Actor Salman Khan will launch his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma in the romantic drama Loveratri. Sharma plays Sushrut (Sharma), a garba [traditional Gujarati dance] teacher from Baroda who falls in love with a visiting NRI girl (Warina Hussain).
It’s love at first sight for Sushrut, but he has only nine days to win the girl’s heart. These days coincide with the Navratri festival celebrated widely by Hindus in the country. The story follows Sushrut in his quest to woo his dream girl.
Surprisingly, director Abhiraj Minawala doesn’t reveal the name of the female protagonist. Brothers Sohail and Arbaaz Khan are also seen as cops Bhavesh and Jignesh.
The simple and endearing story makes the trailer likeable. It’s hard to recollect any Hindi film wherein all the romance and drama takes place over the nine days of the Navratri festival. The freshness of the story and pairing build intrigue around the film.
It’s too early to judge the acting capability of the first-time actors based on the trailer, but Sharma looks convincing only in parts. Warina Hussain has fine screen presence, but you barely get to hear her in the trailer. She was born to an Iraqi father and Afghani mother. Having her play an NRI means one cannot expect her character to be proficient in Hindi. But as seen in the trailer, the girl admits to knowing Gujarati.
Ram Kapoor is a fine actor, and a confident voice in the film. Ronit Roy, who plays Warina Hussain’s father, does not approve of Sushrut's love for his daughter.
Arbaaz and Sohail’s characters immediately bring to mind their Rajputana avatar in Abbabs Tyrewala’s Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008). The Gujaratis are a close knit community, and often look out for each other. No wonder that Jignesh and Bhavesh go slow on Sushrut. There is buzz that Salman will also make an appearance in the film. Will it be just for a song or will he play a pivotal part in the story?
The trailer puts to rest the objections raised by right wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad over its title possibly hurting religious sentiments.
Minawala presents a trailer full of romance, culture, colour, dance and drama. The fate of Loveratri will be revealed on 5 October.
Watch the trailer below: