, Prabhleen comes back into his life.

She meets with an accident and experiences partial amnesia that leads her to forget what had happened in her life in the last five years. So, she doesn’t remember that she ever divorced Ankur. She tries her best to win him back and thus begins a tug-of-war between her and Antara. During a conversation between Ankur and Antara, we get a flashback of the tumultuous married life he shared with Prabhleen and an unfortunate episode that eventually led to their divorce. What happens next and what makes Mere Husband Ki Biwi a love circle forms the rest of the narrative.

At 2 hours 23 minutes, the film may test your patience in bits and parts. Its weakest link is its screenplay that’s filled with lumps and craters, but if you manage to sit through the first part of the first half, you may end up enjoying the rest of the ride. But that’s not to say that the narrative doesn’t dip in the second half. But again, it eventually picks up. It’s the last few minutes of the film that gives it a neat finish, almost like a bow that ties an otherwise messily wrapped-up gift. For a comedy, however, it’s fortunate that the one-liners often don’t land, thus failing to evoke laughter.

The dialogue writer tries very hard to spice up the banter between Ankur and Rehan but it’s not enough. Often, the film appears too loud and flashy. However, it’s the dramatic and emotionally heavier sequences that give a much-needed push to the film. Both Mudassar and Vashu Bhagnani deserve credit for a matured and sensitive treatment of the crux that delves deep into what led to Ankur and Prabhleen’s divorce. Thankfully, here, the fault is not just the woman’s and her ambitious and enterprising disposition isn’t looked down upon or mocked at.

And despite the film beginning with Ankur complaining about how neither his ‘biwi’ nor ‘TV’ isn’t working, Mere Husband Ki Biwi steers clear from portraying women as nagging entities. Yet another aspect of the film that remains its highlight is how the director doesn’t promote or engage in a preachy and didactic treatment of the narrative. Without family members giving a long monologue and lecture on how every couple should try hard to save their marriage and how old-school love must be protected at all costs, the film manages to whip up an important message on divorces and the institution of marriage.

Arjun as Ankur gives it his all and his effort is palpable. He nails it in the emotional scenes, which will definitely leave a mark. Mere Husband Ki Biwi marks his return to rom-coms after many years and he’s seen having a truly good time. Rakul, who essays Antara, plays her part well and looks drop-dead gorgeous. She particularly stands out in those moments where she and Bhumi’s Prabhleen try to one-up each other. As for Bhumi, she takes the trophy home. Her Prabhleen is loud, shrewd, eccentric, complex and repeatedly refers to herself as a third person but will eventually win your heart. Sometimes, she’ll drive you insane and at other times, you’ll find yourself rooting for her.

In his acting debut, Harsh Gujral as Rehan is a complete natural. We only wish he had received better and funnier dialogues. At the end of the it, he just gets reduced to the hero’s funny and quintessentially good-natured friend, who remains his sole anchor and pillar of strength through his highs and lows. In a nutshell, Rehan is just a trope that once again fed to us, audiences. After a point, you’ll question if he even has a life of his own because he spends all of his time cleaning up the mess that his best friend Ankur has invited.

The rest of the cast – particularly Dino Morea, Shakti Kapoor and Aditya Seal – are just add-ons, who don’t get to contribute much to the script. To reiterate, the best part of Mere Husband Ki Biwi is its last few minutes where it springs a surprise, so do sit till the end. All in all, it’s pretty much a fun family entertainer (thanks to Puja Films for bringing back a 2000s style caper) and without giving away too much, let’s just say that debating and fighting over a man may be regressive and it is through this plotline that Mudassar cements the spirit of friendship and sisterhood. He resorts to a whole lot of mess and chaos to prove his point but, by and large, it almost works, because what’s a vanilla ice-cream scoop without a little bit of colourful sprinkles on the top?