Narrated by a young forensic pathologist, Arun, to his wife, the story follows Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, an Anglo-Indian woman who keeps searching for love through a series of marriages that end badly. Arun has known her since childhood, owes her a great deal and has quietly loved her for years, and his account moves between fascination and unease as each of her husbands reveals a flaw that proves fatal.

How it was made

The film adapts a short story by Ruskin Bond, "Susanna's Seven Husbands", which director Vishal Bhardwaj found cinematically promising. Bond expanded it into a novella, and Bhardwaj later wrote the screenplay with Matthew Robbins, adding his own elements to turn the material into a black comedy. Priyanka Chopra leads a cast that includes Irrfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah and John Abraham. Shooting began in Kashmir and continued in Coorg. Bhardwaj also composed the music, with lyrics by Gulzar.

Reception and legacy

The film premiered at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival and opened in India that February to largely positive reviews, particularly for Chopra's performance, which earned her the Critics' Award for Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards. Despite the critical praise, its box-office returns were modest.