Director Govind Menon tried his luck with garam Dharam in his last flick ‘Kis Kiski Kismat’ but that sank without even a trash. So, this time he makes it safer and ropes in glamour doll of yesteryears’ Rekha for help. Comedy and sex can make an excellent combination – laughs punctuated with arousals. The formula did work for Hollywood filmmaker David Mirkin’s movie 'Heartbreakers'. But the Indian rehash of the movie is simply a damp squib. It neither tickles nor titillates.

When it comes to conning millionaires, the aunt-niece team of Rukmini [Rekha] and Padmini/Paddu [Mallika Sherawat] are real pros. First, Rukmini leads them to the marriage path. Then Padmini lures them into seduction... and a hefty divorce settlement!

Rukmini and Padmini play the games with a Punjabi big-shot [Paresh Rawal] initially and with a Sindhi entrepreneur settled in Mauritius [Satish Shah] subsequently. The one rule that must not be broken is never ever to fall in love, but Padmini loses her heart to Raghu [Karan Khanna], a rich restauranteur. But there's chaos: There's a dead body to tackle, plus the jilted Punjabi businessman lands up uninvited, also Padmini is torn between her aunt and lover now turned husband...

Rekha plays Rukmini, a con woman who marries rich bakras and leaves them after they're caught fooling around with Padmini, her niece. Yes, they were mother-daughter in the original, but Rekha obviously put her foot down at the thought of sexy Ms Sherawat playing her kid.

There is very very little storyline and the capers and gimmicks used to fill in the cracks are so banal, the film falls flat and no amount of Mallika’s ample exposure or Rekha’s aging charm can prop it up. Govind Menon needs to move beyond Mallika and find his feet.

Music [Anu Malik] is in sync with the times. 'Sharafat Chhod' [Mallika's introduction] and 'Tera Husn' are two erotic tracks that have been filmed imaginatively. The title track is foot-tapping as well. Cinematography [Thomas Xavier] is eye-pleasing, with the lensman doing justice to the babes as well as the beaches [of Mauritius].

BACHKE REHNA RE BABA belongs to Rekha, who delivers another knockout comedic punch as the protective mausi. Her outfits and makeup are exemplary. Mallika Sherawat may not be great shakes as an actor, but the lass oozes tremendous sex appeal. Her uninhibited antics are sure to send the guys into raptures. Paresh Rawal doesn't get much scope in the first half, but stands out in the latter half. Satish Shah is outstanding, handling the role of a Sindhi tycoon with precision. Karan Khanna needs to loosen up in front of the camera and also work on his physique.