Aap Ki Khatir – The Wedding Date – Asking for Trouble | Movies cum Book Review

The way Bollywood movies take inspiration from international films has been a running joke for decades. There was a positive campaign of spotting copied scenes and sequences in Bollywood films once Indian cinema fans acquired access to internet and therefore movies all over the world. Sajid Khan hosted some really funny TV shows (like Kehne Mein Kya Harz Hai) in early 1990’s when the cable TV had just made first appearance in India.

But then it is often hard to find a story idea that no one has used ever before, isn’t it?

One “not-so-old” example of this is Dharmesh Darshan’s Aap ki Khatir. Starring Akshaye Khanna, Priyanka Chopra, Suniel Shetty and Amisha Patel, this movie was based on a 2005 American rom-com called The Wedding Date, which was in turn based on a chick-lit novel called “Asking for Trouble” by Elizabeth Young.

Elizabeth young’s Asking for Trouble features 30 year old Sophy, who is single – to the great annoyance and sorrow of her mother. So, she creates a boyfriend called “Dominic” – handsome, debonair, successful and non-existent. It works splendidly as long as Sophy stays away from the family, but her sister Belinda is getting married and she has to show up for the wedding, along with Dominic. In a desperate attempt to save face, she hires a male escort named Josh Carmichael to be her wedding date.

This however proves to be a start of a major trouble rather than a solution. Once they arrive to the wedding, Sophy’s old life and old flame are back in full force. Every family has undercurrents of feelings, hidden emotions, sibling competitions and Sophy’s family is no exception. In middle of all this, it doesn’t help that Sophy begins to like his ruggedly handsome date and falls into a “leading to nowhere” romantic entanglement. Sophy, being the heroin of the book, deserves a happily-ever-after, but will she get it?

The book is a hilarious and witty read itself if you like chick-lit and so was perfect to adapt as a light-weight American rom-com by director Clare Kilner (How to Deal and Something Borrowed fame). The movie was christened as The Wedding Date and starred Debra Messing (currently playing Laura in the Mysteries of Laura) and Durmot Mulroney. Durmot Mulroney also starred in My Best Friend’s Wedding that inspired Mere yaar ki shadi hai and some such plots in Bollywood!!!!

This “inspiration” stories seem never-ending, isn’t it?

But, back to “The Wedding Date”, the leading lady is called Kate Ellis who hires Nick Mercer to be her wedding date for her younger sister Amy (played by a a very vampishly made up Amy Adams). Kat’s prime target is making best man Jeffrey, who happens to be her old boyfriend, jealous. Instead, she ends up falling for Nick herself. Add Amy’s digressions with Jeffrey and the cocktail becomes disastrous. But, all is well that ends well.

Now, replace Debra Messing with Priyanka Chopra, Durmot Mulroney with Akshaye Khanna, Amy Adams with Amisha Patel and voila, you have got 2006 release “Aap ki Khatir”. The script more or less is identical with the parents played by lovely Lilet Dubey and annoying Anupam Kher. Dino Morea plays Priyanka’s old flame and Suniel Shetty plays Amisha’s would be husband with a heart of gold.

Dharmesh Darshan never really could replicate what he achieved with Raja Hindustani and “Aap ki Khatir” was no exception. Based in London, it was targeting NRIs and did make decent money. The major selling point for the movie was Himesh Reshamiya’s music, who was going through his “non-stop” hit era.

If you do like chick-flicks, go ahead and watch “The Wedding Date” or read “Asking for Trouble”……

Have fun…..