Shefali Shah
Shailaja Desai
Overview
Shailaja embarks on a confrontational journey with her husband and childhood-love as she finds herself at the cusp of her past, present and future. Stitched with a very delicate thread of emotions, this film is about love, loss, healing, awareness and liberation.
Cast
12 people
Swanand Kirkire
Dipankar Desai
Jaideep Ahlawat
Pradip Kamat
Kadambari Kadam
Sarika Kamat
Rasika Agashe
Gayatri Jayant
Reviews
5 min readThe Ferris Wheel That Never Stops Turning
I keep thinking about the Ferris wheel. Not the one in the film—though that’s the image that lingers—but the idea of it: a slow, inevitable rotation, the ground falling away and then rushing back, the way memory and regret can feel like being trapped in that same endless loop. Three of Us, Avinash Arun’s quiet, devastating drama, understands this better than most films about loss. It doesn’t just tell you that memory is fragile; it makes you feel the weight of every glance, every half-finished sentence, every moment that slips through your fingers like sand.
This is a film that moves at the speed of thought, not plot. Shailaja (Shefali Shah), a woman in the early stages of dementia, travels with her husband Pradip (Swanand Kirkire) to her childhood hometown in the Konkan region. There, she reconnects with a former sweetheart, now a schoolteacher named Dipankar (Jaideep Ahlawat).
The premise sounds like the setup for a melodrama—love triangles, unspoken longing, the specter of illness—but Arun, who also serves as the film’s cinematographer, resists every easy emotional beat. Instead, he gives us something rarer: a story about the quiet erosion of self, told through the spaces between words.
The Konkan coast is more than just a backdrop here; it’s a character in its own right. Arun’s camera lingers on the lush greenery, the misty hills, the way the light filters through the trees like a memory half-remembered. The visuals are stunning, but never in a showy way.
This is a film that trusts its audience to sit with stillness, to find beauty in the unspoken. The background score by Alokananda Dasgupta is similarly restrained—just enough to nudge the emotion forward, never enough to dictate it. It’s the kind of film that makes you realize how rare it is to see a movie that doesn’t feel the need to explain itself at every turn.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsShefali Shah and Jaideep Ahlawat Shine in Three of Us—A Quietly Powerful Drama
Avinash Arun’s Three of Us (2023) has been turning heads for its raw emotional depth and standout performances, particularly from Bollywood heavyweights Shefali Shah and Jaideep Ahlawat. The film, a drama set in India, latestnetflix.com maintains, clocks in at 99 minutes and has already earned praise for its intimate storytelling and nuanced character work.
A Director’s Vision of Human Complexity
Arun, known for his ability to craft deeply personal narratives, delivers a film that "digs deep into the complexities of human emotions," according to early critical reactions. While the specifics of the plot remain under wraps, the focus appears to be on relationships and the unspoken tensions that bind—or break—people. The director’s choice to center the story around a small ensemble cast suggests a deliberate emphasis on character-driven drama over spectacle.
The Powerhouse Performances
Shefali Shah and Jaideep Ahlawat, both celebrated for their ability to disappear into roles, are reportedly the standout performers in Three of Us. Shah, in particular, has built a reputation for portraying strong, layered women, and early buzz suggests she delivers another tour de force here. Ahlawat, fresh off high-profile projects like Jaane Jaan and Paatal Lok, continues to prove his versatility, though details about his character remain scarce.
The supporting cast—including Swanand Kirkire, Kadambari Kadam, and Rasika Agashe—adds depth to the ensemble, though their roles haven’t been widely discussed in early coverage. Given the film’s focus on emotional nuance, it’s likely their performances contribute to the story’s quiet intensity.
Behind the Scenes: A Low-Key Production
Unlike many Bollywood films that dominate headlines with star-studded announcements and lavish sets, Three of Us has flown under the radar. There’s no evidence of major studio backing or high-budget marketing campaigns, which may explain why details about the production process are thin. The film’s runtime (99 minutes) and genre (drama) suggest a lean, focused project, possibly shot on a modest budget.
Rumors about on-set dynamics or directorial challenges haven’t surfaced in the available evidence, leaving the creative process largely a mystery. If Arun’s past work is any indication, the film likely prioritized authenticity over flash, with a shoot that favored natural performances and minimal interference.
**What’s Next for Three of Us?**
As of now, Three of Us hasn’t secured widespread distribution or a major festival premiere, though its reception on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes hints at potential word-of-mouth success. The film’s genre and cast make it a strong candidate for streaming platforms or indie circuits, where character-driven dramas often find their audience.
For fans of Shah and Ahlawat, Three of Us offers another chance to see two of India’s finest actors at their most understated—and most compelling. Whether it becomes a sleeper hit or a quiet critical darling remains to be seen, but early signs point to a film worth watching.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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