This Friday is going to be very interesting for movie-lovers in Delhi. After a bland week, with no exciting new releases, this week we have the much awaited Mithya out in theatres. The film is directed by Rajat Kapoor, a critically acclaimed director who proves his skill in the film. Ranvir Shorey and Neha Dhupia play the lead. Rest of the cast includes Naseeruddin Shah, Vinay Pathak, Saurabh Shukla, Iravati Harshe and Harsh Chhaya. It is a comic thriller, produced by Planman Motion Pictures.

Ranvir Shorey, the male lead of Mithya, visited Delhi on January 30, along with co-star Neha Dhupia to promote the film. A gala event was organized at the luxurious Intercontinental Hotel in the capital city. Ranvir Shorey said at the promotion, “The movie will make you laugh. It will make you cry.”

Rajat Kapoor says that the film was inspired by mythology. The director of ‘Raghu Romeo’ and ‘Mixed Doubles’ says that his latest film, which he had been looking forward to for nine years now, is about the search for ones’ identity and inner self.
“Once I read somewhere about a conversation between Lord Vishnu and Narad where after much persuasion Vishnu explains Narad the meaning of Maya. It was from there that I got the inspiration for the script of the film,” says Rajat.

But do not get mistaken by the story’s spiritual inspiration. Mithya is not another mythological drama at all. The film is polished, taut and urbane, with the actors playing the most unusual characters.

The story is of a bollywood struggler, impassioned with Shakespeare, trying to find respite from his disappointing life by rehearsing ‘Hamlet’ with the bed sheet as his cloak. And one fine morning, his dream becomes reality, or reality becomes a dream for him. Destiny plays a uniquely ironic game.

Ranvir does a great job as an actor, playing a range of emotions with admirable spontaneity. The other actors are all excellent in their own way, with Iravati Harshe and Nasiruddin Shah deserving special mention. The odd one out is Neha Dhupia, who clearly does not find much to do.