Badhaai Do,which translates toFelicitations Due, is an Indian comedy-drama and a spiritual successor toBadhaai Ho, a family movie about an unexpected pregnancy. It premiered in cinemas on June 20, 2025, and a month later, it was added to theinternational film selectionon Netflix. It was directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, whose adult comedyHunterrrhad earned him a 2016 Apsara Award nomination in the Best Debut Director category. In the short time since its introduction to world audiences, it has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim, particularlyacross LGBTQ+ media.
Bhumi Pednekar, who starred in the lead role of Sumi Siñgh, shared her first reaction to the film’s script in an interview withIndia Today:
“I laughed and then suddenly I burst into tears, and it was just a mix of emotions. I was amazed how the politics of the film was so correct. How the representation of the queer community was so sensitively done. What I loved about the film is that these two characters lived. There’s nothing phenomenal or extraordinary that they do. They are flawed, they are grey, they have courage, and they are as human as they are and that’s what worked forBadhaai Do.”
We couldn’t agree more, so let’s take a closer look at why this much-celebrated film is worth your attention.
Breaking Boundaries
A schoolteacher named Sumi Siñgh ends up being catfished on a lesbian dating app by a man who threatens to out her if she doesn’t sleep with him. She reports the blackmail to a secretly gay policeman, Shardul Thakur, whose widowed mum keeps nagging him to find a wife. He later asks Sumi, who is in a similar situation, to marry him to break free from the pressure of their families and live like roommates, to which she agrees. On their honeymoon, he introduces his boyfriend Kabir to her, and afterward, she meets a hospital worker, Rimjhim. The two soon start to date, and Sumi asks her new girlfriend to move in with her and Shardul under the pretense of being a cousin. Things get more complicated when Sumi and Shardul are expected to have a baby.
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Badhaai Dobreaks boundaries with its realistic portrayal of gay characters in mainstream Indian cinema. At the same time, it explores the common practice of “lavender marriage,” which is a marriage of convenience between two homosexuals of the opposite sex to conceal their orientation and escape the societal compulsion towards heteronormativity. Rajkummar Rao, who played Shardul, is feeling hopeful about the movie’s message, tellingMSN:
“I don’t know about others, but a lot of people will take notice [of representation of homosexuality inBadhaai Do] and things will change. Cinema is definitely growing from where it was earlier. We are experimenting with stories now, and I hope there will be much more representation, and it will be way more inclusive than what it was.”
Audience Reaction
Many queer viewers were pleased with the film’s nuanced take on such an important topic and its respect for the community, raising awareness of their struggles. “The best thing about this movie is that it managed to keep things extremely real, extremely grounded – and not for a moment did it get carried away and include overly theatrical situations just for the sake of ‘cinematic liberty’ or ‘comic relief.’ I felt what they felt, and I’ve been where they have been. This in itself is a huge achievement, because till now, LGBTQcharacters in Bollywood movieswere looked at through some sort of weird, distorted lens that didn’t have much to do with reality,” summarized one of the viewers forMensXP.
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Film critics have also lauded the story’s heartwarming realism and the lead cast’s sensitive performances as they let us in on the emotional complexities of their characters. Rajkummar Rao’s lovable goofiness and Bhumi Pednekar’s modest small-town girl demeanor make for compelling acting chemistry for sure. Next to the charming leading duo, Chum Darang (Sumi’s girlfriend Rimjhim) deserves special mention for her graceful Bollywood debut. The seasoned actress Sheeba Chaddha did not disappoint in her role as Shardul’s mother and brought to life a caring and headstrong side character with the ease of an industry veteran.
Despite criticism of sluggishness in some parts of the writing,Badhaai Dooffers an unforgettable rollercoaster of humor and emotions. It challenges harmful stereotypes and takes a bold step toward Bollywoodqueer representation that is sincereand respectful without taking itself too seriously. It’s certainly worth a watch, even if you’re not too familiar with Indian cinema. And if you’re still undecided, take a look at the trailer below. We’d be surprised if it didn’t make you smile!
