Nadaaniyan review: There’s nothing wrong with star kids entering the film industry. From Ranbir Kapoor to Sanjay Dutt and Kareena Kapoor to Alia Bhatt, many have carved their own path. The term nepotism is rarely associated with them because they proved their talent. Just as a doctor’s son becoming a doctor is acceptable—as long as he doesn’t prescribe cough syrup instead of blood pressure medicine—a sweet maker’s son selling sweets is natural, provided he doesn’t replace sugar with salt in a rasgulla. But here, it feels like they’ve gone a step further and added blood pressure medicine to the rasgulla—a mistake not just naive, but outright disastrous.  


Some films are forgettable, and then some films make you regret watching it. Nadaaniyan falls into the latter category. A lackluster attempt at launching star kids, this film is not just bad—it’s far worse. When such naïve attempts continue, cinema will struggle to move forward.  


Nadaaniyan plot


The trailer had already revealed the entire story, so there was no point in expecting any surprises while watching the film. Ibrahim becomes Khushi’s boyfriend for ₹25,000 per week. Since this is a Karan Johar film, there’s bound to be love, misunderstandings, and plenty of 'Nadaaniyan’—only to end with an all is well moment. Unfortunately, along the way, you’ll also end up wasting two precious hours.  



How is Nadaaniyan


The film was released without much promotion, possibly because even the makers knew what a disaster it was. Surprisingly, the biggest weakness here isn’t just the performances of the lead actors. Even if they were average, the movie could have worked with a solid script. But ‘Nadaaniyan’ lacks an engaging story altogether. How long will we get films that serve as mere launchpads for star kids? While Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza, and Jugal Hansraj provide some respite, they are wasted in minor roles.  


The problem isn’t with newcomers coming from film families. But at the very least, they were well-prepared. Here, it feels like ‘Nadaaniyan’ was made purely for practice sessions, with Netflix ensuring viewership regardless of quality. A success party might even be thrown, but this is not the kind of cinema that helps the industry evolve.  


Performances


Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza, and Jugal Hansraj deliver commendable performances, proving that seasoned actors still have their charm. However, the same cannot be said for Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. What they have done can hardly be called acting. Ibrahim, who looks dapper in paparazzi videos, somehow fails to make an impression on screen. His performance is awkward, and his camera angles do him no favours. Khushi Kapoor, who was decent in 'Loveyapa’, does little to stand out here.  


Direction & writing


Shauna Gautam’s direction lacks any impact. The screenplay, written by Riva Razdan Kapoor, Ishita Moitra, and Jehan Handa, is equally uninspiring.  


Final verdict


With no solid story, no standout performances, and barely any redeeming qualities, ‘Nadaaniyan’ is an avoidable mess. Spare yourself the regret and skip this one.