Hate Story 4 was an erotica-fuelled disaster. On Wahiyat Wednesday

Urvashi Rautela, Vivan Bhatena, Karan Wahi and Ihana Dhillon starred in the fourth instalment of the Hate Story franchise. As the film turns 4 today, March 9, we tell you why this revenge drama riddled with sex scenes was absolutely hateful.

Back in 2012, we were introduced to the world of Hate Story. For those who have managed to stay away from this black hole, it’s just a franchise where revenge and betrayal are served with a side of semi-naked hot bodies and steamy sex scenes. We knew all this, so we knew what to expect with its instalments. But then, 2018 brought the fourth part, starring Urvashi Rautela, Vivan Bhatena, Karan Wahi and Ihana Dhillon. Here, story and acting died a sad death. The film turns four today, March 9, and we say it’s perfect for Wahiyat Wednesday.

Yes, we understand that when you have a film like Hate Story, it’s foolish to expect a captivating storyline. For that, you have heaving bosoms, barebacks, pelvic thrusts, gliding hands and sliding clothes. Pardon our crassness, but director Vishal Pandya is fully aware of his audience and makes full use of cheap thrills. But still, if you want to go for an erotica-fuelled tale on the big screen, have some mercy and spare us the clichés and melodrama, especially when you are adding murder, blackmail and revenge into the mix. It is too damn much!

Brace yourselves, now comes whatever the film peddled as a story. We have a rich family settled in London. Vikram (Gulshan Grover) is the tycoon who is on his way to becoming England’s mayor. Yes, Bollywood is a land of absurd possibilities. Anyway, Vikram has two sons - Aryan (Vivan Bhatena) and Rajveer (Karan Wahi). The boon of their existence becomes stripper-turned-model Tasha (Urvashi Rautela). Besides her, the oomph factor is helped by Rishma (Ihana Dhillon), who plays Aryan’s partner.

So, Rajveer helps Tasha become a star and you become numb to the film that just feels like a long lingerie advertisement. The bro-code between Rajveer and his elder brother Aryan is broken because of lust. Basic instincts can’t be tamed. There’s a murder, anyone betrays just about anyone else and revenge is best served with an expressionless face or over-the-top dialogues.

Watch the trailer here:

Hate Story 4 will make sure to remind you every 15 minutes that it’s a 'hate' story and not a 'love' story. It will also make you cringe with its corny dialogues in every scene. Take this - “Pata nahi tumne mere hothon ko kya rishwat di hai ki ye mujhse zyada tumhari sunte hain.” Eww! Then there’s this gem, “Bedroom mein kiye gaye promises boardroom mein nahin laate.” Sure! Here’s another quotable quote, “I'm somebody who can get anybody, but I want nobody other than your body.” We’ll give you a minute to recover from that.

Now, the acting. Well, there was none, so let’s not waste time with that. We think the exotic locations and sensuous shots did the heavy-lifting in making somewhat of an impact. And then there are zoom-ins and pauses for classic Balaji-like theatrical effects. Once you get past all the skin show and sad attempts at plot twists, there’s a conscious eruption waiting at the end. But, after all that objectification, date-rape drugs and insanity, a message about eve-teasing cannot absolve Hate Story 4. The message contributes just about as much to the disastrous film as the movie itself does to the history of thriller cinema.