#Review: Nakuul Mehta is The Only Thing to Look Out in Ishqbaaaz season 2

With Manjiri Pupala joining the actor as the lead actress, we gave the first episode a watch and here's what I think of it.

The episode starts like a new chapter as expected. With a setup of a movie premiere, slowly the present characters are introduced. From the reporter, publicist to Shivaansh Singh Oberoi's bodyguard and manager, one character after the other make an entry. After an extravagant establishment of Shivaansh Singh Oberoi's craze, the much-awaited entry of Shivaansh happens. It is also established that something horrific has happened to Anika and Shivaay but Shivaansh has made himself strong and moved ahead to a good career.

Cut to that scene, a market area is established where a girl is buying groceries. While she is busy choosing veggies, the shopkeeper is drooling over Shivaansh Singh Oberoi on his cellphone. On her way home she sees some guys teasing girls and takes the charge over. She beats the guys and teaches them a good lesson. Everyone praises her. And slowly it is revealed that she is ACP Additi Vijay Deshmukh. On the other hand, a boy gets injured while chasing Shivaansh. He comes to his rescue and with his antics, he brings a smile to his face. Dadi is really happy by seeing this but misses Anika and Shivaay. In flashback we see Shivaay saving Anika from a bomb blast and reuniting with each other.

With Shivaansh being a person believing in love and marriage, Additi is established as a person with a stone heart and believer in other ideologies. How will the two end up together and what is in their future is what constitutes the show's future.

Nakuul as Shivaansh Singh Oberoi is undoubtedly the best choice the makers could have made. Not only his look as the Gen-Y actor is impressive but his acting prowess is seen throughout. The transition of Shivaay to Shivaansh is completely visible through his dialogue deliveries. The swag and emotions are well presented by Nakuul. Acing the role of Shivaansh, Nakuul indeed will be the main attraction of the show.

Talking about Manjiri Pupala, the actress makes her presence from the moment she starts her action sequence. Not being the quintessential beauty of small screen, the debutant of Hindi show makes a mark with her acting chops. Not once will you feel she has missed on her character. Her calmness and dialogue deliveries are striking.

Visually it is appealing. The sharp contrast between the two characters is established in the first episode. In the earlier season, Shivaay was the brooding hero, who doesn't believe in the institution of love or marriage while Anika was the complete opposite, this season, the leads have a role reversal and that is quite intriguing for me as a viewer.

Ishqbaaaz has always been known for its OTT but this season seems to be a notch higher than the last one. It felt like I am watching a masala movie with extra CGI effect induced fighting sequence. The supporting actors don't look much impressive, but it is too early to comment. An ACP running out of money and failing to buy tomatoes as it is month's end is not quite believable. Is it? I also wonder why the splashing of gullal at night after Additi wins over the goons. If it is for a visual grandeur then I couldn't connect to it.

The entry of Shivaansh seemed to be excessively stretched as it was already out in promo. At one point when Dadi misses Shivaay and Anika, well I also felt the same. In overall, the entire episode missed the charm, essence of Ishqbaaaz that the show is known to have. The scenes missed the links. We wonder how long the red carpet was as Shivaay reached the top yet returned to take care of the injured boy from the back. The zoning of the entire episode seemed to be all colliding together and making visual jerks. This season offers nothing new as the love story is very common and shows have been already made best on it.

With some massive flaws, nothing is perfect about this season of the show. But that doesn't mean it is not a compelling watch. If you are interested to watch another love story and know how they end up together, then you can watch it. Or if you want to know what happened to Anika and Shivaay in the past, then also you have got a reason. And last but not the least, Nakuul Mehta. This show is strictly for his fans.

Rating - ** (2/5)