The plot? Well....Bobby Deol plays a rich and well off type who befriends a "naukars" kid played by Akshay Kumar. The two become right as friends and as they grow older their friendship gets tighter. Akshay is in love with Kareena and Bobby falls for Lara, things are going smoothly until Lara finds out about Bobbys flirting ways and sees a picture of him with his ex. She breaks off her marriage to him-since Akshay can't marry without him(although he is marrying Kareena, their "dosti" is TOO TIGHT, lol) so he breaks off his marriage with Kareena too. Kareena brother(Mahesh Thakur) and Akshay have a argument where Akshay slaps him. He also says some hurtful things to Akshay which makes Akshay think twice about himself and he decides to leave the city and Bobby to build his own name..furthermore..he decides to break off their "dosti". At the airport Bobby finds out that Akshay actually has a bone marrow disease and is dying(KHNH anyone? or ANAND?)That is why he purposesly did this whole thing so that he could slip away quietly.
But now that Bobby knows, Akshay decides to stay back....make things right with Bobby and his family(damage control with Dad, Mum and Sister) as well as get his girl back too, so that when he goes Bobby has plenty of support. SOunds old fasioned? OH DAMN IT IS!
Suneel Darshan lives in a 80's time warp! BARSAAT-A Sublime Love Story was INTOLERABLE for me, and i just don't know how that movie made money! The movie was just utterly pathetic-thankfully DOSTI is a superior effort. The story and screenplay are cliched and out of date as is Darshans direction. Suneel REALLY has to stop those stupidly annoying "childhood" sequences with the really bad child artistes, they are just unintentionally HILARIOUS! Those scenes along give an indication on how old fashioned Darshan is. To Darshans credit-he has 2 major trumps cards....1) Performances and to an extent 2) the music!
It would be an understatement to say that Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deols performances are the movies saving graces! Great performance they aren't by any means, but they do salvage the movie and make it watchable for the most. Akshay is bearable as ever in a tragic role. He is natural, charming and excels in comic as well as dramatic sequence. He handles the second part of the movie with utmost ease and sincerity and holds the movie together. Bobby Deol delivers a performance that actually surprised me! He is confident, has screen presence and a definite convinction! After his KNOCKOUT performance in DILLAGI, I have been waiting for Bobby to show signs of "acting"...there was TANGO CHARLIE, but apart from that its been all downhill. Here he gives a rather "average" performance by normal standards, but given I had no hopes...he is surprisingly good! What works is the chemistry between the two-Akshay and Bobby to share a very natural and charming chemistry onscreen which does translate extremely well(not in the RDB kinda way, but more ina old fashioned 80's RAM AVTAAR kinda way). Kareena Kapoor is good in her part with minimal scope. She had a much better role in BEWAFFA. Lara Dutta once again shines after her NO ENTRY act. The supporting cast is as expected and don't leave a mark.
Nadeem Shravans music is hummable-the title track and DULHANIA take the cake. The picturisations on the other hand are not orignal or inspiring at all.
Technically the film is sound and has the required glossy look which is apt for the genre it belongs too.
All up DOSTI-Friends Forever is only for ardent fans of Akshay and Bobby-who even then will be disappointed if they have high expectations. Keep in mind that this is a Darshan film!
Final Rating: * * ½
