Areej Afzal

• Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan’s Naadaaniyan fell short of expectations.
• Its reception has been overwhelmingly negative.
• The film marks the Bollywood debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan.

Karan Johar’s latest production, Naadaaniyan, under Dharma Productions, recently made its debut, and to say it fell short of expectations would be an understatement. Despite the anticipation surrounding the film, its reception has been overwhelmingly negative, with critics and audiences alike expressing disappointment.

The film marks the Bollywood debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan, son of superstar Saif Ali Khan, and Khushi Kapoor, daughter of the late legend Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor. Khushi had already stepped into the industry with her role in Netflix’s The Archies, which failed to leave an impact, and unfortunately, her second outing hasn’t fared any better.

Supporting the newcomers is a cast of seasoned actors, including Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza, Jugal Hansraj, and Mahima Choudhry. Many viewers felt that these veterans carried the film, compensating for the underwhelming performances of the debutants.

Despite Karan Johar’s backing, Naadaaniyan, which premiered on March 7, 2025, failed to impress both critics and audiences. While some viewers appreciated its attempt to explore fresh themes and relationships, the general consensus pointed towards significant shortcomings, particularly in pacing, character development, and, most notably, the performances of the lead actors.

Social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), was relentless in its critique. Many users expressed their frustration, with one particularly harsh comment stating, “The next person who hurts me, I’m going to tie them to a chair and make them watch Naadaaniyan.”

The film’s poor dubbing, especially Ibrahim Ali Khan’s voice work, was another major point of contention, leading to jokes about the film being AI-generated or resembling an Instagram reel rather than a full-fledged Bollywood movie.

Beyond the film’s flaws, Naadaaniyan has reignited the ever-present nepotism debate in Bollywood. While many star kids have proved their mettle over the years—such as Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, and Varun Dhawan—the performances in the film suggest that sheer privilege is not enough to guarantee success.

One social media user summed it up succinctly, stating, “These projects are glorified launch pads for PR-driven star kids—script and content be damned.” This sentiment resonated with many, as audiences continue to demand fresh talent and compelling storytelling rather than recycled formulas that once worked in the past.

Interestingly, despite the negative reviews, the film has been trending on Netflix. However, much of its viewership appears to stem from hate-watching—people tuning in purely out of curiosity or to see if it’s really as bad as critics claim. Some viewers even went as far as to say that the film made Loveyapa—a previously panned film—seem good in comparison.

The film’s reliance on familiar tropes also didn’t sit well with audiences. The rich-college-student-meets-scholarship-kid storyline, reminiscent of Student of the Year (2012), feels outdated in 2025. One particularly scathing remark encapsulated the film’s shortcomings: “At the end of the day, Naadaaniyan is one of those films you’ll want to forget as soon as possible, but don’t worry—it’ll stay with you forever… much like a bad meme.”

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