Ishaan Khatter Speaking Bangla in Dhadak was Mishti Doi to Me

What did you think of Ishaan Khatter’s Bangla in Dhadak?

Did you catch Ishaan Khatter’s ‘Bangla’ in Dhadak? 

(Photo: The Quint)

If you, like me and a hundred others, went to watch Dhadak after watching Sairat, you probably knew what was coming.

Perhaps that’s why Ishaan Khatter and his adorably broken Bangla not only took me by surprise, but also earned a special spot in my heart.

‘Eesh’Photo: Giphy

Dhadak’s narrative, unlike it’s Marathi original, brings our leads to Kolkata where they have to start from scratch. And this half of the story was exactly when the Bong in me sat upright and took notice.

I was bracing myself for the cliched shots that typically Bollywood has to offer from the City of Joy:

Pan to Howrah Bridge? Check.

Shots of eating phuchka by the Victoria Memorial? Check.

I was all ready to cringe when Madhu (AKA Ishaan Khatter’s character in the film) tries to romance Parthavi (Jhanvi) with the ‘meethi dahi’ in his hand. Here comes ‘Ami tomake bhalo bashi’, a small voice inside my head warned me.

It never came. Wow. What a sigh of relief!

But when Madhu, working as a waiter at a quintessential ‘Bangali’ eatery, invites his guest to try the special ‘Majher Jhol’- a specialty at the said eatery - I was floored.

(Photo: Giphy)

It was broken, agreed, but there was something so cute about the earnest way he tried to muster up the mouthful that the dish’s name is, it was anything but condescending. It was rather refreshing IMHO.

Thinking back, Ishaan’s disarming screen presence probably runs in the family. Fifteen years ago when his (step) brother Shahid Kapoor had debuted with Ishq Vishq, me and my fellow pubescent girl friends found a Bollywood crush that we would openly declare as our boyfriend. Something about his easy smiles made him more relatable.

(Photo: Giphy)

Ishaan Khatter retains that familiarity with his audience throughout ‘Dhadak’. Through his acting, Ishaan has made Madhur a more likeable character than Sairat’s Parshya.

Not to mention Ishaan has the advantage to play up his easily approachable image through social media, where he can directly interact with them. Something Shahid Kapoor couldn’t have capitalised on when he debuted.

With his boy-next-door persona and his cute Bangla, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ishaan Khatter has already earned himself an all Bongo Nari Fanclub that is ready to spoon-feed him some more ‘mishti doi.’ And maybe teach him some more bangla too.

Photo: Giphy

Directors in Tollywood, are you listening?