"Break Ke Baad" ("After the Break") is a slick, savvy Bollywood romantic comedy that comes across as downright Western — for better and for worse.
It's mostly for the better, as its surprisingly modern depiction of young adult relationships suits the believable performances of charming leads Imran Khan and Deepika Padukone. Khan's Abhay, son of a cinema owner, and Padukone's Aaliya, his classmate and free spirit, are perfectly suited childhood sweethearts — her wildness keeps his steadiness afloat. But while aspiring actress Aaliya is dazzling, gorgeous and ambitious, she's also selfish and shortsighted (read: young). Abhay, meanwhile, is devoted to distraction and plays the good son to a fault. When Aaliya leaves to study in Australia for a year, their lifelong relationship threatens to come apart.
