Plot
Khuda
Haafiz
opens
with
a
matchmaking
scene,
in
which
'computer
ka
doctor'
Sameer
(Vidyut
Jammwal)
and
Nargis
(Shivaleeka
Oberoi)
are
introduced
to
each
other
by
their
parents.
Post
some
'akele
mein
baat-cheet'
and
a
forgettable
song,
the
duo
get
married.
However,
the
newlyweds'
world
comes
crashing
down
when
they
lose
their
jobs
as
a
result
of
the
2008
global
recession.
The
couple
decides
to
take
up
a
job
in
Noman,
a
fictional
middle-eastern
country
on
being
told
that
"Noman
ke
tel
ke
saamne
recession
bhi
pani
nahin
mangta."
Nargis'
job
application
gets
accepted
first,
and
she
immediately
leaves
for
the
foreign
land,
hoping
that
her
hubby
would
join
her
soon.
However,
a
day
later,
Sameer
receives
an
SOS
call
from
Nargis,
informing
him
that
she
has
been
abducted
and
is
being
ill-treated
by
unknown
people.
The
next
thing
we
know
is,
our
hero
lands
up
in
Noman
in
search
of
his
missing
wife.
With
no
immediate
help
from
the
Noman
police
and
the
Indian
embassy,
Sameer
decides
to
take
up
the
matter
in
his
own
hands
with
the
help
of
a
kind
cabbie
(Annu
Kapoor).
He
is
soon
assisted
by
the
local
lawmakers
(Shiv
Panditt
and
Aahana
Kumra),
only
to
come
across
a
shocking
discovery.
Direction
Faruk
Kabir's
story
about
a
good
guy's
fight
against
a
gang
of
flesh-traders
had
the
potential
to
be
an
engaging
watch.
Sadly,
his
done-to-death
treatment
to
the
film
plays
the
main
villain
here.
One
can
smell
the
twists
and
turns
in
the
plot
from
a
distance.
Despite
being
tagged
as
a
romantic
thriller,
Khuda
Haafiz
has
very
few
thrills
to
offer.
Minus
Vidyut
Jammwal,
the
film
goes
for
a
toss.
Performances
Vidyut
Jammwal
steps
out
of
his
action
star
image
to
play
an
ordinary
man
stuck
in
an
extraordinary
situation
in
Khuda
Haafiz.
There
are
a
few
moments
in
the
film
when
you
wait
for
the
actor
to
knock
down
his
opponents
with
his
lethal
punches
and
back
flips.
Thankfully,
Jammwal
keeps
the
action
real,
as
expected
from
his
character
in
the
film.
Watch
out
for
the
scene
where
the
actor
is
trapped
in
a
narrow
corridor
with
a
whole
bunch
of
armed
men
who
are
ready
to
beat
him
to
pulp!
However,
when
it
comes
to
emoting
in
scenes,
Vidyut
goes
a
bit
off
track
and
needs
to
buckle
up.
Shivaleeka
Oberoi's
damsel-in-distress
act
barely
offers
her
a
scope
to
surprise
us.
Also,
her
chemistry
with
Vidyut
Jammwal
is
cold
as
ice.
Annu
Kapoor
gives
a
dignified
performance
and
fits
perfectly
in
the
land
of
Noman.
Shiv
Panditt
and
Aahana
Kumra
put
their
best
foot
forward
in
the
roles
offered
to
them.
However,
their
characters' fluctuating
Arabic
accent
leaves
you
a
tad
unimpressed.
Technical
Aspects
Jitan
Harmeet
Singh's
lens
capture
some
interesting
frames
in
the
stunning
locations
of
Uzbekistan.
The
fight-and-chase
sequences
look
more
convincing
and
closer
to
reality.
Sandeep
Francis'
sharper
editing
scissors
could
have
trimmed
down
the
film
by
several
minutes.
Music
Sonu
Nigam's
soulful
voice
in
'Aakhri
Kadam
Tak'
lingers
for
long.
'Mera
Intezaar
Karna'
and
'Jaan
Ban
Gaye'
make
for
an
ethereal
listen.
The
title
track
'Khuda
Haafiz'
wins
you
over
with
Vishal
Dadlani's
deep
voice
and
some
heartfelt
lyrics.
Verdict
'Mera
intezaar
karna,
Mera
intezaar
karna,
Zara
aitbaar
karna,
Mera
intezaar
karna,'
goes
the
lyrics
of
one
of
the
songs
in
Khuda
Haafiz.
Just
like
that,
you
wait
for
the
thrills
in
the
film
to
knock
you
off
your
feet.
Unfortunately,
as
and
when
they
arrive,
they
barely
touch
you.
Vidyut
Jammwal's
restrained
performance
stands
out
in
this
passable
fare.