When I went in to watch Guzaarish, I expected much more. Before going any further , here are all the movies that came into my head when I watched Guzaarish. The whole magician sabotages his competition is at best an inspiration from The Prestige (the 2006 Christopher Nolan movie).

Most of the Plot is a straight lift from Whose Life Is It Anyway? (a 1981 film , google it) and the 2004  Spanish Film The Sea Inside (based around the same lines). I was even reminded of Tuesdays With Morrie in parts.

SLB  disappointed me a lot, however a lot of “bollywood” directors seem to like his work:

• Karan Johar

Both Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have delivered sensitive and nuanced performances. Hrithik has an exceptionally complex character to portray and he did an absolutely outstanding job! And Aishwarya complemented him with strength and tremendous restraint.

• R. Balki

Aishwarya Rai has delivered a flawless performance in Guzaarish. Ash’s was the most complex role in the film. She has performed it very beautifully.

• Rakesh Roshan

I watched Guzaarish a day before its release and the only thing I knew was that Hrithik had worked very hard on his character. After watching my son’s performance, I went numb for a while. I didn’t know the character he played had so much of depth in it. And he portrayed his role with such conviction that for a while I forgot I was watching my son. It was just the character on the screen I was glued to. With this film, I feel he has grown ten-fold as an actor. As for Aishwarya, she is remarkable. She handled her part fabulously and with such subtlety. Both, Hrithik and Aishwarya are sincere performers and that comes across on screen.

• Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has created the finest film ever. With a brush and paint in hand, he has created the most beautiful painting. It is his imagination and we have to accept that Guzaarish is an exceptional piece of art. Aishwarya is simply brilliant in the film. She stood out playing the most difficult part. Her ability to stand on her own, despite the fact that Hrithik’s character was more powerful, is commendable. Hrithik Roshan has proved once again that he is an actor par excellence. One he could have done this role. I want to say this with an exclamation – What an actor!

• Subhash Ghai

Aishwarya is Aishwarya, she has proved again that she can carry the soul of most complex character with ease, grace and beauty, glowing in the midst of darkness and tormented moments in Guzaarish. It is a performance at its peak. She deserves kudos. Hrithik Roshan is fab. It is very difficult for an actor to convey a two-hour story only through his eyes, but he did it with élan.

• Leena Yadav

I really like Aishwarya’s character in the film. Playing Sophia was not a child’s play. It was insistently grey and to play such a character with conviction must have been tough. Hats off to Aishwarya for portraying his multifaceted character with so much passion!

• Satish Kaushik

Aishwarya is unbeatable and looks beautiful on screen. And here was a tremendous performance that came straight from the heart. She moved on screen like a swan on lake. Guzaarish is sheer poetry and I just loved Aishwarya’s performance in it. It was brave and radical on Hrithik’s part to accept this role. Aishwarya and Hrithik’s Last scene was the most heartbreaking. Hats off to him for putting his heart, mind and soul into creating Ethan.

However the movie does have a brilliant cinematic appeal which obviously the Indian masses don’t care about and  I liked the way classic Jazz has been incorporated into the sound track, anyone else who made the movie would have gained huge critical acclaim and even my praise. However, SLB is just a much better director and i hope to see more from him soon. Do not judge the movie, through this article. I recommend you watch the movie for yourself and all the movies I mentioned.