His second film, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl , however, was a clear step down. The common refrain was that "it is difficult to match the standards of a fun riot like BBB, even by its own director". While his ability to capture the vibe of Delhi was still praised, the film's pacing was criticized for sagging in the middle, with the first hour being entertaining and the second half being less so. The music by Salim-Sulaiman was considered forgettable. One review bluntly states that "none of the songs are above average and act as good concession stand / loo breaks". The film's strongest point is its stylish presentation and a few humorous moments, but it lacked the soul and consistency of its predecessor.
Ricky’s ears perked up. Spending money. The magic words.
It is described as a fun "rom-con" with high production value, stylish presentation, and a faster pace than traditional Bollywood romances. Story Depth Critics from The Times of India index of ladies vs ricky bahl better
Listening to the catchy Salim-Sulaiman soundtrack (e.g., "Aadat Se Majboor") on high-fidelity audio services provides a more immersive experience.
The soft-spoken Iqbal Khan plays on the vulnerability of Saira Rashid (Aditi Sharma), a young widow managing a traditional textile business. His second film, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl ,
In contrast, the plot of is more contrived and predictable. The film follows a smooth-talking conman, Ricky Bahl (Ranveer Singh), who uses multiple identities to swindle wealthy women. After he dupes three women—Dimple (Parineeti Chopra), Raina (Dipannita Sharma), and Saira (Aditi Sharma)—they team up with Ishika Desai (Anushka Sharma) to turn the tables and con the conman. The central problem, as noted by many critics, is that the film's con is not clever enough. For a film about a master con artist, the scams are portrayed as being too easy and improbable. "For Ricky, cheating comes naturally, but disappointingly, it seems like he doesn't even have to exercise his brain cells to cheat any of them". The script is often described as "half baked" and the love angle, where Ricky falls for one of the women trying to con him, is seen as a "sappy love story" that ruins the potential of a sharp con caper. While the concept of women teaming up for revenge had potential, the execution was widely criticized for being ordinary and predictable. An IMDb review sums it up: "the script is well contrived for its own good and the ending couldn't be more saccharine".
Grounded heavily in the middle-class reality of Janakpuri, Delhi. The language, settings, and conflicts feel raw, relatable, and authentic. The music by Salim-Sulaiman was considered forgettable
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But these women aren't ones to take it lying down. They unite to hire Ishika Desai, a fiery young woman, to turn the tables and pull an elaborate con on the conman himself. In a twist of fate, Ishika ends up falling in love with the real Ricky, leading to a climax that has divided audiences for years.
Let’s build an index of both sides and render a verdict.