Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Sanya Malhotra, Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao, Surekha Sikri

Director: Amit Ravindernath Sharma

Rating: ****

After a huge success at the box office with Andhadhun, Ayushmann is back with his coming of age light-hearted comedy/drama Badhaai Ho.

In a society, where pregnancy and the thought of welcoming a new member in the family is celebrated Badhaai Ho's Director Amit Sharma takes an unorthodox approach to his story where a middle-aged couple in their early 50s, Jeetender Kaushik (Gajraj Rao) and Priyamvada Kaushik (Neena Gupta) get pregnant with their third child and how the news of pregnancy causes a stir in this middle-class family and havoc in the neighbourhood; and how the family deals with embarrassment and criticism from the outside world and within the family. This situational comedy is a whiff of fresh air and puts across to the audiences that age is just a number and no matter how old you are, the passion and romance in a relationship has nothing to do with it.

This newfangled and fresh piece of writing by Akshat Ghildial and Shantanu Srivastava along with Amit Sharma's stellar piece of direction has created some amazing moments on the screen which makes Badhaai Ho stands out for many reasons. The trio has managed to touch such a topic and handled it with great finesse.


The story is based out of Delhi's Lodhi colony where a middle-class railway ticket collector in his early 50s, Jeetender Kaushik (Gajraj Rao) lives with his wife Priyamvada Kaushik (Neena Gupta), his mother Surekha Sikri, two grown-up children, Gullar (Shardul Rana) who is in his teenage years prepping for boards and Nakul (Ayushmann Khurrana) who is in his mid-twenties and works at an MNC. Hell breaks loose when the older couple learns about their pregnancy in their 17th week and how each family member reacts to it. The sons are shocked to learn about their parents love life and the fact that there will be a new family member in the house and wonder "Yeh Bhi Koi Mummy Papa Ke Karne Ki Chiz Hai!" The grandmom is also shocked by this news and makes the couple's life a living hell by taunting them day in and day out.

Nakul (Ayushmann Khurana) is dating his colleague Reene (Sanya Malhotra) and everything is going great till the pregnancy news arrives and how their relation gets affected because of it and by the reactions of Reene's mother Sangeeta Sharma (Sheeba Chaddha) as she feels that the Kaushik family is a circus the tickets she does not want to buy. The story unfurls all the drama that revolves around it and the not so cliche' humour that gives this story an edge and gives the audience a rib tickler.


The amazing on-screen chemistry between Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta is not to be missed and they both clearly steal the show and have all the eyeballs till the end. Surekha Sikri deserves a special mention as she essays the role of the comedic orthodox grandmother to perfection with her old school of thought.

Tanishk Bagchi and Brijesh Shandilya have given their music to this rom-com drama. The title track Badhaaiyan Tenu is a song you will keep mumming after you walk out of the multiplex.

Ayushmann Khurana has proved it yet again that he chooses his scripts wisely and he has found a balance at the Box-Office and with the critics. Badhaai Ho is not less than any of his previous films Vicky Donor and Bareilly Ki Barfi.

Amit Sharma in his second directorial venture after Tevar has proved that he knows his art. With such a great script and screenplay and extracting some great performances from his actors, he has proved his mettle.

Badhaai Ho is yet another example of a good storyline and great performances. Sharma has proved that you don't need a big star to pull the crowds to the Box-Office.

All in all Badhaai Ho is a divergent romedy and it deserves a watch.