I do wish there was more meat to her characterization, especially as the movie progresses, & the flashback style narrative didn't do the screenplay any favors either. My 2 cents: she's well-cast, & surprisingly (for me: I've never been a fan, though I have appreciated her performances in Kandukondein Kandukondein, Guru, Iruvar, Raincoat, Sarkar Raj, Chokher Bali, Josh.) acquits herself well. Much has been written about Rai's role, accent & characterization. Role/characterization-wise, this seems to be a niche that Ranbir Kapoor has found, and he's been made to play in the same sandbox again & again since Sid woke up a few years back (which still remains superior to all house other works since). It is, refreshingly honest about relationships among the 1%, & doesn't make the lead into the typical hero. Not to say this doesn't have it's moments. That movie, in spite of its flaws, various flaws, is still superior to this one. Well, getting the comparisons to Tamasha outta the way first. Ranbir shud stop doing these kinda movies. Lisa Haydn's character was way too stupid to believe.
Cud hav been just any random foreign babe. There was no need for Aishwarya's character. I started fiddling with my fone, my kids asked me when it's going to end. I thot the movie will end but it kept on going. It has shades of Rockstar n other SRK films n a lil similarity to Sweet November. Believe me this movie had nothing new to offer. Fancy clothes, fancy places n plenty of time to do useless stuff. I mean don't they hav anything else to do. Typical boy n girl r just having conversations, spending time in an unbelievable platonic way. Bad direction, pathetic script n lame editing. Karan tried really hard to portray his characters as "cool".
The characters r busy partying from this club to that club. Honestly, i ain't no fan of Karan Johar's films. On the whole, 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' has a few lows, but its pluses are undeniable too. Of the supporting cast, Lisa Haydon is terrific in her bit. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looks ravishing & delivers a decent performance. Ranbir & Anushka are the life & soul of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. She makes the part look real & you feel for her, whenever she's bogged down by circumstances & the bitterness of being truthful. Her character might be credited as selfish by some, but Anushka portrays her part with enviable realism. He pulls off a difficult part, with complete conviction. He's funny when needed & absolutely heartbroken which required. Ranbir is wonderfully restrained in a role that demands an actor of his caliber. Performance-Wise: Ranbir Kapoor & Anushka Sharma are up for vie top honors. Anil Mehta's Cinematography captures the stunning foreign locales, with flourish. Its only, as mentioned before, the final act that doesn't work. The characters work, the dialogue (by Niranjan Iyengar) are spot-on & the even sub-plots aren't bad. He's made an engaging & affecting film on heartbreak & one-sided love. Johar's Screenplay is well-done, no doubt. How I wish the final act was more intense, than saddening. Johar settles for a safer end & that acts a minus point. Although the final act isn't tear-jerky nor is it overtly sad, it certainly isn't the best end. Just when you think Johar has sided away from melodrama, he puts in exactly that & it fails to engage. Having said that, the final act falls apart. Johar nicely builds up the first-hour with first their friendship & later Ayan's change of pace & keeps the second-hour dramatic. What I liked about the both of the characters was the intensity between them & by the difference of their love to each other. Alizeh also is an interesting leading-lady, although one might consider this character as partly selfish. You feel for the guy throughout, as he is a likable & good protagonist, who, sadly, never gets the person, whom he truly lives for. We watch Ayan break into pieces after the love of his life friend-zones him. Karan Johar has made films celebrating love with happy endings in the past, but with 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', he depicts love as painful, unreasonable & also, unattainable. To add to his misery, Alizeh gets married & Ayan is left Heartbroken, Ayan's one-sided love never ends, although a new women enters his life (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). And the performances, are top-notch! 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' Synopsis: Ayan (Ranbir Kapoor) falls in love with Alizeh (Anushka Sharma), but she considers him as her best friend. Made with skill & executed with heart, this romantic-drama isn't without its flaws, but for the most, its engaging & affecting. Karan Johar returns to fine form with 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'.