Renowned for his big hits like Singham, SIngham Returns, Drishyam and Shivaay, Devgn is one of those rare Indian rare actors able to attract viewers through different kinds of roles, whether in drama, action or comedy films. Most Bollywood stars are typecast for certain roles.

Written by Luv Ranjan and directed by Akiv Ali in his directorial debut, the film unfolds at a slow pace, which becomes a drag later. There was hardly a lead until about after 30 minutes into the film until it picks up the pace with the inclusion of more characters.

In De De Pyaar De, Devgn plays as 50-year-old well established entrepreneur who falls in love with Ayesha Khurana (Rakul Preet Singh), a woman half his age at a friend’s wedding.

He is forced to weigh the pros and cons intelligently but uses his heart to make a decision.

The twist, and the drama, comes when the two are planning to get married and Ashish returns to India to introduce Ayesha to his family, including his ex-wife Manju Rao (Tabu) and children – daughter Ishika (Inayat Sood) and son Ishaan (Bhavin Bhanushali), to get their approval.

Tabu acts beautifully when explaining to her children that their parents’ separation was a mutually accepted decision and when she reveals that it is Ishika’s lying – not her father’s arrival – that led to the cancellation of her wedding to her boyfriend Rishi.

Writer Luv Ranjan, who is well-known for writing and directing comedy Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, is responsible for the well structured dialogue for De De Pyaar De by introducing plenty of age-related and gender jokes in the film.

In between: Ashish (Ajay Devgn, center) finds himself between his girlfriend Ayesha Khurana (Rakul Preet Singh, left) and ex-wife Manju (Tabu). (Courtesy of AA Films/-)

Devgn’s performance as a conflicted middle-aged man who is both serious and at the same time funny is awesomely touching, while Tabu plays her role as Manju beautifully and with great depth.

Singh brings out the coquettishness in Ashish’s young girlfriend Ayesha. It is her bubbly character that brings laughter to the first half of the movie.

De De Pyaar De touches on issues like divorce and living together and as such is perhaps not suitable for younger viewers, but on the whole, the film is worth watching and entertaining with beautiful dance numbers. (ste)