Nadaaniyan, starring Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor as young lovers, struggles to stand out, much like a piece of candy floss — sweet but lacking substance. It’s one of those films that, despite moments of promise, fails to captivate and leaves you yearning for something with more depth and purpose. The movie, which marks the debut of Ibrahim, Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s son, is a tired, overly familiar take on the high school romance genre, reminiscent of Karan Johar’s Student of the Year. However, where SOTY offered a splash of entertaining fluff, Nadaaniyan feels like a bland, uninspired replica.
The Plot
At the core of Nadaaniyan is the story of Pia (Khushi Kapoor), a privileged young woman dealing with personal struggles while hiding behind a smile. Enter Arjun (Ibrahim Ali Khan), who is career-focused and uninterested in distractions. After a fallout with her friends, Pia convinces Arjun to pose as her fake boyfriend in exchange for money. Predictably, feelings start to develop, leading to the film’s central conflict. Beyond this, the film offers little in terms of plot or emotional depth.
A Directionless Tale
Directed by Shauna Gautam, who previously assisted in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Nadaaniyan lacks the spark required to make it memorable. While skill can be honed, the essence of good storytelling is inherent — something this film lacks. Rohit Shetty’s OTT action films and Salman Khan’s once-brainless comedies have managed to deliver better-than-expected entertainment, but Nadaaniyan stumbles in this department, falling flat and dragging on for two long hours. The film simply doesn’t know how to keep its audience engaged.
Failed Attempt at Humor and Drama
The screenplay, penned by Ishita Moitra, Riva Razdan Kapoor, and Jehan Handa, lacks the necessary energy to bring the story to life. You wait for a moment of excitement, but it never arrives. A cringe-worthy moment occurs when Ibrahim’s character, after delivering an awkward speech, lifts his shirt to reveal his abs as part of a contest to become the president of the school’s debating society. This portrayal of school life feels completely tone-deaf, neither funny nor cool, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.
The film also attempts to introduce additional drama, such as Pia’s complicated family life, featuring her estranged parents (Suniel Shetty and Mahima Chaudhary) and a patriarchal grandfather. However, this subplot feels forced and adds nothing meaningful to the film.
A Bubble-Like World
Nadaaniyan exists in a bubble, far removed from reality. The characters seem to live in a world where small issues are blown out of proportion, and the mere mention of ‘Greater Noida’ is treated as a source of shame. This disconnect from the real world makes it difficult to empathize with the characters, and the film’s lack of authenticity is striking.
It’s a shame that this film comes from the same production house that brought us better romances in the past, like I Hate Luv Storys and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. Nadaaniyan is a massive step back in terms of both quality and execution.
Visuals and Acting
The film’s visuals resemble a low-budget school play rather than a polished, cinematic experience. As for the performances, Ibrahim Ali Khan’s debut is underwhelming. He sticks to a single expression throughout the film — a confused or disgusted look that never shifts, making it hard for audiences to connect with his character. While it’s understandable that debut performances may lack finesse, Ibrahim’s work here feels lazy and unprepared.
Khushi Kapoor does slightly better, especially in portraying the emotional struggles of her character, dealing with a broken family. However, her dialogue delivery lacks nuance, and at times, her performances feel wooden. Supporting actors like Dia Mirza and Jugal Hansraj, who play Arjun’s parents, do a decent job, but Suniel Shetty, playing Pia’s father, is wasted with a minimal role. Archana Puran Singh’s return as Mrs. Braganza Malhotra (from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) is nothing more than a shallow attempt at nostalgia.
Music and Overall Impression
The music, composed by Sachin-Jigar, fails to make any lasting impact, with only Ishq Mein standing out among the forgettable tracks.
Ultimately, Nadaaniyan is a film that never quite takes off. The best thing about it is that it didn’t hit the big screen. The other good news is that it ends. Bollywood has long been known for its successful romantic films, but Nadaaniyan reduces this once beloved genre to a mediocre, uninspired mess. It’s time to revisit and re-release better romantic classics like Sanam Teri Kasam, as Nadaaniyan is a forgettable step in the wrong direction.