The sky-diving segment takes the cake though, for the detail and depth in which it is picturized, making the audience literally experience every moment of the adventure. Moreover Zoya Akhtar’s ability to introduce humour even in the most unlikely serious situations like when the trio get into a squabble or are behind bars is absolutely commendable.Įach of the adventure sport from deep-sea diving, sky-diving to running with the bulls and even the Tomatina festival is filmed to realistic and riveting effect, giving a factual feel of the escapade. The same applies for Imran and Arjun’s initial apathetic chemistry resulting from their past state of ‘affairs’, which isn’t probed beyond a menial mention. But none of the conflicts are touched upon through detailed flashback accounts, yet the impact is never diluted. Like Arjun has had a failed relationship and Imran is in search of his father who abandoned him before birth. Even cinematically, the screen-space amongst the three is perfectly poised with no character (or actor) attempting to overshadow the other at any occasion.Īnother beauty of the narrative is that it never delves deep into the past of any of the protagonists. Yet it never gets malicious and their tendency to stick together makes it charming and assures a smile on your face throughout. For instance Imran and Arjun share cold vibes over a common fling they had years back. Their bonding is never sugary sweet of the yeh-dosti-hum-nahi-todenge types and they do have their share of hiccups, which makes it more real and believable. The credible camaraderie between the three male leads is what makes you relate to the film effortlessly. And while the adventure is convincingly captured, it never overpowers the basic essence of human drama in the film. The narrative doesn’t waste much time to initiate the road trip and works towards individual character conflicts amidst the strategically placed adventure sport episodes. Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s writing is simple, straightforward, well-etched and character-driven. It’s ironical that it took female minds to come up with, perhaps, what one can call the most authentic film on boy-bonding since Dil Chahta Hai. And en route they liberate themselves from all the bindings of world. Arjun (Hrithik Roshan) is a workaholic financial trader who wants to earn enough and early for retirement at 40.Īs they initiate an adventurous road trip across Spain, they try their hands on everything from deep-sea diving, sky-diving to running with the bulls. Imran (Farhan Akhtar) has an additional agenda to be on the trip – to find his biological father about whom he has lately discovered. They had a pact regarding the trip that each one gets to do one adventure sport of his choice and the other two have to join in the act, whether they like or not. Kabir (Abhay Deol) is engaged to Natasha (Kalki Koechlin) and wants to go on a bachelor trip with his two childhood friends before getting married.

Zindagi inshort cast