If you haven’t watched Dishoom yet, do so immediately – John Abraham and Varun Dhawan portray Kabir and Junaid, cops who take over Abu Dhabi in supercars and helicopters as they race against time trying to find a kidnapped cricketer. But one of the major highlights in this film is certainly Akshay Kumar’s out-of-character and unforgettable cameo that was largely filmed at Yas Water World. It involves, among other things, a jet-ski, two pairs of orange swimsuits and a splendid man bun. Akshay Kumar may only have five minutes of screen time but he completely eclipses lead actors.
The brilliant cinematography captures the capital in all its glory. From the sparkling waters of Yas Marina to the glittering skyscrapers of Reem Island, the city perfectly sets off the high-octane action sequences. The rest of the film whizzes by in a blur of guns, explosions and car chases.
John Abraham is really good in this role, he is natural and finds comfort in playing these almost wooden characters. Varun Dhawan excels in his comic role, probably because he grew up watching all his father’s (filmmaker David Dhawan) comedies. Up-and-coming actor Saqib Saleem is memorable as patriotic Indian batsman Viraj Sharma, and is several leagues above the new generation. It is a pity but it is so true – Jacqueline Fernandez, who, as usual, serves mainly two purposes: to gyrate in a raunchy song sequence, and to play a clueless love interest whose make-up never drips down her face, even when she is fleeing murderous criminals in the middle of the scorching desert.
Dishoom is packed with all the masala needed for it to become a blockbuster, including an unnecessary plot twist that got the Pakistani film censor board so enraged it banned the movie. There is not much one can say about the story. It is a masala entertainer – all one can do is sit back, eat your popcorn and have a blast. Dishoom gets a 6.5/10.