ONE MOMENT IN TIME: Bhatt's film Woh Lamhe is his "final goodbye to Parveen Babi." Film Reviews: Masand Cast: Shiney Ahuja, Kangana Ranaut and Shaad Randhawa. Direction: Mohit Suri.

If you have been following the tabloids then you know that director Mohit Suri's new film Woh Lamhe which releases at cinema halls this weekend is based on the relationship his uncle filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt says he shared with former Bollywood siren Parveen Babi.

Having seen the film, I have no desire to question the authenticity of Mr Bhatt's claims, because quite frankly it's none of my business. I'd rather stick to judging the film as any other film.

So, here it goes – In Woh Lamhe, Kangana Ranaut plays a superstar actress who at the peak of her career is falling apart because she's suffering from schizophrenia. It doesn't help that her live-in boyfriend, a leading actor himself, is a heartless and abusive fellow who only makes her condition worse.

It's around that time that she encounters struggling director Shiney Ahuja with whom she commits to do a film much against her boyfriend's wishes, and after dishonouring an exclusive contract that she's signed with another producer.

Shiney's not really looking for a romance or any sort of relationship with his leading lady. He's clear he wants to exploit this collaboration only to further his own career. But Kangana, who finds a sensitive and caring companion in Shiney falls hopelessly in love with him.

It's when she suffers a complete breakdown that Shiney acknowledges his own feelings for her and escapes with her to a friend's home in Goa where he nurses her back to health.

Before long, however, the schizophrenia returns, and Kangana becomes a danger not only to her own life but also to the lives of others. By the time their Goa hideout is discovered, Kangana has escaped.

It's only three years later that she's discovered, once again having made another attempt to take her own life. This time though, it's curtains.

Few films have choked me up the way Woh Lamhe did, and I'm going to attribute that to the fact that director Mohit Suri has created convincing and sympathetic characters out of his two leads.

It's not an easy story to tell, but Suri handles it sensitively and almost never loses his grip on the narrative, except perhaps in the film's second half, which becomes a tad indulgent.

But that aside, he displays immense maturity while handling even delicate portions in the story – like Kangana's breakdown scenes, Shiney's confrontation scene with Kangana's mother, and the scene in which Kangana attacks Shiney in Goa.

For shock value, Suri and his writers insert that ridiculous scene in the film's first half when Kangana retaliates to Shiney's unkind words by flinging an undergarment at him in full public view. Despite its occasional flaws, Woh Lamhe is impressive in the manner in which it straddles a mainstream sensibility with such rare understanding.

Responsible for elevating the film considerably is its principal cast. Newcomer Shaad Randhawa playing Kangana's actor boyfriend is appropriately intense even in the smallest of the three main roles, and makes an impressive debut.

As the woman at the heart of this story, Kangana Ranaut is remarkable, something that comes as a big surprise after her lackluster performance in Gangster where she was clearly the weakest link.

In Woh Lamhe she is in fine form, as she attacks a complex role with all the right moves.

But the star of the show, the film's biggest strength is undoubtedly Shiney Ahuja who makes his presence felt in every single scene that he's in.

Shiney has a camera comfort that is rare to find, and his performance is delectable to say the least.

These actors pump life into their roles and together with Pritam's soothing score they make Woh Lamhe an experience that's hard to forget.

I'm going to go with a thumbs up for director Mohit Suri's Woh Lamhe. Remember to carry a handkerchief, or you'll embarrass yourself with your tears.

Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)

- CNN-IBN