Aanand L Rai’s Nakhrewaalii arrives with an interesting idea about gender roles, relationships and the everyday challenges women face, but the film struggles to turn that premise into an entertaining romantic comedy. Starring Ansh Duggal and Pragati Srivastava, the Rahul Shanklya directorial begins with a familiar small-town romance setup before moving into a cross-dressing comedy that promises plenty of confusion and laughs. Unfortunately, the film’s uneven writing and disappointing second half prevent it from reaching its potential.
The movie has a few enjoyable moments, and its lead actors bring some freshness to the screen. However, the humour becomes increasingly repetitive, the emotional developments feel rushed, and the central conflict loses its impact as the story progresses. Nakhrewaalii has the ingredients for a lighthearted entertainer, but the execution leaves much to be desired.
A Familiar Romantic Comedy With a Gender Twist
The story follows Sumit Mishra (Ansh Duggal), a young man from Hardoi who moves to Delhi with dreams of building a better life. Sumit carries a rather outdated understanding of relationships and believes women have an easier time navigating society. His perspective begins to change when he falls for Paridhi (Pragati Srivastava), the daughter of his landlord.
Their relationship takes a complicated turn when Sumit’s behaviour and assumptions create problems between them. After realising his feelings for Paridhi, he approaches her family with the intention of marrying her. However, her father Batuk (Gopal Datt) sets a condition: Sumit must secure a government job within a month.
With limited options and mounting pressure, Sumit disguises himself as a woman named Sumita Mishra to obtain a government position. What follows is a series of mistaken identities, workplace complications and romantic misunderstandings.
The premise offers plenty of opportunities for comedy while allowing the film to explore gender-based expectations. The problem is that the screenplay rarely goes beyond the obvious jokes. Instead of building clever situations around Sumit’s experiences, the film frequently relies on exaggerated reactions and predictable misunderstandings.
Ansh Duggal and Pragati Srivastava Bring Some Freshness
Ansh Duggal makes a sincere effort to carry the film, particularly when Sumit is navigating his complicated romantic life. He brings an approachable screen presence to the character, although the writing does not give him enough emotional depth to make Sumit’s transformation convincing.
Pragati Srivastava fares well as Paridhi. She brings confidence and energy to the role, making her character more engaging whenever the screenplay allows her to express herself. The chemistry between the lead actors works in certain scenes, but their relationship needed stronger emotional development to make the romantic portions more memorable.
Among the supporting cast, Gopal Datt delivers some entertaining moments as Paridhi’s father. Kumud Mishra adds credibility to his character, while Akash Makhija provides occasional comic relief as Sumit’s friend Jhaadi. Aayushi Verma also makes a decent impression as Mihika.
The performances are not the film’s biggest problem. Most of the cast members appear capable of delivering more than what the screenplay ultimately offers.
The Second Half Loses the Plot
The biggest disappointment comes after the interval. The film shifts its focus towards Sumit’s life as Sumita, but the comic situations become increasingly predictable. The central disguise could have opened the door to sharper humour and meaningful observations about how women are treated in everyday life. Instead, the narrative gets caught up in repetitive misunderstandings and convenient plot developments.
The second half also struggles to balance its romantic storyline with the social commentary it wants to deliver. Sumit’s experiences are supposed to challenge his earlier assumptions, but the film moves through these moments too quickly. The emotional consequences of his actions receive limited attention, making his personal transformation feel more like a requirement of the plot than a genuinely earned change.
The workplace comedy has its moments, but the film repeatedly stretches situations that would have worked better with tighter writing. The romantic conflict also loses momentum, leaving the final stretch feeling less satisfying than it should.
This is where Nakhrewaalii falls short of its potential. A stronger second half could have made the film a more complete entertainer, but the story never quite finds the right balance between comedy, romance and its underlying message.
An Interesting Message That Never Fully Lands
At its heart, Nakhrewaalii attempts to question patriarchal thinking and the double standards often applied to men and women. Sumit’s journey is designed to make him understand the realities he previously dismissed. That idea gives the film a reason to exist beyond its romantic comedy setup.
However, the execution feels superficial at times. The film introduces situations that could lead to meaningful conversations about consent, personal boundaries and gender expectations, but it often moves on before exploring them properly.
The cross-dressing premise also feels familiar, especially when compared with earlier Hindi comedies such as Chachi 420 and Dream Girl. While Nakhrewaalii tries to bring its own romantic and social angle to the formula, it does not consistently offer enough fresh humour or storytelling to distinguish itself.
The music and technical aspects remain largely functional. The songs do little to elevate the narrative, while the film’s overall presentation is serviceable without being particularly memorable.
Final Verdict
Nakhrewaalii is a romantic comedy that starts with an interesting premise but gradually loses its charm. Ansh Duggal and Pragati Srivastava deliver sincere performances, and the film has a few entertaining moments, but weak writing and an underwhelming second half hold it back.
The biggest issue is not the idea itself, but the missed opportunity to develop it into something sharper and more meaningful. The comedy becomes repetitive, the emotional journey lacks depth, and the social message never reaches the impact it promises.
For viewers looking for a light romantic comedy, the film may offer a few moments of entertainment. However, those expecting a fresh take on gender roles or a consistently engaging story may find themselves disappointed.
PopcornRealm Rating: 2/5 Stars
Nakhrewaalii has the right ingredients, but its uneven execution leaves the film feeling like a missed opportunity.
