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Luck seems to be playing games with director Suneel Darshan. He started well after leaving his brother Dharmesh Darshan in Akshay Kumar starrer 'Jaanwar' some seven years back. The film started a relationship that sees its latest episode in his 'Mere Jeevan Saathi' that also marks the return of Karisma Kapoor on the big screen. Though the film was shot long before her marriage and she came later to the sets only for some patchwork in this film, the project took a long to come to the box office thanks to financial legal battle over the rights.

The film has taken over five years to see the light of the day and it is evident in various scenes in the film. The novelty of the film is that Karisma Kapoor for the first time plays a negative character and you get to see Amisha Patel in her pre-reincarnation looks. Yes, she is not a blonde here; she comes across as a typical Indian girl. For Akshay it has been a long journey with Suneel Darshan from 'Jaanwar' to 'Ek Rishta -- The Bond of Love', 'Talash' and 'Dosti'. Akshay has been a regular in Suneel Darshan's films who has tried to make a space for him in Bollywood as a melodrama maker. Suneel has dealt with emotions in 'Jaanwar', with clashes of generations in 'Ek Rishta', with passion in 'Talash' and 'Barsaat' and with friendship in his last 'Dosti- Friends Forever'. And, in 'Mere Jeevan Saathi' he returns with a theme with which he played in his second film 'Jaanwar' as director (Suneel made his debut with Ajay).

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'Mere Jeevan Saathi' is also the last film of music duo Nadeem- Shravan together and if Karisma fails to make a comeback to cinema, it may also be the end of her career as the most loved and the most wanted actress of her age. Karisma Kapoor who plays the role of Natasha, owner of an event management and music show company, stays abroad but had studied in India. During her study days in India she had developed a crush on handsome Vicky (Akshay Kumar). Cut to present. Vicky is an upcoming singer happily engaged with his beautiful and caring friend Anjali.

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He has a big dream in life and wants to reach to the top. Vicky gets a lifetime opportunity when he is contacted by some music moghuls and is signed for a mega project. At this time, Natasha's company offers him a bigger amount and a more prosperous career. He decides for the latter and this makes music moghuls angry; they plan an attack on him but instead of hurting Vicky the incident leaves Anjali bed-ridden. Neither Vicky nor Natasha knows that the offer from abroad is from Anjali's company.

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Natasha pesters him to go abroad and fulfill his dream. When Vicky leaves India, he does not know what he is going to face there. Anyway, Vicky joins the stage shows. He is a hit and is rocking and then comes the revelation that it is Natasha who is handling the affairs. Natasha makes him know about her affection towards him and also shows her inclination to get him anyhow. Vicky is torn between his love and his maker. He cannot betray any one and tries to find a way out between the two. Director Suneel Darshan who had started with a hard hitting drama plot, failed to make the film in time.

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Thus, Abbas Mastan used the same plot in his 'Aitraaz'. Yes, Karisma plays the same role as Priyanka played in 'Aitraaz'. However, Karisma does not look that bitchy in 'Mere Jeevan Saathi' as Priyanka appears in 'Aitraaz'. Karisma tries to balance her character between a vamp and a heroine though there is a very thin line between the two. Not many actors have succeeded in doing so. In the past, Amitabh Bachchan was the master of this art and lately John Abraham has tried his hands but could succeed only in 'Dhoom'.

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To play a gray shade character and yet win hearts of millions is actually the job of a director and a good writer. Unluckily, Karisma's portrayal is not being judged on the parameters of Priyanka's performance. Karisma does her best but her looks become a hurdle in portraying her as a bad girl. That leaves a major scope for Amisha to take advantage of, but she misses the opportunity once again. She tries to look a bimbette in close scenes with Akshay but fails miserably. Later, as a bed-ridden lover she does make a comeback, but not enough to make the film live at box office.

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The scene where she makes Akshay honor her commitments could have been a highlight point of the film. Suneel Darshan has managed to mould Akshay Kumar according to the requirements of the role. Akshay does his job aptly but nowadays melodrama doesn't work any more. Akshay's efforts may go unnoticed because over the years he has moved from romance and melodrama to action and comedy. Other actors like Gulshan Grover, Aashish Vidyarthi, Maya Alagh and Alok Nath don't have much to offer and just become part of the band.

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The film isn't strong on technical points. In fact, its stale looks become the major hurdle for its journey at box office. The style and stamina is not in tune with time. Even the music looks old and outdated. The problem with 'Mere Jeevan Saathi's music is that it has been played over and over again in the past two years. The film's promos kept appearing on air and then going off and all that has marred its effect now when the film is on screen. On the whole, 'Mere Jeevan Saathi' could get a viewership in small towns where values are still relevant. However, it will find it very difficult to sail across in multiplexes.