Known for playing for versatile characters, the actor will be seen playing a RJ who becomes a hit by assuming the fake identity of a lusty RJ Pooja

By Mayur Lookhar

In his seven-year career so far, Ayushmann Khurrana has developed a reputation for picking diverse, out of the box subjects. He started his career playing a sperm donor in Vicky Donor [2012].  Ironically, he had no qualms in playing a guy suffering from erectile dysfunction in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan [2017].  If you thought these roles, films were unconventional, then brace yourself for his next titled Dream Girl.   No, Nushrat Bharucha is not his dream girl, but it’s Khurrana who is the dream girl in Dream Girl.

No, we’ve not erred with the figure of speech [repetition] for Khurrana is indeed playing the Dream Girl called Pooja.  There’s no change of gender, but the actor is playing a street smart theatre artiste, a local RJ who earns his bread by assuming a fake, feminine identity.

If you own a mobile phone [ most do today], you sure would have come across those shady voyeuristic messages. One often looks at them with scepticism, fear. But on a day when your lonely heart seeks companionship, you might be little tempted to use those chat or phone services. It’s not possible to fake video chats, but have you ever given a thought that what if the lusty woman that you are texting or talking to on the phone is actually no woman but a man.  Well, that’s exactly the kind of character that Khurrana is playing in Dream Girl.  Khurrana’s character is not into any shady business but he’s landed himself a job at a local radio station where he runs a interactive show faking as one Pooja.  Don’t we have such late night shows on radio channels?

Writer Nirmaan D Singh and first time director Raaj Shaandilyaa bring a fascinating story of a small town [probably in Uttar Pradesh] theatre artiste , RJ who becomes a hit by assuming a fake identity. Khurrana’s gift to speak in a sensual feminine tone tricks all his callers. Falling for this fake voice are small town folks.

As the show thrives, Pooja becomes a sensation and it leads to a war among his callers, all of who claim that Pooja is their Dream Girl. None though are aware of the real identity of Pooja. With all the lusty men sparring over Pooja, the poor man [Khurrana] has to ensure that his big secret is maintained.  If busted, then it also threaten not just his career, but also ruin his wedding with his girl friend [played by Nushrat Bharucha].  

Khurrana will be on the run in Dream Girl trying to evade Pooja’s lovers.  Also, we see Bharucha’s grandmother address Pooja as bahu during a phone conversation. Perhaps, it’s Bharucha’s brother who is also fallen in love with Pooja.  Khurrana himself says, “I don’t know whether I become a groom or bride”. That’s strong enough to suggest that Bharucha’s brother is indeed one of Pooja’s lovers.  The troublesome lover though has to be the cop [played by Vijay Raaz] whose adamant that he will meet his Dream Girl.

A refreshing story and the film promises to be a wholesome family entertainer.  Khurrana’s choice of scripts have earned him comparison with Aamir Khan. The 54-year-old Khan stood out from his peers [Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan] by picking unconventional roles.  We live in a different age now where most actors aren’t afraid to play versatile roles. Like Khan did in 2000s, Khurrana is miles ahead of his competitors in 2019 when it comes to portraying varied characters.

All these decades, Dream Girl is synonym with Hema Malini. While she can never be dethroned, but even the veteran actress would warm to the seductive tone of the new Dream Girl girl, Pooja.

Produced by Balaji Telefilms, Dream Girl is set to be released on 13 September. Watch the trailer below.