Director: Vivek Soni
Rating: ***
Freshly released in theaters today, May 22, 2026, Chand Mera Dil marks a noteworthy shift for Dharma Productions. Stepping away from their signature idealized, larger-than-life romances, director Vivek Soni (Meenakshi Sundareshwar) serves a grounded, bittersweet look at what happens when a fairytale college romance is abruptly hit by the realities of early adulthood.
Anchored by Lakshya and Ananya Panday, this intense romantic drama is earning praise for its raw emotional conflict, even if the screenplay stumbles slightly in the second half.
The Story & Script
The film introduces us to Aarav (Lakshya) and Chandni (Ananya Panday), two ambitious young students at an engineering college in Hyderabad. The narrative kicks off with a breezy, somewhat sappy campus courtship—complete with Aarav deliberately "twinning" his outfits with Chandni to get her attention. However, the story takes an abrupt, serious turn when an unplanned pregnancy pushes them to keep the child and rush into marriage.
The script, co-written by Vivek Soni, Tushar Paranjpe, and Akshat Ghildial, completely strips away the honeymoon phase. It dives straight into the ugly underbelly of young domestic life: financial strain, stalled career ambitions, postpartum vulnerability, and deep-seated resentment. The script is highly commendable for addressing the unique pressure on a young man trying to single-handedly provide while refusing help, and a young mother fracturing under isolation. A central, high-tension argument that turns physically aggressive serves as the film’s turning point, forcing a heavy conversation around second chances and self-respect.
Direction & Screenplay
Vivek Soni proves he is adept at capturing contemporary relationship friction. The first half is exceptionally tight and relatable. He doesn't glamorize early parenthood; instead, he shows the exhaustion of diapers, bills, and broken dreams. However, the screenplay begins to bleed momentum post-interval. The second half leans a bit too heavily into familiar melodrama and sudden emotional shifts, occasionally utilizing signature Dharma tropes like rain-soaked confrontations to force a dramatic payoff.
Performances
Lakshya: Following his fierce, action-heavy performance in Kill, Lakshya proves his mettle as a dramatic actor here. He delivers a deeply sincere, emotionally exhausting performance. He captures Aarav’s transition from a naive boy to a frustrated, breaking young father with absolute conviction. His breakdown scenes carry genuine anguish.
Ananya Panday: Ananya continues her streak of choosing mature roles. She gives Chandni a layered, resilient personality that goes far beyond the typical rom-com heroine. She shines particularly bright in the heavy emotional confrontations, accurately portraying the postpartum mental toll and the baggage of her own parents' failed marriage.
The Ensemble: The supporting cast, including Aastha Singh, effectively populates the background. While the parents' characters feel slightly sketchy and underwritten at times, the film remains sharply focused on the core couple.
Music & Technical Craft
Music: The soundtrack by Sachin-Jigar is a massive pillar of the film. Tracks like "Aitbaar" (featuring Faheem Abdullah) and "Khasiyat" are woven beautifully into the narrative. The music successfully enhances the melancholic, aching tone of the film's middle act.
Cinematography & Edits: The film captures a rare side of Hyderabad—its wide streets, plush green suburbs, and distinct local flavor. Despite a few heavy-handed visual excesses during storm sequences, the look of the film remains clean and impactful. Note that the film features a runtime of 135 minutes, following significant CBFC-mandated trims to its intimate scenes prior to release.
Final Verdict
Chand Mera Dil is a sobering, messy, and yet highly rewarding love story. It serves as a necessary cautionary tale that it is never too early to love, but perhaps always wiser to wait before marrying. Backed by career-defining work from Lakshya and strong musical composition, it is a brave departure from formulaic romance that is bound to trigger necessary discussions among younger audiences.
