Once Upon two times (2023) movie review

Getting your parents to meet your boyfriend or girlfriend can be challenging. Imagine if you discover that your dad and your lover's mom used to date! That's the intriguing storyline of Sonakshi Mittal's debut movie, 'Once Upon Two Times,' now streaming on ZEE5.

Once Upon two times review

The story kicks off in a college audition where Ahaan gets on stage to sing, eagerly awaiting someone. Enter a girl with curly hair and a cute smile – Ruhi. Ahaan flashes a smile at her and begins singing. Surprise! The girl is Ruhi, Ahaan's college sweetheart.

As they bid farewell to college, they make heartfelt promises. Ruhi pledges to attend all of Ahaan's performances, while Ahaan insists that Ruhi's eyeliner must stay intact forever. It's a sweet scene that cleverly hints at Ahaan and Ruhi's deep and committed relationship.

Fast forward five years, and things have changed. Ahaan is now a struggling artist, hustling to make a name for himself in the industry, singing at a cafe for some extra income. Against expectations, Ruhi still shows up at every one of Ahaan's performances.

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The plot takes a big twist when Ahaan proposes to Ruhi, and now they have to introduce their parents to each other. At first, the parents seem like background characters, but that perception changes in a funny and awkward scene at the hotel lobby. Ahaan's dad, Kaushik (played by Sanjay Suri), and Ruhi's mom, Purnima (played by Mrinal Kulkarni), unexpectedly bump into each other and freeze on the spot.

It's like the awkwardness you feel when you accidentally run into your ex. And let's not forget Ruhi's dad, Nipun, portrayed brilliantly and hilariously by Nitesh Pandey. Among all the characters, Nitesh Pandey's Nipun really stands out with his charm and charisma.

The best  film takes its time to explore the complex relationships between Ahaan and Ruhi, as well as Kaushik and Purnima. It encourages viewers to reflect on past strained relationships and make efforts to build new ones.

In the middle part of the movie, things move along steadily with Mrinal, Sanjay, and Nitesh leading the way. There are some lines and scenes that hit home, and you'll find the humor in moments like organizing a poker game or exploring Nainital. Sometimes, the older folks act as silly as kids, and it's the younger generation giving them relationship advice, which can be pretty funny.

Overall, by the end, both storylines seem like they're part of a bigger picture. When you step back and look at it, one doesn't feel complete without the other. It's like they need each other to make the whole story work.