Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Besharam’ is a hall of shame
heroine, after being pissed off right through the first half, suddenly falls in love.
There’s also the kind of stylised, gravity-defying action sequence that Abhinav Singh Kashyap used brilliantly in Dabangg. But in this confused mess it feels like a lazy addition meant to cash in on past accolades.
Babli (Ranbir Kapoor), we’re told, is a car thief of some repute, yet he manages to have half of the Delhi police force chase after him the first time we see him pull a heist. He’s sought out by Bheem Singh Chandel (Jaaved Jaaferi), the ridiculously gruff-voiced hawala king of Chandigarh. Our hero, of course, is more concerned with wooing his lady love, Tara (Pallavi Sharda). So he must re-steal a car he stole from her and gave to Chandel.
The harebrained story is just an excuse for the much-promised shamelessness. Yet here too Kashyap seems unsure if he wants to pander to conservative sensibilities or offend them. The romance between the lead pair is restricted to tepid kisses on the forehead, yet Ranbir’s butt crack gets to make its Bollywood debut.
Ranbir is a hugely talented actor. Yet, face contortions and chest hair notwithstanding, he doesn’t manage to pull off crass. The film’s saving grace is that the other Kapoors — Rishi (as inspector Chulbul) and Neetu (playing head constable Bulbul) have tremendous chemistry; Chulbul’s version of ‘Badtameez Dil’ and a Gadar-inspired set piece involving a tube-well are extremely funny.
Back to the question: Should you pay for this? Only if you’re dying to see Ranbir’s ass.