Rajat Kapoor tells us the tale of Raghu, a humble waiter (Vijay Raaz)who's in love with Neetaji (the radiant Maria Goretti), a character from a soap opera. It's ironic that I just rewatched 'Nurse Betty' yesterday and the inspiration shows but the similarities pretty much end there as 'Raghu Romeo' remains its own film. Pritam is behind the music and there are a few ripped-off tracks but it's funny to see how that's presented.
Vijay Raaz proves to be one of the funniest actors today. Having witnessed his comic performances in 'Monsoon Wedding', 'Pran Jaaye Par Shaan Na Jaye' and even 'Run' (him being the best thing in that movie). With 'Anwar' and 'Company' he's proving to be quite versatile too. He's the perfect choice for 'Raghu' as his unconventional looks and mannerisms only add to the character's genuineness. Saadiya Siddiqui's Sweety and Maria Goretti's Reshma provide the perfect contrast to Raghu. As Reshma, Goretti is a little hyper but that too proves to be an advantage as it contrasts well with her soap opera character 'Neeta'. It's great to see Siddiqui finally in a full-fledged role of the (unusual) heroine. Saurabh Shukla plays a hit-man who's hilariously in love with Sweety.
Shukla's writing is commendable but there are a few plot holes. I've spotted about one or two but this does not bring down the entertainment value of the film and can be overlooked. I like how Rajat Kapoor tells uncommon stories about common people (e.g. 'Mixed Doubles' and 'Mithya') and as a director he does a pleasant job. This is especially evident in the last scene after an upset Raghu, sitting next to his indifferent mother, watches Neeta on television.
