Salaam Namaste might have one of the best first halves in an Indian rom-com
Rewatched recently. Overall, it’s a pretty poorly executed film. The second half feels blank, rushed, and emotionally undercooked. We barely get to see the actual struggle of pregnancy, Sam’s issue with kids is never explored properly, and even his character arc doesn’t land the way it should have.
But man, that first half? Genuinely one of the best rom-com first halves I’ve seen in an Indian film.
The character introductions are so smooth, nothing feels rushed, and the whole vibe just works. Two people deciding to live together to understand each other better was such a fresh concept for a 2005 Bollywood movie. It felt modern without trying too hard.
Honestly, if the second half had the same care and writing as the first, this could’ve been an all-time great Bollywood rom-com for me.
P.S. Siddharth Anand really needs to make more rom-coms.