Akshaye sparkles in Aaja Nachle

I have finally done it, watched Aaja Nachle. It's not as bad as the reviews made it out to be. Madhuri is beautiful and she has picked up that extra something that comes with age to beautiful women. The story was alright and the music was hummable. I did not feel bored at any time.

And Akshaye! It's obvious the movie was done when he put on a lot of weight and grew a humungous beard( the beard's not in the movie). Thankfully he has slimmed down a lot since then. If you put that aside and the slightly Rajesh Khanna-ish gait and mannerisms, which were more conspicuous because his role was short, this is one memorable performance from him.

It's apparent he has grown leaps n bounds as a performer. He has acquired something that elevates the great above the merely good --thespic gravitas. And that was noticeable in so many small things. The scene with Irfan where he was playing golf; he was withering in contempt and smote down Irfan before him without even taking off his glasses! The way he toyed with Madhuri all through the movie. In their first meeting, there were flashes of pure meanness on his face that he made us feel for Madhuri without even trying to rape her! The scene where Madhuri storms off after their confrontation, refusing the pizza, he looked so bemusingly droll, droll even for Akshaye.

In their first movie, they did not click but here Madhuri and he share such a sparkling chemistry that I loved seeing them together. I especially loved the way the movie ended hinting at possible romance between the two. He a rajasaab and she a single mother, it's pure Mills & Boon stuff. In fact, I almost wanted to see a sequel, just to see how their romance would pan out. If only somebody casted him opposite Sridevi!