The Indian moviegoer has often witnessed man-molesting-woman situations on the big screen. Now get ready for exactly the opposite: A woman accusing man of molesting her. Aitraaz tackles the issue of har...ment, with the unique spin of placing the man in the position of victim and the woman as aggressor. In the accused box of the courtroom, stands a man, startled and shocked that destiny could lead him there. He is accused of the most heinous crime - molesting his lady-boss. Raj Malhotra [Akshay Kumar], who works for a cell phone company, is popular amongst his circle of friends and work colleagues. But his world comes crashing down when he meets Sonia [Priyanka Chopra] again. Sonia is an ambitious model with great aspirations. She knows what she wants in life. She is prepared to achieve her goals, whatever the price. Her fundas in life are crystal clear: Nothing shall come in between her wants and desires. Raj is well aware that Sonia knew only one way to live and that was her way. And one fateful evening, things did not go her way. Sonia brings Raj's world to a screeching halt. Raj's wife Priya [Kareena Kapoor], once a lawyer herself, is prepared to do anything to protect her husband's honour and dignity. The devious shadow that threatens to put Raj's honour at stake, finds an adamant Priya at the opposing end. And from a content housewife, Priya becomes a woman with a mission that she must accomplish. She is now Raj's partner in more ways than one. Thrown into this web of deceit is Raj's boss, Ranjit Roy [Amrish Puri], who happens to be Sonia's husband. He is a mere pawn in her hands. The drama has just begun. The court is far from adjourned… Inspired by Barry Levinson's Hollywood flick Disclosure, Aitraaz has a plot that Indian cinegoers haven't witnessed on the screen yet. And that is its USP. Aitraaz belongs to Priyanka Chopra completely. No two opinions on that! Be it her first appearance [in the story] or the sequence when she openly asks Akshay for favours or the sequence with Kareena, Priyanka gets an opportunity to bear her claws and she does it with complete understanding of the character. Kareena has a sugar-and-sweet character till the pre-climax and she does it well. And when she does get the opportunity to display histrionics [climax], she doesn't let the opportunity by. Akshay Kumar underplays his character ably. Amrish Puri is alright. Although Abbas-Mustan tread a dangerous path this time around - the theme is extremely provocative - the writing [screenplay] and execution [direction] is what makes the difference Director duo Abbas-Mustan score on several levels. One, the duo need to be complimented for opting for a bold theme - a theme that has been untouched on the Indian screen so far. Himesh Reshammiya's music sounds pleasant to the ears. Cinematography [Ravi Yadav] is first-rate. On the whole, Aitraaz is a well-crafted thriller that meets the expectations.
