| Not A Love Story | |
| Director: | Ram Gopal Varma |
| Producer: | Nitish Sharma Shailesh R Singh Kiran Kumar Koneru |
| Story: | Nitish Sharma |
| Starring: | Mahie Gill Deepak Dobriyal Nitish Sharma Ajay Gehi |
| Music: | Sandeep Chowta |
| Cinematography: | Sapan Narula Harshraj Shroff M. Ravichandra Thevar |
| Editing: | Abhijit Kokate Vinay Chauhan Jimmy Thomas |
| Distributor: | Bohra Bros Prod. Pvt. Ltd. |
| Runtime: | 100 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Hindi |
| Budget: | 80 lacs |
Not A Love Story is a 2011 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film inspired by the murder of Neeraj Grover in 2008 that led to the arrest of Emile Jerome Mathew and Maria Susairaj. Starring Mahie Gill, Deepak Dobriyal and Ajay Gehi and directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the film was released on 19 August 2011. Ram Gopal Varma has announced that the film is not a biopic but is inspired by the case.[1] [2]
The film's shooting was completed in 20 days. One of the prime locations was the building Dheeraj Solitaire where Neeraj Grover was allegedly murdered in 2008.
Standing at 5'6", Chandigarh-born Anusha Chawla, bids adieu to her boyfriend, Robin Fernandes, and re-locates to Mumbai, in order to act in movies. Weeks later she manages to meet a film-maker, Sam, who assures her of a lead role on the condition that she become intimate with him but she walks away. She meets with more disappointment when a movie with Richa gets shelved. Disappointed, she nevertheless continues to audition - encouraged by her new friends, Anju and Prashant - while Robin urges her to return home. She then meets with Ashish Bhatnagar, who puts her on a short-list, eventually gets approval, and signs her in a lead role. Both celebrate in a pub, get intoxicated and end up in bed in her Malad flat. The next day, a delighted Robin, happy with her success, attends at her residence to congratulate and surprise her, is enraged at Ashish and kills him. He subsequently cuts the latter's body in small pieces and the duo borrow Prashant's car, drive to an isolated spot in Dahisar and burn it. Before returning home, Robin instructs her not to tell anyone that he was in Mumbai. Days later, Prashant, Anju and she attend Malad Police Station and notify Inspector Mane that Ashish is missing. After obtaining statements from the trio, the police launch an investigation to try and locate Ashish. Eventually, Mane suspects Anusha, summons her, questions and tortures her, she confesses, and is arrested. Robin is also subsequently arrested, brought to Mumbai, and both are produced in Court.
The critics' response has been positive to mixed. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave 4 stars out of 5.[3] Subhash K Jha gave 3.5 out of 5.[4] Kaveree Bamzai of India Today gave 3 out of 5.[5] Zee News gave 3 out of 5.[6] Raja Sen of Rediff rated it 1.5 out of 5, saying that it is a film made in bad taste.[7] Harish of Behindwoods rated it 2 out of 5 and said "Overall in the time of stylish filmmaking of no substance movies, RGV tries to differ but with such a wafer-thin but powerful plot-line, you expect the background music, editing and camera work to push it to greatness and that is where the movie falters."[8]
Mayank Shekhar of the Hindustan Times said "it delves deeper into neither the young dream-chasers of a scary celeb industry nor chilling procedurals of an infamous police case", and rated it 2 out of 5.[9] CNN-IBN's Rajeev Masand said "Not A Love Story' is not entirely unwatchable", rating it 2 out of 5, but asserted that it is the "most senseless movie made in Bollywood for a long time."[10] Nupur Barua of fullhyd.com rated it 6/10 and said you can watch the movie if you can digest, visually, blood, gore, violent sex, and constant shaky camera movement.[11]