The Film: Awara Paagal Deewana
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty & Aftab Shivdasani
Producer: Firoz A. Nadiadwala
Director: Vikram Bhatt
Music: Anu Malik
Lyrics: Sameer
Score: * *

Each time director Vikram Bhatt tried to work on original ideas, he failed but whenever he was inspired by Hollywood movies he made some impression. In this movie Aftab Shivdasani plays Matthew Perry and Akshay Kumar plays Bruce Willis of The Whole Nine Yards.

The characters of Sunil Shetty, Paresh Rawal and Rahul Dev are missing in this film.

Although there are plenty actors in this film - it is Paresh Rawal who is like a once man army who makes this movie a worthwhile. For Paresh this movie is like Aankhen 2. His funny one-liners will make you laugh throughout the three hours.

Feroz Nadiadwala is one man who must be calling director Vikram Bhatt home and showing him various Hollywood flicks on his DVD. One can trace that Feroz is trying to give Hollywood-feel to his film. He brings home inspiration from C grade Hollywood action comedy films. Matrix (action scenes) and even music video like “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” by Madonna from the film Evita (song sequences).

Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty, the action heroes together after a number of films like Mohra, Dhadkan and Hera Pheri, all of which were successful. Aftab Shivdasani comes in for a second running with Bhatt who help made him what he is with Kasoor.

A mafia don (Om Puri) leaves behind a will that creates a tussle between Guru Gulab Khatri (Akshay Kumar), his son-in-law, and Vikrant (Rahul Dev), the don's son.

As per the brief of the will, diamonds worth millions of rupees, which have been kept in a U.S. bank locker, can be claimed if the three inheritors - Guru Gulab Khatri, Vikrant and Preeti (Preeti Jhangiani), the don's daughter - personally sign the papers.

Vikrant takes the first step in trying to outwit Gulab for the money. Vikrant manages to accuse Gulab of a heinous crime by killing a minister wearing Gulab’s mask. How stupid can the scriptwriter be - why would Vikrant go himself to kill the minister when he could send his men!

Unable to defend himself properly Gulab has nothing else to do but to flee the country, leaving his wife behind, but whether she can remain his wife through tribulations is hard to tell. Surprising that Gulab did not even touch her beautiful wife! The viewers are confused and have no clue as to what went wrong with them.

On his trail towards escaping a crime that never happened Vikrant encounters more people, another couple, a dentist, Dr. Anmol Acharya (Aftab) who is married to Mona (Amrita Arora) and has wicked mother-in-law (Supriya). Mona is a tough wife who makes her husband earn the bread at the same time he has to take care of house like a housewife. His work also includes cleaning clothes and cooking food for the family.

Anmol's greedy wife Mona (Amrita Arora) and mother-in-law (Supriya) force Anmol and Manilal (Paresh Rawal), the father-in-law, to meet Vikrant in India and inform him about Guru Gulab's whereabouts and collect the prize money.

Now why would they sent them when they just make a phone call and inform that Gulab is in the neighborhood!

In Mumbai Chota Chatrri (Jhonny Lever) and Aida Anna (Sunil Shetty) meet Aftab and Paresh and they kid nap them back to NY.

On the way all of them team up to get the diamonds and try to kill Vikrant. Who gets the diamonds is what you will have to watch.