No Spice To This Mistress

The unkindest cut was the unfavourable comparison with Like Water For Chocolate and Chocolat. Though Ash’s acting skills were not put under the scanner, her chemistry (rather the lack of it) with Dylan McDermott (of The Practice fame) came up for criticism: "...unlike the tender Juliette Binoche-Johnny Depp romance, the Rai-McDermott union fails to generate any convincing heat and no amount of cardamom pods or lotus root is going to help", wrote Michael Rechtshaffen in Hollywood Reporter. Screen declared the central romance a bit on the "dull side". "When you are not rooting for the star-crossed lovers to find a happy ending then any love story is in trouble," it said.

Criticism apart, both the influential trade journals were unanimous in their lukewarm business predictions as well. "Commercial possibilities exist in any territory where Rai’s name holds marquee value but this is too bland to suggest any great theatrical potential elsewhere," wrote Screen. Moral of the story: after doing a wow item job with Kajrare in Bunty Aur Babli, it’s time now for Ash to pack her bags and come back home. India might still be waiting.