As a lifelong thriller buff who loves films that make us scratch our heads and pull our hair out in delightful confusion, I settled down to watch Saali Mohabbat on Zee5 with genuine excitement, and of course, if I’m watching a crime thriller, it’s a must for me to arrange my popcorn first. And why not? Tisca Chopra’s directorial debut felt promising; she’s someone who has always brought intelligence to her acting, especially given how sharp she was in Chutney (2016), so naturally I expected that same sharpness in her filmmaking. Add Radhika Apte, Divyendu Sharma, and the great Anurag Kashyap to the mix, and it felt like a must-watch cocktail of talent.
The story follows Kavita (Radhika Apte), a quiet housewife who discovers her husband’s infidelity. Instead of confronting him directly, she begins narrating a parallel story, one about Smita, a homemaker whose life falls apart when a seductive cousin enters her home and entangles herself with Smita’s husband. As Kavita speaks, we realise she is Smita in another time and city, and this narration is her indirect way of sending a message to her cheating husband. The setup is interesting, and the premise has the potential for a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and rising vengeance behind closed doors.
But the film stumbles right where it should soar. The twists are predictable, the tension never truly builds, and the plot feels stretched far beyond what the material can support. The bedroom waale scenes too felt oddly out of syllabus, making me wonder whether they served the story or were simply added because filmmakers assume audiences expect them. Divyendu Sharma, despite his natural screen presence, feels trapped in a familiar zone and never quite surprises, while Anurag Kashyap’s appearance, though interesting on paper, feels more like a presence meant to add weight than one that truly alters the narrative, remaining more symbolic than impactful. The writing simply doesn’t give the actors or the concept enough room to bloom.
Still, Radhika Apte pulls you in with her intensity, and Tisca Chopra shows a spark of a filmmaker with something to convey. Saali Mohabbat may not deliver the thriller punch it promises, but it hints at better, sharper stories ahead from its debut director.
Written by Bhannu Arora