Milap Zaveri is returning to the big screen with his new film, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat. Starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, this romantic drama is filled with Zaveri's signature sharp dialogue, exaggerated emotions, and high-pitched music. But the trailer suggests Zaveri still hasn't broken free from his old ways.

Zaveri's last two films, Marjaavaan (2019) and Satyameva Jayate 2 (2021), were both part of his "masala cinema" genre, but they exhibited the same flaws he has long struggled with. Marjaavaan was a story of love and revenge, but heavy dialogue and artificial emotions made it melodramatic. According to Sacnilk, Marjaavaan earned an India net collection of around 48 crore and a worldwide gross of 62 crore. Made on a budget of 38 crore, it performed moderately and was rated “Average” at the box office.

Satyameva Jayate 2 proved even more over-the-top. This film had an India net collection of around 14 crore and a worldwide total of just 15 crore, against a massive budget of 95 crore. Classified as a “Disaster” by trade analysts, the film was one of the biggest commercial failures of that year. Overloaded with patriotic monologues and triple roles by John Abraham, it was drowned in noise rather than emotion.

Now, watching the trailer for Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, it seems Milap Zaveri hasn't learned much from his past experiences. The story's same old melodrama, the dialogues' same fake passion, and the music's music echoes past controversies. Everything looks the same. Harshvardhan and Sonam's chemistry is weak, and the film's emotional layer feels superficial.

Milap Zaveri has always described himself as a director of "mass cinema," but if the same formula is repeated over and over again, audiences lose patience. Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat could be a turning point in his career. But for that, he'll have to redefine the soul of his cinema.