Director: Binoy K Gandhi
Writer: Deepak Kapur Bhardwaj
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Parth Samthaan, Khushalii Kumar, Aruna Irani
Platform: Jio Cinema
Duration: 109 Minutes
 
Imagine a film where the wheel of romance and family drama spins with the predictability of a grandfather clock—and you’ve got Ghudchadi. This Bollywood family saga attempts to juggle two love stories while throwing in some melodramatic family complications, but ends up feeling like a reheated version of your favorite old soap opera.
 
The film’s plot revolves around two intertwined love stories: one involving a young couple, Chirag (Parth Samthaan) and Devika (Khushalii Kumar), and the other their widowed parents, Colonel Veer Sharma (Sanjay Dutt) and Menaka (Raveena Tandon), who are rekindling a past romance. The conflict arises from conservative family matriarch Kalyani Devi (Aruna Irani), who finds the idea of inter-community relationships and step-siblings becoming husband and wife a tad too much to digest.
 
Director Binoy K Gandhi’s debut feature is an ambitious attempt to blend love and family dynamics, but it often feels like the film is running on autopilot. The initial premise—of rekindled love between mature characters complicating their children's romances—sounds intriguing. Yet, the execution falls into familiar, clichéd traps. Characters face their problems with dramatic flair and plot twists that seem less like surprises and more like scripted inevitabilities.
 
The film's core conflicts—love across community lines and unconventional family setups—are resolved with the ease of a magic trick. Kalyani Devi’s disapproval leads to some melodramatic exits and mistreatment that feel shoehorned into the narrative rather than naturally integrated. While the movie flirts with progressive themes, its approach remains firmly entrenched in tried-and-true Bollywood tropes, resulting in a diluted impact.
 
Binnoy K Gandhi demonstrates a solid sense of pacing, ensuring the film rolls along smoothly. However, the screenplay lacks the bite needed to elevate the narrative from its formulaic framework. The potential for a fresh take on familial and romantic tensions is there, but it gets bogged down by predictability.
 
In terms of performances, Khushalii Kumar and Parth Samthaan offer decent portrayals, with a chemistry that, while natural, doesn’t spark much excitement. Raveena Tandon and Sanjay Dutt bring their A-game, but even their talents can’t rescue the film from its over-the-top drama. Aruna Irani’s role as the stern yet loving matriarch veers into melodrama territory, making her character more caricature than compelling.
 
Overall, Ghudchadi is a film that might entertain if you’re in the mood for a predictable romantic drama with a side of family chaos. It’s pleasant enough but lacks the depth and innovation to make it memorable. If you’re after something fresh or emotionally stirring, you might find this a bit too familiar for comfort.