It's a cocktail alright, but one which lacks punch. A flat drink with no fizz and lots of salt at the rim of the glass which knocks you back with its sting.
Illuminati films churns out its third release in as many years and director Homi Adajania puts in far too many ingredients without first taking care of the base liquid that will make for a potent COCKTAIL.
The base liquid in this case is the story which is very weak. Saif Ali Khan's character is well defined, explaining him to be a flirt of the first order, chasing anything in a skirt. No issues with that. He plays that character of Gautam with aplomb.
Deepika Padukone is this fiery character (Veronica) that downs lots of tequilas, Vodkas and anything that gives her a high. She's pub-hopping every night and one does not know why she is given special privilege at a particular pub. The DJ even goes on to say, "Veronica is in the house." Excuse me, WHO IS VERONICA? Is she a rockstar, author, actor??? Nothing. She happens to be this kid who has been dumped by her rich parents and is drowning her sorrows in alcohol and men.
But the weakest link in the whole plot is the friendship between Diana Penty and Deepika. Making her debut, Diana playing Meera, an Indian girl, comes to meet her husband in the United Kingdom. Deepika and Diana meeting in the loo of a store and their being best friends in a minute is something hard to digest. Adajania was in a hurry to cement their friendship to quickly throw in the love angle with Saif Ali Khan swinging like a pendulum between the two. You then know where the film is headed, where each scene thereafter is something you know even before it unfolds.
