Nadaaniyan – A Masterclass in How Not to Make a Rom-Com

Every once in a while, a film comes along that makes you question your life choices—watching Nadaaniyan was one of those moments for me. Frankly, I wasn’t planning on subjecting myself to this cinematic catastrophe, but the sheer volume of terrible reviews piqued my curiosity. Could it really be that bad?

Mar 16, 2025 - 12:46
Mar 16, 2025 - 12:47
Nadaaniyan – A Masterclass in How Not to Make a Rom-Com

Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: A staggering display of arrogance, where a filmmaker—fully aware of what gets him trolled—still insists on making the same kind of mindless, cookie-cutter rom-com that neither serves Hindi cinema nor the audience.

But let’s put Nadaaniyan to the ultimate test—the 3-Point ReviewRon Meter (trademark pending).

1. Rom-Com? More Like Wrong Com.

The film dares to label itself as a romantic comedy, but it neither ignites romance nor delivers comedy. Enter Pia (Khushi Kapoor), a self-admitted privileged college girl who literally hires her hotshot batchmate Arjun (Ibrahim Ali Khan) to fake-date her—so that another so-called "hottie" stops pursuing her. As per Bollywood’s user manual for the genre, fake love must turn into real love, but the chemistry here is more dead than Beer Bicep’s Podcast career at this point. But the character clichés? - They are louder than Samay Raina’s crass jokes.

2. Emotional Depth? Try Emotional Bankruptcy.

2nd Parameter - A good rom-com makes you care for its characters—root for them, cry with them, feel their frustration. Nadaaniyan does the exact opposite. Pia and Arjun’s so-called "problems" barely qualify as inconveniences, and you’ll struggle to muster even a molecule of empathy for them. The result? Pure, unfiltered indifference—which, in the world of cinema, is worse than outright hate.

And finally, Entertainment Value? Zilch.

Whether a film releases in theaters or on OTT, the bare minimum requirement is that it should entertain. Nadaaniyan doesn’t even clear that low bar. The humor is forced, the dialogues feel like they were AI-generated on a bad day, and the narrative is as predictable as the plot twists in a daily soap.

Final Verdict: Not ReviewRon Recommended.

Nadaaniyan is the cinematic equivalent of an overpriced designer bag that looks fancy but serves no real purpose. It’s a film that neither tickles your funny bone nor tugs at your heartstrings—it just exists, like a WhatsApp good morning message from your distant uncle…So save yourself the time. Watch paint dry instead—it’ll probably be more engaging.

Ronak Kotecha Senior Journalist and seasoned content creator with 18-years-experience at channels like Times Now, NewsX, Zoom and Radio City. Now, Rotten Tomatoes accredited global critic for the Times of India and BBC India Correspondent in Dubai. Talk show host at Talk100.3, listen in weekdays at 11 am on talk1003.ae