Lord Curzon Ki Haveli Movie Review: Rasika Dugal and Arjun Mathur Shine in a Thriller That Starts Strong but Falls Apart

Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
Director: Anshuman Jha
Cast: Rasika Dugal, Arjun Mathur, Paresh Pahuja, Tanmay Dhanania, Zoha Rahman
Writer: Bikas Ranjan Mishra
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Release Date: October 10, 2025

🎬 Introduction: A Thriller That Starts with Intrigue but Ends in Chaos

Anshuman Jha’s Lord Curzon Ki Haveli begins with the aura of a stylish, Hitchcock-inspired thriller — eerie boots, a swinging hammer, and a mysterious dinner party in a remote British countryside mansion. The setup promises a night of mind games, secrets, and possible murder. Unfortunately, what begins as an intriguing mystery soon spirals into confusion and absurdity.

🕵️ The Story: Dinner, Secrets, and a Chest That Should’ve Stayed Closed

The film introduces us to Dr. Basuki Nath (Paresh Pahuja) and his wife Ira (Rasika Dugal), who arrive at the lavish home of their friends Rohit (Arjun Mathur) and Sanya (Zoha Rahman). Two contrasting couples, a fancy dinner, and a mysterious wooden chest set the stage for an evening that grows increasingly bizarre.

The early moments tease gripping possibilities —

• How do Sanya and Rohit afford such an expensive house?

• Why does Ira appear overly friendly with Rohit?

• Is someone actually trapped inside the chest, or is it all in Basuki’s mind?

The mystery builds fast, but instead of paying off, it devolves into erratic turns and forced theatrics.

⚡ Performances: Talented Cast, Wasted Potential

Actors Rasika Dugal and Arjun Mathur bring credibility and emotional depth to their roles, elevating several poorly written scenes. Paresh Pahuja as the uptight Bengali doctor feels stiff and inconsistent, while the supporting performances fade into the background.

Despite the strength of its cast, the film’s inconsistent tone and shallow writing drown any real suspense or emotional investment.

🎭 Direction & Writing: Hitchcock Without the Heart

As a debut director, Anshuman Jha clearly admires Alfred Hitchcock’s art of tension and visual storytelling. The camera lingers on small details — the knock on the chest, a foot tapping, the brand logo on a T-shirt — but these choices feel stylistic rather than meaningful.

Hitchcock once said that suspense is about a ticking bomb under the table, not the explosion itself. Sadly, Lord Curzon Ki Haveli focuses only on the explosion — going for shock over suspense, and style over substance.

🍕 Where It All Falls Apart

By the second half, the film takes several odd detours — including a random pizza delivery subplot that serves no real purpose other than to push the plot forward. The narrative becomes cluttered, losing its grip on logic and rhythm.

What could have been a taut psychological thriller ends up feeling like a B-grade mix of pseudo-intellectual drama and misplaced sensuality, mistaking cheap shocks for depth.

🎥 Final Verdict: A Stylish Misfire

Lord Curzon Ki Haveli had the potential to be an atmospheric, intelligent chamber thriller — a blend of mystery, dark humor, and psychological tension. Instead, it fizzles out into incoherence. Despite the efforts of a talented cast, the film’s over-the-top writing, uneven pacing, and lack of emotional core make it a frustrating experience.

✅ What Works:

• Strong performances by Rasika Dugal & Arjun Mathur

• Stylish cinematography & intriguing setup

❌ What Doesn’t:

• Weak writing and incoherent twists

• Forced dialogue and cheap thrills

• Lack of genuine suspense

⭐ Verdict: 2.5/5 — All Style, No Substance

Lord Curzon Ki Haveli starts as an elegant mystery but ends as a confused experiment — a reminder that imitation is never enough without inspiration.