Cast: Fardeen Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Priya Bapat, Krystal D’Souza, Seema Biswas, Nachiket Purnapatre, Arjun Aneja, Purnendu Bhattacharya, Satyajeet Kadam
Director: Kookie Gulati
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Review by Guruji Sunil Chaudhary, Leading Digital Success Coach

Visfot attempts to explore a world where the lives of two distinct social classes—one from the gritty slums and the other from the upscale high-rises of South Mumbai—collide in a predictable yet engaging narrative. Based on the 2012 Venezuelan thriller Rock Paper Scissors, the film immediately dives into chaos, intertwining the destinies of two men whose actions trigger a series of unfortunate events.

Fardeen Khan stars as Shoeb, a cab driver with a history in Australia, now navigating the streets of Dongri. His misplaced clothing, which hides a stash of narcotics, sets off a chain of dangerous misunderstandings. On the other side of Mumbai, airline pilot Akash, played by Riteish Deshmukh, loses his young son in a moment of distraction, leading to a frantic and emotional unraveling of events. Both characters’ worlds come crashing down, setting the stage for a plot filled with tension, violence, and moral quandaries.

The film’s execution, however, remains rooted in a well-worn formula, filled with the usual suspects: street-smart goons, grieving mothers (played compellingly by Sheeba Chaddha), distressed wives (Priya Bapat), troubled girlfriends (Krystal D’Souza), and corrupt law enforcement officers (Purnendu Bhattacharya and Satyajeet Kadam). While the screenplay attempts to juggle these elements, it often falls short of delivering anything truly groundbreaking.

Deshmukh stands out among the leads, delivering a performance that is nuanced and slightly more compelling than Khan’s portrayal. Khan, while competent, seems more comfortable in supporting roles, as seen in his recent work in Khel Khel Mein. The script introduces a potentially bold storyline involving an unapologetic affair, yet fails to explore this thread with the depth it deserves, leaving the audience wanting more.

Seema Biswas, in her role as Acid Tai, is the film’s most captivating presence. She commands attention in her brief screen time, with a raw and unfiltered portrayal of a woman unafraid to confront her scars, both physical and emotional. Biswas’s performance is a reminder of what Visfot could have been—a deeper, more courageous film unafraid to step beyond the clichés.

Director Kookie Gulati crafts a narrative that is fast-paced and visually engaging but lacks the originality needed to truly resonate. The film is riddled with familiar tropes—ransom calls, shoot-outs, and dramatic confrontations—that make it feel like a rehash of countless crime dramas that have come before. However, the moments of genuine emotional conflict, particularly involving the leads, add enough weight to keep the audience invested.

Conclusion: Visfot is not without its flaws, but it still manages to offer a few moments of intrigue and drama. Though predictable, the performances—especially those of Deshmukh and Biswas—elevate the film above its been-there, seen-it narrative. If you’re in the mood for a crime thriller that sticks to the basics, Visfot provides just enough to keep you entertained.

Final Rating: 3/5 Stars