Filmmaker's novel

All that could have been
Mahesh Bhatt with Suhrita Sengupta
Speaking Tiger
2015, pp 279, Rs. 195

A look at the book cover of Mahesh Bhatt’s latest, All That Could Have Been, tantalises readers to buy it; and the ‘soon to be a major motion picture, Hamaari Adhuri Kahaani’ does the trick. Of course, that would not have been enough, had it not carried the name of one of the ace filmmakers and storytellers of Bollywood, Mahesh Bhatt.

Bhatt’s proficiency as a screenwriter is widely acclaimed, and the gripping tales of his films like Raaz, Jism, Murder etc set the stage for readers to expect another passionate love story adorned with secrecy and the dark side of human life.

True to all such expectations, Bhatt’s book, penned with Suhrita Sengupta, turns out to be a romantic thriller, and in the author’s words, “it’s the story of the “new-age woman”.
The novel chronicles the story of Vasudha, married to a wretch who bullies and dominates her, and then goes missing. Vasudha, stuck to traditional values of marriage and relationships, does not give up wearing the mangalsutra and also believes in “bound for seven lives”.  Working in a hotel, Vasudha has been supporting her young son ever since her husband has left home. Bhatt’s heroine undergoes many mental traumas — bearing the lecherous comments of neighbourhood scoundrels, struggling to give her son a good life. Her struggles also involve making things easy for her son by giving him letters and gifts marked with the missing father’s name.
The mundane life of Vasudha undergoes a complete change once Aarav Ruparel, a wealthy hotelier, comes in. Going fast-paced even beyond her comprehension, Vasudha’s life, which so far has been dominated by her traditional values regarding marriage, becomes topsy-turvy. Aarav Ruparel brings forth many hidden desires and dreams for Vasudha that hitherto remained locked in her heart. However, Bhatt seems to have different plans for the couple. If the readers are on the lookout for the usual doses of love and romance from Bhatt’s book, they are in for a surprise.

Challenging circumstances are in store for Vasudha and Aarav from the time they are introduced to each other. If for Vasudha it is the marital status and memories of the abusive marriage, for Aarav it’s the not-so-good memories of his mother and the trying circumstances of his past life.

A change of scene from Mumbai to Dubai seems to offer them a breather to plan life. With a hint here and there of the burgeoning relationship, Bhatt, however, turns the plot true to the title, Hamaari Adhuri Kahaani. Just when legal complications are sorting out, plans for the future are being made, dreams are on the verge of coming true, re-emerges Hari, Vasudha’s husband, to threaten the equilibrium.

How does Bhatt render the heartbreaking climax of Vasudha and Aarav’s story? How can Hari, a non-existing husband, and his appearance, make a huge difference to the plans of Vasudha and Aarav? What is ultimately in store for all the three? That’s a journey the reader must undertake to appreciate the writer’s keen observation and understanding of human life.

Bhatt scores in his portrayal of the middle class mindset on marriage, characterisation and humour as projected through the use of chutnified English. The plot could have been more gripping as it tends to become slow towards the middle, and then suddenly rushes towards the end. The romantic angle of Vasudha and Aarav seems to lack development.

Much is left to the imagination of readers in the Dubai phase when the two come together; no doubt the maturity of their love that operates more in understanding each other’s silence is what Bhatt has in mind, but many a reader would lose connection between the starting and developing phases of the love story. Bhatt’s book, however, would be etched in the minds of readers through certain scenes that have the potential of being transformed into powerful cinematic sequences.

Readers are awaiting the film version of the introductory scene between Aarav and Vasudha in the hotel, Vasudha’s confrontation with the police inspector, which under the direction of Mohit Suri, will lend a different charm. Supposed to cast Vidya Balan (Vasudha), Emraan Hashmi (Aarav) and Rajkumar Rao (Hari), ATCHV aka Hamaari Adhuri Kahaani promises to drive the audience to theatres for its powerful cast and passionate tale. Till Bhatt’s film knocks the theatre door, interested readers and film lovers are sure to devour the book to know what awaits them on a Friday in the near future.