What makes Wamiqa Gabbi shine in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Khufiya?
Khufiya (2023) is a spy thriller film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and produced by VB Films Production. It is based on the novel ‘Escape to Nowhere’ by Amar Bhushan, which narrates a true story of espionage in India. The film features Tabu, Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Ashish Vidyarthi in the lead roles. While the film has a promising premise and a talented cast, it fails to deliver a gripping and satisfying experience. It seems that Bhardwaj has lost his magic touch for adapting literary works into cinematic masterpieces. He has previously directed acclaimed films based on Shakespeare’s plays, such as Maqbool (2003), Omkara (2006), and Haider (2014). However, Khufiya does not live up to his reputation and falls short of expectations. However, one actor who stands out in the film is Wamiqa Gabbi, who plays Charu, the wife of Ravi (Fazal), the suspected mole in the Research and Analysis Wing (R and AW).
What makes Wamiqa Gabbi shine?
Wamiqa Gabbi is not just a pretty face, but a versatile and expressive actor. She portrays Charu as a woman who loves her husband and son, enjoys her life, and also has a strong sense of patriotism. She shows her range of emotions and skills in different scenes of the film. For instance, in one scene, she dances joyfully while doing household chores, humming an old Bollywood song. She also strips off some of her clothes, revealing her playful side. This scene shows her character’s happiness and carefree attitude before her world turns upside down. In another scene, she smokes a cigarette and breaks into a dance, showing her rebellious side. This scene shows her character’s frustration and anger after learning about her husband’s betrayal. She also nails the dramatic scenes, such as when she discovers that Ravi has been leaking India’s defense secrets. She is devastated by his betrayal and decides to cooperate with the R and AW to catch him. This scene shows her character’s loyalty and courage to do the right thing.
Wamiqa Gabbi also transforms herself in the second half of the film, when she is sent on a mission to infiltrate Ravi’s hideout and gain his trust. She cuts her hair short, wears simple clothes, and acts like an ordinary woman. She convincingly plays the role of a double agent, fooling both Ravi and his mother (played by the veteran actor Navnindra Behl). She also fools the audience into believing that she has switched sides. This scene shows her character’s intelligence and deception to complete her mission. Wamiqa Gabbi has proved her acting prowess in Khufiya with her nuanced and powerful performance. She has also shown her versatility by playing different roles in different languages, such as Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. She is one of the rising stars of Indian cinema and deserves more recognition and appreciation.
Disclaimer: The above review solely illustrates the views of the writer.
