There is definitely luster in Ittefaq which depends heavily on its plot about two murders that take place within the span of a few hours. Lead man Sidharth Malhotra plays a thriller writer who is accused of both the murders which are being investigated by a smart-Alec cop (Akshaye Khanna). It is a pleasure to see Khanna act on screen mimicking his role previously seen in Mom (2017), and Malhotra surprisingly follows-up with a charming performance after a laudable work in Raj and DK's "A Gentleman" earlier this year. But none of these help this crime thriller from revealing its textbook style of manipulation. It is obvious from the first frame that you are going to experience few twists and turns in this whodunit, but for the film to succeed, it needs impeccable attention to details and minimized plot holes. However, both these factors stare at your face when you think about it - especially in the last 20 minutes. Sonakshi Sinha is thankfully not annoying but her portrayal of this lonely housewife who does more than household chores during her day time is not entirely convincing. Maybe her character is written like that, but Sinha's mediocre acting chops glaringly show. Director Abhay Chopra has carved a thriller that is inspired by Hollywood flicks that we enjoy but a bit more tightness and attention to details to cover the goof-ups would have made it a more worthwhile experience. Right now, you can appreciate Ittefaq for its cast, the slightly interesting plot, and a smooth cinematography. TN.