A high-budget debut that critics called 'spectacularly shallow'
In short: When a privileged teenager hires a middle-class student to be her fake boyfriend for ₹25,000 a week, the result is a cinematic study in privilege. Released on Netflix in 2025, Nadaaniyan became a lightning rod for criticism, sparking a debate on the quality of modern
The 2025 film Nadaaniyan serves as the directorial debut of Shauna Gautam, who previously worked as an assistant director on the 2023 project Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh's offspring, Ibrahim Ali Khan, made his first appearance on screen here. Dharmatic Entertainment's production, led by Somen Mishra, Apoorva Mehta, and Karan Johar, premiered on Netflix on 7 March 2025.
The narrative centers on Pia Jaisingh, a student at the elite Falcon high school. To navigate social pressures and a dysfunctional family life involving her father's affair, Pia hires Arjun Mehta, a career-focused student from Greater Noida, to play her boyfriend. The arrangement involves a weekly payment of ₹25,000 (US$260). While the plot explores themes of social media perception and academic ambition, critics largely panned the execution, with some reviewers comparing the script to AI-generated content and a "rehash" of previous Karan Johar productions.
The critical reception was overwhelmingly negative, with the film holding a 12% positive rating from 17 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, averaging 3.8/10. Reviewers from outlets like Scroll.in and NDTV highlighted a disconnect between the film's "Gen Z lingo" and its lack of compelling characters. Specific criticisms targeted the "tone-deaf" portrayal of school life and the "expressionless" performances of the lead actors, Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan, who were accused of merely reading lines rather than inhabiting their roles.
Despite the backlash, the film was part of a significant promotional cycle, featuring three singles—"Ishq Mein," "Galatfehmi," and "Nadaaniyan"—released between February and March 2025. The film premiered at a special screening on March 5, 2025, specifically to mark Ibrahim Ali Khan's birthday. The production ultimately faced accusations of being a vehicle for "nepo babies," with critics arguing it lacked the "trademark sparkle" of the production house's previous hits.
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