Cinematic Struggles: Rajkummar Rao and the Cricketing World in Mr. & Mrs. Mahi

These are unusual times for fans of Rajkummar Rao and cricket alike. In his recent biographical drama Srikanth, Rao portrayed a visually-impaired man who sacrificed his cricketing dreams to pursue education abroad. “Education is more important to me than cricket,” he stated. Fast forward three weeks, and Rao is back on the big screen, embodying a cricket-obsessed character named Mahendra in Mr. & Mrs. Mahi. “For me, cricket is life; life is cricket,” Mahendra proclaims, clinging to the sport even as it eludes him.

Directed by Sharan Sharma, the film begins in Jaipur in 2017, where Mahendra is struggling to secure a spot on the state cricket team. Despite his relentless efforts on the local circuit, his father (played by a brilliant Kumud Mishra), who owns a sports shop, pressures him to either achieve his cricketing ambitions or join the family business. Mahendra gets close but fails, leading him to settle into a life that includes marrying the kind-hearted Mahima (Janhvi Kapoor), a doctor who falls for his supposed honesty. This marks Kapoor’s second consecutive portrayal of a woman who makes an unwise marital choice, following her role in Bawaal (2023).

The film’s opening half-hour is charmingly simple, with Rao and Kapoor delivering the comedic nuances of a newly married couple. They bond over a shared nickname, “Mahi,” and a mutual love for cricket. Together, they start attending matches in matching No.7 jerseys, paying homage to former Indian captain MS Dhoni, whose philosophy — “process is more important than result” — is a key theme of the film. As the song “Agar Ho Tum” plays, Mahendra finds a fleeting happiness in his otherwise unfulfilled life.

However, this lightheartedness soon gives way to a darker narrative. When Mahendra discovers Mahima’s hidden cricketing talent — stifled by her father in favor of medicine — he encourages her to pursue the sport again. His initial support quickly turns into controlling behavior, as he coaches her onto the state women’s team with the secret hope of basking in her success. Yet, when Mahima’s achievements don’t bring him the recognition he craves, Mahendra’s bitterness and resentment bubble to the surface.

In this shift, Mahendra becomes a representation of the insecure, ego-driven Indian male, much like Ajay Dixit, the character Varun Dhawan portrayed in Bawaal. Mahendra’s treatment of Mahima reflects his own failures; having not fulfilled his dreams, he projects them onto his wife. “Was I just a ladder for you?” Mahima asks, confronting her husband in one of the film’s more direct moments.

Mr. & Mrs. Mahi runs for 139 minutes, featuring a cast that includes Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Zarina Wahab, and Rajesh Sharma. The storyline revolves around Mahendra’s attempt to mold his wife into a cricket star, only to struggle with his own insecurities as she succeeds.

Sharma, along with co-writer Nikhil Mehrotra, delves into the psyche of Mahendra, a jealous man grappling with his role as both coach and husband. However, the film stumbles by not giving enough focus to Mahima’s personal journey. Mahendra’s character development is rushed, glossed over with a brief sad song and a motivational speech from his mother. The film could have been more impactful by emphasizing Mahima’s growth, sidelining Mahendra’s character for a while, but instead, it leans heavily into his repentance.

Throughout Mr. & Mrs. Mahi, one can’t help but be reminded of other films. The narrative, visuals, and soundtrack choices feel overly familiar. Early on, “Dekhha Tenu” from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham makes an appearance — a typical Dharma Productions move. The trope of a successful sibling, dating back to Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, is also present, with Mahendra’s brother named Sikandar. Rao’s role as a small-town sports shop owner echoes his performance in Kai Po Che! (2013). And then there are the inevitable comparisons to Bawaal.

The cricket sequences in Mr. & Mrs. Mahi are just as forgettable as the action scenes in Gunjan Saxena (2020). Kapoor, despite being nine films into her career, struggles to bring the required authenticity to her performance, both on and off the pitch. Rao, on the other hand, convincingly portrays Mahendra’s frustration and pettiness but lacks the charm needed to carry the film as a romantic lead. He perseveres nonetheless, attempting to inject some heart into this otherwise uninspired tale, much like a lone player trying to win a match single-handedly.

Mr. & Mrs. Mahi is currently playing in theatres.