Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor star in Nadaaniyan (2025), a Netflix rom-com that divided critics but became one of the most-watched Indian films of the year

 

Nadaaniyan (2025): A Netflix Rom-Com That Sparked Trolls but Topped Charts

Released on March 7, 2025, Nadaaniyan is a Gen-Z-centric Hindi romantic comedy that marks the Bollywood debut of IbrahimAli Khan, son of Saif Ali Khan, and stars Khushi Kapoor, a daughter of Sri devi and Boney Kapoor in a leading role.

Directed by Shauna Gautam, the film is backed by Dharmatic Entertainment, a Karan Johar production house, and was directly released on Netflix. The film attempts to bring together teenage romance, social media tropes, and class divides—but ended up drawing more criticism than praise.

Despite receiving mostly negative reviews from critics and audiences alike, Nadaaniyan shocked many by turning into one of the most-watched Indian films on Netflix in 2025.

Plot

Nadaaniyan (translated as Innocence) is a 2025 Indian teen romantic comedy film directed by Shauna Gautam in her directorial debut.

Produced under Dharmatic Entertainment by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, the film stars Ibrahim Ali Khan (in his acting debut) and Khushi Kapoor in lead roles, alongside Mahima Chaudhry, Dia Mirza, Suniel Shetty, and Jugal Hansraj.

The story revolves around Pia Jaisingh, a privileged teenager from South Delhi, who struggles with family issues and school drama. Feeling trapped in a dysfunctional home—where her father, Rajat, never wanted a daughter and is now having an affair—she seeks a way to rebel against her family and peers. In an attempt to convince her friends, she isn’t romantically involved with her classmate Ayan, Pia hires Arjun Mehta, a career-driven middle-class student from Greater Noida, to pretend to be her boyfriend. She offers him ₹25,000 per week to play the part.

Initially, the arrangement works, and Pia’s friends believe her story. However, as she and Arjun spend more time together, their relationship takes an unexpected turn, with genuine emotions developing between them. Meanwhile, Pia’s family problems escalate when she discovers her father’s affair and his mistress’s pregnancy.

Things take a turn for the worse when Pia misses an important debate competition, leading Arjun to believe she was never serious about their connection. Misunderstandings pile up, especially when a misleading social media post falsely links Pia to another man. Feeling betrayed, Arjun publicly humiliates Pia, revealing their agreement to the entire school.

As time passes, Arjun’s father advises him about the importance of relationships, making him reconsider his actions. Pia, unbeknownst to him, had also helped him secure a scholarship that he believed was lost. Realizing his mistake, Arjun tries to reach out to Pia, but she initially refuses to respond. Eventually, he apologizes and confesses his love to her on bonfire night. Pia forgives him, and they reconcile, though their paths diverge—Arjun leaves for London to pursue his studies, while Pia stays in India to attend law school.

The film, which was released on Netflix on March 7, 2025, received mostly negative reviews, with critics calling it a predictable high-school rom-com. Despite its flashy production and modern Gen-Z appeal, many found the story lacking in originality and depth.

Critical Reception

Nadaaniyan was panned by reviewers across platforms. Critics described it as:

- A “tone-deaf” and “bubble-wrapped” rom-com disconnected from reality, reports the Hindustan Times

- A “wannabe” attempt at classic Bollywood college romance without the magic.

- A production that leaned heavily on nostalgia—such as reintroducing Archana Puran Singh’s Miss Braganza character from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai—but lacked originality or emotional weight

While Khushi Kapoor was praised for her natural screen presence despite weak material, Ibrahim Ali Khan faced criticism for a lackluster debut marked by a single confused expression throughout the film.

OTT Performance & Viewership

Surprisingly, Nadaaniyan became a streaming hit. Despite poor reviews, it secured:

- 3.9 million views in Week 1

- 4.3 million views in Week 2

- A total of 8.2 million views on Netflix globally by mid-March

It ranked:

- 2nd most-viewed Indian film in India for two weeks straight

- Top spot in Pakistan, Maldives, Oman, and Bangladesh

- 3rd most-watched Indian film on Netflix in 2025, trailing only Pushpa 2 and Dhoom Dhaam

It even outperformed Kangana Ranaut’s political drama “Emergency”, which garnered only 1.4 million views in its debut week.

Public Reactions and Controversy

Despite its streaming success, the film faced a wave of trolling. Social media users mocked its performances, script, and superficial plot. Critics accused it of glamorizing elitist school drama and romantic clichés.

The film’s leads were labeled "nepo babies," reigniting the debate around Bollywood's dynastic culture.

Khushi Kapoor responded by expressing her wish to pivot to darker roles—hinting at interest in horror films for future projects. Meanwhile, Karan Johar defended the film, slamming overly aggressive critics for personal attacks

Conclusion

Nadaaniyan is a classic case of content that divides critics and audiences. While its story, performances, and execution left much to be desired, the film struck a chord with a digital audience looking for light, escapist romance.

Whether it’s a testament to the power of star kids, OTT algorithms, or sheer curiosity—it’s clear that Nadaaniyan made waves, even if for all the “wrong” reasons.