Mr. and Mrs. Mahi Movie Review: A Confused Tale of Marriage, Cricket, and Failed Dreams

Director: Sharan Sharma

Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Rajesh Sharma, Zarina Wahab, Arjit Taneja

The story revolves around Mahendra Aggarwal (Rajkummar Rao), a failed cricketer working in his dismissive father’s (Kumud Mishra) sports equipment business. Envious of his successful soap opera star brother, Mahendra manipulates his wife, Mahima (Janhvi Kapoor), a doctor, into believing her true passion is cricket. Despite an intriguing premise, the film falters as Mahima’s rapid rise from gully cricket star to state trial player in six months strains credibility.

The film's straightforward plot lacks depth, with underwhelming chemistry between the leads. The love story feels more like a plot device than a genuine romance. Rajkummar Rao excels as a disgruntled loser but isn’t given the space to fully explore his character. Janhvi Kapoor is confined to the stereotype of a gullible small-town girl, and her character's desires are left unexplored, making her merely a vessel for Mahendra’s obsession. Kumud Mishra is effective as the disappointed father.

"Mr. & Mrs. Mahi" tries to innovate within the sports film genre but falls short. It isn’t a patriotic tale or a feminist story and fails to convincingly convey that true joy comes from passion, not fame. While it touches on themes of insecurity and manipulation, it doesn’t adequately address the male protagonist's flaws, leaving the impression that women still need male guidance to find their calling.