Heer Express

Story: Heer Walia takes charge of an Indian restaurant in London to honour her mother’s legacy. Her journey turns into a battle of resilience when greed, sabotage, and family conflicts threaten to derail her dreams.

Review: ‘Heer Express’ is the sort of film that should not have been made in the first place. In the name of ‘clean family entertainment,’ it serves a dull story stuffed with clichés. It’s a film that might have worked a decade ago, but the preferences and tastes of cinegoers have changed drastically. In today’s context, it simply doesn’t hold any weight. A dull screenplay only makes the proceedings duller. The film traces Heer Walia’s journey from Punjab to London, but it remains a trip stripped of any spunk or excitement.

The plot follows Heer Walia (Divita Juneja), who, after losing her mother as a newborn, is raised by her two doting uncles—played by Gulshan Grover and Sanjay Mishra. When Olivia (Sarah Lockett), a foreigner, is delighted by a meal at their restaurant, she offers Heer the chance to take charge of her Indian restaurant in London. She also agrees to the condition that it be named after Heer’s late mother. Once in London, Heer meets Olivia’s husband, TJ (Ashutosh Rana), and begins managing the restaurant. But when TJ’s other businesses start to fail due to his son’s incompetence, Heer is given just a month to save the restaurant. Things get messier when TJ’s son hires goons to vandalize the place, and Heer gets to know that TJ is her father.

‘Heer Express’ throws in every cliché it can find—the lush greenery of Punjab, dhol beats at every Punjabi reference, large-hearted relatives, a separated family, patriotism—the list is long but hardly appealing. There are moments when the screenplay seems to attempt cleverness, but instead of feeling organic, the turns appear forced and designed. It packs personal battles, romance, and family values, yet none of it is powerful enough to resonate or linger. Some might say the biggest flaw is predictability—you more or less know which obstacle is coming next and how it will be resolved. Even its emotional moments feel like checkboxes being ticked rather than something that truly surprises or moves you.

The only redeeming aspect lies in the performances. Debutante Divita Juneja leaves a mark with her spirited portrayal of Heer, her energy carrying the film in places. Prit Kamani, as Ronny—Heer’s silent admirer—puts in a confident effort, though the screenplay sidelines him to a mere footnote. Ashutosh Rana is convincing when restrained, delivering with sincerity. The real disappointment, however, comes from Gulshan Grover and Sanjay Mishra. Playing Heer’s uncles, their attempted comedy and repartee fall flat, dragging the film down with them.

And then comes the climax, where things take cinematic liberty to absurd new heights. Ronny, from a commentary box at an equestrian competition, decides it’s the right time to read out a letter from Olivia. By this point, the audience is less concerned about the competition and more concerned about making a quick dash for the exit. ‘Heer Express,’ in the end, offers “clean entertainment” only if your idea of fun is being stuck on a cinematic train that refuses to pick up speed. One expected better from Umesh Shukla—the man behind ‘OMG: Oh My God!’ and ‘102 Not Out’—but it seems even he couldn’t steer this journey past the mountain of clichés.