There’s no way to describe Nadaaniyan. It’s an elegant romantic drama attuned to the aesthetics of elite Delhi high school life. It has also been mixed with a pinch of coming-of-age vibes, while the final outcome seems nowhere close to even a half-hearted attempt.
Khushi and Ibrahim got their roles in in the film through strong industry connections—Khushi as Sridevi’s daughter and Ibrahim as Saif Ali Khan’s son—both backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma circle.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Naadaniyan, released on Netflix on March 7, 2025, is a teen romantic drama produced by Karan Johar. It stars debutant Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor in lead roles, supported by Neelam Kothari, Zeyn Shaw, Rahul Dev, Anya Singh, and Chhaya Kadam. The film is directed by Shauna Gautam. That, by the way, is why the expectations were too high. But let’s be frank, there’s nothing here but glitzy glamour.
The movie revolves around Pia Jaisingh (Khushi Kapoor), rich like everyone else at Falcon High. Gucci bags are just as common as school books. Once paparazzi get wind that she’s breaking up with her boyfriend, her otherwise flawless life transforms into messy chaos with her social standing upturned. Rather than brush it off like most Gen Z kids would, Pia hires Arjun Mehta (Ibrahim Ali Khan), a brilliant-but-broke student from Greater Noida, to pretend to be her boyfriend.
Plot of Nadaaniyan
Let’s start with the plot—it starts well. A regular “opposites attract” scenario with a contract relationship holding it all together? That’s set to deliver drama, emotional growth, and perhaps a few tear-jerking scenes as well. But Nadaaniyan simply doesn’t dig deeper.
The emotions seem rushed or superficial, and the touching scenes just don’t touch right.
The film talks about class difference and privilege along with expectations from family, but there seems to be an execution so shallow that it really feels like it’s just ticking off a few boxes.
The biggest disappointment?
The performances of the lead characters. Khushi Kapoor has everything—Pia has the look, the wardrobe, and the screen time—everything but the emotional punch. Her delivery is generally flat, and you would hardly notice any change in her expressions from scene to scene.
Ibrahim Ali Khan, on the other hand, plays Arjun with a kind of reserved awkwardness that might have worked if it felt more intentional—but it doesn’t. Instead, it feels like he’s struggling to stay in character. Their chemistry is almost non-existent. Not even forced-enemies-to-lovers, just… bland.
And I have to say this loud and clear: Nadaaniyan has been touted as a romantic dramedy, but the comic part? You won’t find that here. The very few and weak attempts at humor, the great sarcastic barbs, and those lines that would have sounded witty in mouth sound cringe. There’s nothing really funny—myriad attempts that were quite half-hearted ended up making the silence in the room feel much louder.
What it excels at really is production value. Visually, it is a stunner. The cinematography captures Delhi’s affluent urbanity very well, and the costume styling is superb. Just Pia’s outfits could spark a fashion thread on Pinterest. This isn’t a school; it’s a luxury resort, and every frame shines bright. It’s very clear money was spent—it just wasn’t spent on developing a script.
Music in Nadaaniyan
The music doesn’t deserve less than an award. This Sachin-Jigar soundtrack has had a few lasting numbers, i.e., “Ishq Mein” and “Galatfehmi”. These two are supposed to be the emotional anchors of the film, even if the surrounding environment is not always favorable. If you are pure playlist viewers, you won’t go back disappointed.
Just good songs and beautiful visuals can never take a movie far that has little script with leads who seem more like dummies than real people. Even the secondary cast comprising masters like Sunil Shetty and Mahima Chaudhry seem underused.
Their roles had the potential to ground the narrative with some real adult perspective, but the script gives them almost nothing to work with.
What went wrong?
The weak attempt at social commentary the movie makes hammers elitism in schools but brushes against the generational tension between traditional Indian families and Gen Z students who are figuring out how to find their own voice. These beam-like themes only brush past you almost so they could almost be missed. It is like Nadaaniyan has something meaningful to say but can never quite capture it, because it’s constantly being distracted by its own Instagram-filtered aesthetic.
Nadaaniyan is more like buff over substance. It’s the kind of film that you can watch half-heartedly while scrolling on your phone and maybe even picture your favorite outfits.
If you want to deliver here on plot, performance, or impact, there’s not much to offer. It’s a film that’s trying to capitalize on star kids, brand backing, and visual definition but has forgotten the key ingredient for any good film: heart.
Despite its fresh-faced cast and Netflix platform, the movie received mostly negative reviews. Critics called it a weak and outdated rom-com, with poor writing and forgettable performances. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 14% critic score and 25% audience score. Firstpost said Ibrahim tries hard but Khushi fails to impress. The Indian Express called it a lifeless attempt at recreating old Karan Johar magic.
Khushi Kapoor was trolled for her flat dialogue delivery. Ibrahim Ali Khan’s debut received a mix of mild praise and criticism, with viewers agreeing he has screen presence but needs a lot more polish. The supporting cast didn’t get much spotlight either, as the writing didn’t allow room for depth.
So, would I recommend it?
If you are a teen drama devotee and couldn’t care less about the quality of a Netflix original, go ahead and check it out. But if you’re expecting even a glint of freshness, emotion, or, hell, even humor, you should walk away disappointed.
Final Rating: 2 Stars Out of 5
Watch it maybe for the vibes. But do not expect a masterpiece.
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