Saali Mohabbat ZEE5:
If you’re browsing through ZEE5 looking for something that’s gripping without being loud or gimmicky, Saali Mohabbat is a surprisingly strong pick. Directed by Tisca Chopra in her feature debut and headlined by the always-magnetic Radhika Apte, the film leans into mood, tension, and emotional undercurrents rather than dramatic explosions.
The story unfolds in the small, sleepy town of Fursatgarh, where Smita — played with unshakeable subtlety by Apte — lives a routine, almost muted life. Everything changes when a double murder rattles the town and suddenly Smita finds herself caught in a shadowy web of suspicion, secrets, and uncomfortable truths.
What starts off like a domestic drama gradually morphs into a psychological puzzle. The beauty of the film is how it lets the suspense creep in slowly. There are no jump scares or flashy twists. Instead, it works through quiet confrontations, characters who say more with their silence than their words, and a constant feeling that something is just slightly… off.
Radhika Apte is phenomenal here — she plays Smita with a mix of fragility, mystery, and unspoken turmoil. You can practically feel her thoughts through her expressions. Divyenndu Sharma, as the investigating cop, gives the film a grounded energy; he’s intense without being overbearing, and his scenes with Apte crackle with tension. A brief but memorable appearance by Anurag Kashyap adds an extra layer of unease.
One thing worth noting: Saali Mohabbat isn’t a fast watch. It takes its time, sometimes more than you expect. The pacing is deliberate, and the film trusts the viewer to connect dots instead of spelling out every answer. If you enjoy slow-burn mysteries, that’s a plus. If you’re looking for instant thrills, maybe not so much.
The final act leaves a few emotional threads open — not in an unfinished way, but in a “you’ll be thinking about this later tonight” sort of way. And honestly, that suits the film’s overall tone just right.
Who will love it:
Fans of psychological thrillers that simmer rather than explode
Viewers who appreciate layered, restrained performances
Anyone who enjoys stories built on atmosphere and emotional complexity
Who might not:
Those wanting a fast-paced, twist-every-five-minutes kind of thriller
Anyone looking for something light and breezy
Final Verdict:
Saali Mohabbat isn’t loud, but it’s extremely effective. It sneaks up on you with its tension, its emotional beats, and its strong performances — especially from Radhika Apte. If you enjoy thrillers that are more about the people than the plot twists, this one deserves a spot on your ZEE5 list.
