Given the number of plot turns that assault the senses with breathtaking speed ‘Twister’ would be a more appropriate title for this film.

Set in Durban, South Africa, we encounter stepbrothers Ranvir (Saif Ali Khan), the flamboyant owner of stud farm ‘Stallions’ and Rajiv (Akshaye Khanna), a romantic drunk. They are the beneficiaries of their late parents’ will which provides that if either dies, the survivor inherits $100 million.

When Rajiv meets Sonia (Bipasha Basu), he is smitten. Unaware that Ranvir and Sonia are already lovers, Rajiv confesses his love for Sonia to Ranvir. In true Bollywood fashion, Ranvir sacrifices his girl for his brother’s happiness and Rajiv and Sonia get married.

For the first hour, director-duo Abbas-Mustan latest inspiration from various B grade Hollywood sting-flicks cruises promisingly along. It’s amoral, beautiful and one-dimensional leads indulge in cat and mouse games with each other and sing songs with titles like ‘O baby rock the dance floor’, ‘Baby I love you so’, and ‘O slowly touch me’. It is so shamelessly blatant you know this trip is one racy tease.

The first twist occurs when it is revealed that Rajiv and Sonia have conspired to kill Ranvir in order to inherit the cash. Five minutes later we’re hit by the second when we learn that Ranvir and Sonia are still lovers and intent on murdering Rajiv. The scheming trio meet at the top of a skyscraper and Sonia pushes Ranvir off the rooftop, Baazigar-style, for the third and final twist.

Abbas-Mustan’s insistence on double and triple crossing with reckless abandon and little reference to plot logic makes it impossible to care about the storyline though, and by the interval, with over an hour still to go, all bets are off on what will happen next.

Worst of all is its pretentious attempt at seriousness. Underhand horse-racing betting practices are supposed to be a metaphor for the immoral characters lives, whilst the proffered explanation for the step-brothers resentment of each other is likened to Ram and Lakhan from the Hindu epic, the Ramayan.

Ultimately, this is a superficial style-over-substance journey which will please fans of star-driven Bollywood vehicles.

Directors: Abbas-Mustan, 160 mins, 12A, Subtitles

Explore Film

• Film Reviews

• DVD

• Oscars

• Bollywood

Editor's choice

• Here comes summer: our cultural must-sees
• Friends reunited: Sex and the City
• New country for old men