An eligible doctor has volunteered to help a matchmaking service in another country find a suitable bride for him in Pakistan. The idea of “contractual love” makes his white neighbor’s friend laugh, so he films his wedding in Pakistan before falling in love with him or, more likely, the idea of real love itself.
You’ll get the flutters watching the trailer for Jemima Khan’s What’s Love Got To Do With It? a romantic drama that ticks all the boxes for a cozy, feel-good film.
The film, starring Sajal Aly, Shahzad Latif, and Lily James, takes place in both London and Lahore. Kazim is played by Latif, James by his closest friend and neighbor, Zoe, and Aly by Maymouna.
Part one of the trailer depicts Kazim and Maymouna’s “love at first sight” (with her family paroling in the background, of course) before moving on to the “big fat arranged marriage” in the second half.
The film depicts their Mehendi, or pre-wedding celebration, which included a performance by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, as would be expected at any lavish Lahore wedding. The marriage bureaus in the film pick up on oddities that are both hilarious and realistic, and the teaser then goes on to emphasize the harmful Rishta mentality prevalent in desi households.
It’s not apparent if Zoe’s love is reciprocated, but she does come to terms with the fact that she was searching for the wrong kind of love on dating apps.
The film only gives us a brief view of Aly, but we get to watch her go from a reserved bride-to-be to a joyful celebrant of her big day, and it’s safe to say that she’s gorgeous in both roles.
Exactly what role does love play here? This appears to be a warm and fuzzy story of close friends, one-sided love, marriages that start out as arranged but end up being for love, and loving moms. As it stands, we’re dying to watch this movie. Shekhar Kapur, the Oscar-winning filmmaker of “Love Actually” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” helmed the trailer, and while it was excellent, it may have given away too much of the story.
What Does Love Have to Do with It? focuses on James, Aly, and Latif. It also stars Mim Shaikh, Jeff Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Asim Chaudhry, and Emma Thompson. On January 27, 2023, theatres will hopefully start showing this movie.
