There
is
no
doubt
that
Akshay
Kumar
is
a
total
hoot
in
comedic
roles
but
Khel
Khel
Mein
ain’t
it,
observes
Mayur
Sanap.
The
curious
case
of
Akshay
Kumar’s
overexposure
continues.
After
total
failures
and
partial
successes,
the
actor
takes
to
the
comedy
genre
with
Khel
Khel
Mein.
It’s
a
role
and
genre
that
is
completely
different
from
his
last
outing,
Sarfira.
Will
it
mark
his
return
to
comedic
form
as
seen
in
Garam
Masala,
Hera
Pheri
and
the
like?
Well,
this
is
no
Priyadarshan
entertainer.
Mudassar
Aziz,
who
previously
helmed
films
like
Dulha
Mil
Gaya,
Happy
Bhag
Jayegi
and
Pati
Patni
Aur
Woh,
steers
the
wheel
of
this
Hindi
remake
of
the
Italian
comic
caper,
Perfect
Strangers,
Besides
Kumar,
the
film
has
a
stacked
star
cast:
Taapsee
Pannu,
Fardeen
Khan,
Vaani
Kapoor,
Ammy
Virk,
Aditya
Seal
and
Pragya
Jaiswal.
Despite
so
much
of
acting
avoirdupois,
Khel
Khel
Mein
provokes
very
little
curiosity.
The
three-minute
trailer
introduces
us
to
a
group
of
seven
friends
at
a
dinner
party
who
decide
to
play
a
game.
The
game
is
proposed
by
Vaani’s
character
who
tells
everyone
to
keep
their
phones
unlocked
on
the
table
and
any
incoming
text
or
call
on
their
phones
will
be
read
aloud.
The
1960s
song
Parde
Mein
Rehne
Do
plays
in
the
background,
and
the
secrets
among
the
group
tumble
out
as
the
game
proceeds.
Khel
Khel
Mein
looks
low
on
energy
and
the
scattered
jokes
give
a
hint
of
puerile,
unappealing,
humour
It
is
only
the
last
slate
that
made
me
chuckle,
which
says:
Stree
Aur
Purush
Dono
Dekhein.
As
the
film
is
set
to
rival
with
Stree
2
and
Vedaa
on
Independence
Day,
this
subtle
shout-out
is
an
interesting
precedent.
I
was
most
curious
to
see
Taapsee
in
a
funny
role
but
she
seems
to
be
struggling
the
same
way
as
those
clunky
portions
of
Dunki.
Akshay
is
the
biggest
draw
here
and
there
is
no
doubt
that
the
actor
is
a
total
hoot
in
comedic
roles.
But
Khel
Khel
Mein
ain’t
it.
This
one
looks
like
just
another
filler
project
that
you
will
forget
until
his
next
flick
comes
along.
