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Films exploring mushy love are a dime a dozen. Of late, blockbuster Bollywood seems to recognise only this side of love. But the other side of love, the love of the other variety, involving passion, jealousy, deceit, pain - that is rarely seen on screen. Worth watching for this reason alone, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (PTKK) has a number of other factors working for it.

The plot is one. Yes, as rumoured it seems to be inspired from Fatal Attraction (1987). Set in Bombay of the current time, it has hot shot photographer Jai (Fardeen Khan) looking for a model when he chances on rich spoilt girl Ria Jaiswal (Urmila Matondkar). Her pictures launch the new magazine Jai works for and Jai persuades her to do many other photo shoots for her. Jai is a charmer, and soon unknown to him, Ria is head over her extremely shapely heels in love with him. Deciding to marry him, she is shell shocked to find out that Jai is already married to Geeta (Sonali Kulkarni). Happily.

But being used to getting her way, Rai cannot conceive of a life without Jai. Childlike in her obstinacy, she is determined to have her way. Midnight calls to Jai, repeated phone calls, following him, lying, even imploring Geeta to leave Jai to her as 'she and Jai love each other', as she tells Geeta - these are some of Ria's weapons in her struggle to get Jai. Even as Ria is rapidly losing her mental balance. She can only see that Geeta stands in the way of her uniting with Jai. She cannot conceive of the fact that Jai does not love her but Geeta, even when Jai implores her to leave them alone. Till she gets to know they are leaving town and takes matters into her hands…

Did the film deserve the hype? To an extent, yes. What is noteworthy in this rather trademark Ram Gopal Varma film is that there is very little deviation from the main plot. The only sub plot is a rather hilarious involving Jai's editor, Wispy (Ravi Baswani) and his attendant Ram Lal, who doubles up as Chhota Vakil to extract money from him. The build up is slow initially, especially as the premise id established early on. But once Geeta is introduced, the pace picks up and there is little is hardly any shot wasted.

The characters are true to life. The degree of Ria's obsession may not be matched easily in real life, but rare would be the person who has not felt these emotions at some level. And Jai did lead her on - with no mention of his wife when the flirting and games were indulged in. And thankfully Geeta is not the usual 'sacrificing Bolly wife' that one encounters in repeated formula films.

The performances are well above average. Urmila's unpleasant act is convincingly done and it must have required some thought for the actress to go into such a grey role, whoever her mentor. The Indian audience is quick to brand. Fardeen Khan definitely has Varma to thank for his rebirth in Bollywood. He is effective as the charming prince who sweeps the princess off her feet, only for the princess to realise the prince has already chosen his consort. Kulkarni is as ever adequate for her role. Suersh Oberoi, Rajpal Yadav and Ravi Baswani chip in with entertaining cameos.

This was film that promised to not to make you feel like falling in love. And it doesn't. See it for the Indianised plot of a western tale. And the acting. And Ria. And Urmila / Fardeen. The breathtaking shots. What the hell, just see the film, even if it makes your toes curl.