Yeh Hai Jalwa promises 'no jalwa' even with the likes of David Dhawan and Salman Khan being associated with the film. The story holds no surprises for the audience right from the beginning.


Raj (Salman Khan) is the owner of one of the biggest industries in India. His parents left him for heavenly abode when he was just a child. But to his amazement, he discovers that his father is still alive and well in London. He takes the next flight to the U.K., leaving a busy office schedule behind. On arrival, Raj gets the shock of his life when he faces the family of his father, with his mother completely out of the picture.

There's his father, Rajesh Mittal (Rishi Kapoor), a business tycoon, grandfather Purshottam Mittal (Kader Khan), his step-mom Smita (Rati Agnihotri) and her two children, Rinkie (Rinkie Khanna) & Bunty. You come to know that Rajesh Mittal had an affair with an Indian girl Meghna (Poonam Dhillon), decades back and Raj is the product of their union. Raj confronts his father that he is his 'carbon copy', but is rejected outright. Rajesh is not ready to believe that Raj is his own son. On the other hand, Raj too challenges his father that he won't leave unless he accepts him as his son. Raj makes life miserable for his father as he pops up every now and then, even as continuous efforts of his father to send him back to India fail. In the meantime, Raj finds time to dance around with Sonia (Ameesha Patel) who happens to be the daughter of Rajesh's legal advisor, Robin Hood! (Anupam Kher).

Reels and Reels later, the film finally comes to an end but not before going through a mindless ordeal. Add to that, there's a bagful of errors in the loose script. Vicky (Sharad Kapoor) is just placed somewhere in between just to keep the screenplay moving. In the build-up to the climax, Smita comes to know that her husband is in the I.C.U., but in the very next scene, he has not even reached the I.C.U. Severe continuity lapses mars the audiences' interest in the plot. The songs too, refuse to rise above the average with only the hummable 'O Jaane Jigar' worth a mention.

Of the cast, Sharad Kapoor and Rinkie Khanna are treated as 'extras'. Sanjay Dutt too, is reduced to just a single song and a couple of scenes, that's it. Kader Khan is ok but Anupam Kher has done a good job within the limits of his role. Rishi Kapoor, as the helpless father, is passable in an outdated role. Ameesha Patel gives a 'nothing-new' performance to talk about. As for the hunky Salman Khan, you doubt that he actually read the stretched script before signing on the dotted line?

VERDICT: Certainly, this is not expected from a seasonal director like David Dhawan. He seems to be driving a slow 'Rolce Royce' without a brake.