Bhool Chuk Maaf Movie Review: Rajkummar Rao Trapped in a Familiar Small-Town Loop

Introduction: Time-Loop Comedy With No Fresh Twist

Bhool Chuk Maaf tries to blend the intriguing concept of a time loop with a small-town comedy backdrop, but ends up feeling like a tired retread. Starring Rajkummar Rao and directed by Karan Sharma, the film leans heavily on worn-out tropes and familiar character arcs, failing to bring anything new to the genre.

Plot Overview: Stuck in the Same Old Loop

The story follows Ranjan (Rajkummar Rao) and Titli (Wamiqa Gabbi), eager to marry but blocked by the bride’s father’s demand that Ranjan secure a government job first. After some struggle, Ranjan lands the job but soon finds himself trapped in a time loop reliving the same Haldi ceremony repeatedly. The film slowly explores his journey to figure out whom he wronged to break free.

Performances: Familiar Faces, Familiar Acts

With a strong supporting cast including Seema Pahwa, Raghubir Yadav, and Sanjay Mishra, expectations are high. Unfortunately, the actors seem stuck in their comfort zones. Rajkummar Rao recycles mannerisms from his previous roles like Stree and Vicky Vicky, while Wamiqa Gabbi’s charm fades as the film progresses. The ensemble acts well but struggles to lift the sluggish narrative.

Direction & Writing: A Slow and Scattered Approach

Director Karan Sharma struggles to keep the film focused. The narrative feels like two disconnected threads — a commentary on unemployment and a lagging time-loop comedy — awkwardly tied together. The pacing drags, with crucial developments taking too long to unfold. The time-loop concept feels more like an afterthought garnish than a core inventive device.

Setting & Themes: Banaras Backdrop Without Spark

The Banaras setting is used in typical Bollywood fashion — drunken fathers by the ghats, romantic strolls in flower markets, and clichéd cultural markers. These add little freshness and sometimes amplify the feeling of déjà vu. The film also revisits dated ideas like praying to a tantrik or feeding cows as solutions, offering nothing new or thought-provoking.

Final Verdict: 2/5 – A Reheated Comedy with No Original Flavor

Bhool Chuk Maaf offers fleeting moments of sweetness, especially when Rajkummar plays the overly polite “ideal boy.” But mostly, it feels like a rehash of every small-town comedy we’ve seen before. With uninspired writing and repetitive performances, this time-loop story fails to make a lasting impact.