In Nadaaniyan, a predictable teen romance unfolds as Pia Jaisingh (Khushi Kapoor), a wealthy Delhi girl, ropes in her classmate Arjun Mehta (Ibrahim Ali Khan), an aspiring lawyer from Greater Noida, to pose as her boyfriend for Rs 25,000 a week. The deal? To impress her friends and escape a tricky situation. What starts as a curated Instagram love story soon blurs into real feelings, but the film struggles to make it believable.
The premise is familiar: she’s a love-obsessed rich kid with a patriarchal family, he’s a practical dreamer with liberal parents. Pia “soft launches” Arjun on her social media, setting the stage for a grand reveal. But when emotions creep in, the film fails to deliver depth. Director Shauna Gautam explores a timely idea—modern love’s clash between virtual perfection and real-life communication—but the execution feels as filtered as a beautified Instagram reel. The storytelling is shallow, dialogues lack punch, and scenes feel disjointed, leaving the audience emotionally uninvested.
Gautam keeps the narrative refreshingly non-sexualized and touches on patriarchal family dynamics, but these threads are underdeveloped. Nadaaniyan aims to be a breezy chick-flick with K-drama vibes, not a profound cinematic piece. Yet, even compared to hits like Never Have I Ever or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, it falls short. Co-writer Ishita Moitra’s earlier work, Call Me Bae (starring Ananya Panday), had more substance despite a similar light tone. This story might have thrived as a series with room to flesh out characters, but as a film, it rambles without direction.
Newcomers Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan lead the cast. Ibrahim, son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, makes a likable debut—easy on the eyes, though his voice (possibly dubbed) feels off. Khushi brings earnestness but appears stiff, struggling to convey Pia’s inner conflict. Veteran actors Suniel Shetty, Mahima Chaudhry, Dia Mirza, and Jugal Hansraj add sincerity, though their roles lack impact. A cameo by Archana Puran Singh as Miss Braganza (from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) feels forced and fizzles out.
The film’s standout moment? Its end credits, featuring photos of every artist involved—a thoughtful touch. Still, Nadaaniyan lacks the spark of iconic privileged-yet-lovable characters like Kareena Kapoor’s Poo (K3G) or Sonam Kapoor’s Aisha. Khushi and Ibrahim look good together, but their chemistry lacks the rush of first love. Without that emotional pull, this glossy situationship fails to stick the landing.
