Mimi is an Indian Hindi-language film released in 2021. It is a blend of comedy and drama that explores the emotional and ethical range of surrogacy. Mimi is directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan under the banner of Maddock Films. The movie is a remake of the 2011 Marathi film Mala Aai Vhhaychy!.
It features Kriti Sanon in the title role. Pankaj Tripathi, Sai Tamhankar, Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak, Evelyn Edwards, and Aidan Whytock also star in the film. Upon its release, Mimi was made available on Jio Cinema and Netflix, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Why did Bhanu approach Mimi?
The story unfolds in the vibrant state of Rajasthan, where Mimi Rathore, an aspiring actress and talented stage dancer, dreams of making it big in Bollywood. Mimi’s life takes an unexpected turn after a performance when she is approached by Bhanu, a local taxi driver. Bhanu introduces her to an American couple, John and Summer, who are desperately seeking a surrogate mother. Summer is unable to conceive, and the couple offers US $25,000 to a surrogate who would carry their child.
The offer seems like a golden opportunity for Mimi to further her acting aspirations, and she agrees to become a surrogate. The in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure is successful, and Mimi becomes pregnant. To avoid further societal judgement and maintain her public image, Mimi fabricates a story about leaving for a nine-month outdoor film shoot and seeks refuge at her friend Shama’s place. Bhanu, meanwhile, is tasked by John and Summer to look after Mimi during her pregnancy.
Why did John and Summer leave for the US?
However, the journey is far from smooth. A few months into the pregnancy, a medical check-up suggests that the baby might be born with Down syndrome. This news shocks John and Summer, prompting them to make a heart-wrenching decision. They ask Mimi to abort the child and prepare to return to the United States. Faced with this unexpected and morally challenging situation, Mimi bravely decides to reject their request and carry the baby to term.
However, to address the societal pressures and questions about her pregnancy, Mimi concocts a story involving Bhanu. She tells her family that she has eloped and married Bhanu, who reluctantly agrees to go along with this story to support Mimi. As her pregnancy progresses, the bond between Mimi, Bhanu, and the unborn child also grows stronger.
Mimi’s decision culminates in the birth of a healthy baby boy. She lovingly names him Raj, after a popular character in Bollywood movies. Raj’s white skin initially raises eyebrows in the conservative town, but he soon wins the heart of the community and becomes the favorite. Mimi starts enjoying the joys of motherhood and loves Raj as her own. As a result, she decides to abandon her dreams of Bollywood to devote herself to raising Raj.
Did Raj leave Mimi?
Four years pass, and a video of Mimi dancing with Raj goes viral on the internet. This video catches the attention of John and Summer, who, realizing their mistake, decide to return to India to claim Raj. Mimi, although outraged by their sudden reappearance and their claim over Raj, decides to step back. She does so when they threaten legal action. Mimi, thinking of Raj’s well-being, reluctantly agrees to let them take him.
As Mimi and her family prepare for the heart-wrenching farewell, they are surprised to see John with another child, Tara. It is revealed that John and Summer, moved by their experience with Mimi and Raj, decided to adopt Tara, a young girl from an orphanage.
This decision was influenced by their realization that motherhood and parental love transcend genetic ties. They decide to take Tara back to the US with them, leaving Raj with Mimi and her family.
