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Ishk Actually backdrop

Ishk Actually

25 October 2013Hindi1h 39m
out of 10
Unfavorablemost critics didn't like it
Monk Score · 7 critic reviews

Weighted from a 2.7 average · Why?

A muddled, joyless look at love that its own screenplay seems unable to explain.

Verdict tier Unfavorable, most critics didn't like it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: attempt at unconventional sensibility
  • Criticised: incoherent, tedious screenplay

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Not streaming in India

Critic consensus

What 7 critics are saying

Critical consensus on Ishk Actually is overwhelmingly negative, with most reviewers awarding it between 20 and 30 out of 100. Critics found the film tedious and poorly executed, with several explicitly advising audiences to avoid it altogether. The screenplay and narrative direction drew the sharpest criticism, with reviewers describing it as confused, inert, and failing to coherently explore its own premise about love. No single element received consistent praise across reviews, though one critic noted the film's attempt at a non-commercial sensibility, viewing it as misguided rather than commendable.

How the 7 scores spread

The Monk Score is weighted from a plain average of 2.7 · how scores work

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 7 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (7)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    If the gist of the film was to spin a yarn around the pursuit of true love, then it surely missed the target by a mile. By the time you leave the cinema hall, the question "why" starts jogging in your head. That's exactly what should have been running in the brains behind this endeavour. Well, actually.
  2. Mumbai Mirror

    Film review ·

    If only Khanna had not taken a populist script and tried to put his non-commercial spin on it, Ishk Actually might've still been saved. Now he should try taking out the songs, the score, the poetry-ridden dialogue, and re-edit it down to 75 minutes complicating the logic further and start sending it to film festivals for instant success.
  3. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    ISHK ACTUALLY could easily have been called ISHK CONFUSED or maybe ISHK, REALLY? You don't want to sit through an ordeal of a love story. Avoid!
  4. India Today

    Film review ·

    After his brilliant film debut five years ago in Aamir, Rajeev Khandelwal is an actor who perks your interest when you see his name in the film's credit. After watching this film you wonder did he actually agree to do this film happily? What for and why? Harsh as it may sound but this film could easily be called Boredom Actually.
  5. NowRunning

    Film review ·

    Ishk Actually is actually that bad a film that you would either want to run to the exit or make use of the air conditioned theater and sleep your way through it. Best avoided.
  6. Rediff

    Film review ·

    Obtuse, dispassionate and inert, Ishk Actually is one of the drabbest films I've seen all year.

Credits

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Cast

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