Another one of Karan Johar’s problematic productions from the 2000s that gave toxic individuals a push for pursuing extra-marital affairs and even justify them, this movie is about leaving your morals behind and diving headfirst into problematic concepts, like cheating on your very loyal spouse. © Dharma ProductionsThe movie starts with an OTT introduction to the film’s most bitter and annoying character Dev aka Shah Rukh Khan, who is currently playing football for a big league. Meanwhile his wife Rhea aka Preity Zinta is walking up for her interview as the Editor of a fashion magazine and gets judgemental looks for being the strong, independent and a career-oriented woman. © Dharma ProductionsWithin the first 5 minutes of the movie we’ve established that Dev is a bit of an ass and instead of being happy that his wife nailed the interview, comes at her for missing his game and rubs the fact that he earns more than her right in her face. Manchild, alert! © Dharma ProductionsCut to a rather controversial scene where Rishi aka Abhishek Bachchan is seen passed out on a couch after what seems like a college frat party but was instead his bachelor party - with only bachelors in sight… 4 of them to be precise... © Dharma ProductionsMaya aka Rani Mukherjee’s introduction is given by showing her cleaning a mirror..on her wedding day...in a lehenga. And don’t even get us started on how much happier she looks with a washcloth in her hand than imagining Rishi by her side - the man she is about to marry but, clearly, doesn’t want to. The first and the only red flag that needed to be taken into consideration but was ignored just like morality was in the entire GIPHYDev’s mom aka Kiron Kher is catering at Rishi and Maya’s wedding and stumbles upon Sexy Sam’ who is the only sensible yet kinkiest character in the film played by Amitabh Bachchan. © Dharma ProductionsTerrified of marrying Rishi the same guy who spent his bachelor party passed out next to 4 guys out of an obligation towards his father who raised her when her parents passed away, Maya is sitting and wallowing on a bench when she meets Dev. Maya’s OCD compels her to talk to him, even if it was for asking the guy to not litter. © Dharma ProductionsThe two get to talking, share deep personal secrets because what else are strangers for and just as Dev is leaving to go pick his mother up, he gets hit by a car and breaks his leg as well as his dream of becoming a professional footballer. © Dharma Productions4 years later, Dev is more bitter than ever. He walks with a limp and a foul mouth that allows him to only communicate in taunts with his rather understanding wife, Rhea. © Dharma ProductionsOn the other hand, Maya is in an unhappy relationship, both for her and her husband who despite trying to show his love to her, is always treated as an outsider. © Dharma ProductionsThe couple bump into each other and end up befriending each others’ spouses. © Dharma ProductionsDev and Maya start meeting each other and decide to try the girl and boy can be friends’ charade, minus the platonic feelings. In a pretence to help each other with their respective marriages, they use it as an excuse to get closer to each other. © Dharma ProductionsWhat follows is a series of secret dates where the two objectify each other, find ways to touch each other, flirt with one another, all until the obvious happens - they fall in love. All this while, their respective spouses - Rishi and Rhea are still trying to make things work despite being done with the two being emotionally unavailable or sensitive towards them in their relationship. © Dharma ProductionsMaya and Dev who apparently feel guilty for their partners, but not enough, start having an affair. Only to be caught by Rishi’s dad and Dev’s mom. That night, Sam has a heart attack and on his deathbed, he asks his lying and cheating daughter-in-law to finally do the right thing - leave Rishi and stop ruining both their lives. © Dharma ProductionsSam dies and Maya and Dev decide to end their little affair. But in order to be able to live with themselves, they need to tell their spouses the truth. You see, Maya here as selfish as she is doesn’t care that the guy has just lost his father. © Dharma ProductionsFor her, her own peace of mind matters more and so she breaks the bad news to him and the guy, obviously, loses his shit. © Dharma ProductionsAs does Rhea and both divorce their good-for-nothing partners. Of course Maya and Dev hide the news of divorce from each other and pretend to be happy, because by this time we’ve established how the two are compulsive liars. © Dharma ProductionsYou see, up until now, one could say that Johar has depicted quite the dark yet realistic side of broken marriages. Ideally, he could’ve left the story here - at two people who cheated, spending the rest of their lives repenting and regretting their decision. But no, he had to go the extra mile and make the story more problematic by giving it a happy ending. © Dharma ProductionsIt’s three years later, Dev and Maya are both living alone unless you count guilt as something. Rishi comes to see Maya, tells her how he has fallen in love and is remarrying. He invites both her and Rhea to his wedding. Rhea is now dating her boss and reveals to Maya how she too has moved on from Dev. © Dharma ProductionsShe tells her to get back together with Dev because god knows the two lying pieces of s**t belonged together. © Dharma ProductionsWe are taken to an uninspired climax at the train station where the two obviously reunite, giving us one message alone - that cheating is okay and ultimately, gets you what you want, be it forgiveness, a new spouse or even thrill. The End.