There is no dearth of love story manufacturers in Bollywood, and the latest to join this already crowded list is Shivam Nair with his directorial debut "Ahista Ahista" starring Abhay Deol and Soha Ali Khan that releases Friday.
The film is about a small town girl standing at the crossroads of life, clueless about her future, spotted by a young man who unconsciously starts putting her life back on track.
The so-called atypical love story revolves around Ankush (Abhay Deol) and Megha (Soha Ali Khan), two complete strangers ignorant about each other's existence till destiny throws them together.
The only common thing in their lives is that all the changes take place ahista ahista (slowly).
Megha, who lives in Nainital, is head over heels in love with Dheeraj (Shayan Munshi). Ankush is a simple young man earning a few bucks by standing up as a witness for young couples getting married at a marriage registrar's office in Delhi. It is here that the two meet.
Dheeraj promises marriage and Megha runs away from home, but he ditches her because he was not serious about her in the first place.
It is too late for Megha to retrace her steps. Shattered and disillusioned, she is spotted by Ankush who tries to support her in every possible way.
He finds a job for her and also gives her moral and emotional support. Meanwhile, he, too, starts concentrating on his career and his hard work pays off. Ankush becomes a bank representative whose job is to help people open their accounts.
Life begins to change slowly. While Megha becomes more confident and is able to erase her past, Ankush realises his worth and joins a leading bank as an assistant manager.
Their togetherness brings them emotionally close and they start relying on each other for small things in their day-to-day life.
But there is a twist in the tale -- Dheeraj returns and wants Megha back.
What will Megha do? Will she choose her first love Dheeraj or Ankush?
Imtiaz Ali, who earlier directed Abhay's debut film "Socha Na Tha", has scripted the film and Himesh Reshammiya has composed the music.
Both Soha and Abhay are good actors and "Ahista Ahista" should strike the right chord.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 13:32 IST