‘A Nice Indian Boy’ (2025) Review: The Bigness of Love
Every South Asian knows that Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (translation: The Brave-Hearted Will Take the Bride or DDLJ for short) is the Bollywood movie that changed everyone’s lives. It’s more than just a movie; it set the standard for romantic storytelling in Bollywood. Everyone who has ever watched DDLJ has experienced the movie very differently. It brought romance, passion, humour, and the importance of family, with a dose of the conservative view that is an essential part of Bollywood movies.
Roshan Sethi’s A Nice Indian Boy pays homage to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The film follows Naveen (Karan Soni), an awkward young, gay Indian man — studying to be a doctor — dreaming of having his own wedding someday. But in Indian culture, he’s not sure if that is possible. Also, his traditional parents, Megha (Zarna Garg) and Archit (Harish Patel) don’t know how to talk to him about his dating life.
One day, Naveen visits the temple and meets Jay (Jonathan Groff), a white guy. It was only a chance meeting but fate had other plans. Naveen works at a hospital. They are taking new ID photos and Jay is hired as the photographer to take the pictures.
On their first date, Jay takes Naveen to watch the classic Bollywood film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Then Jay serenades him on the street singing “Tujhe Dekha Toh.” Naveen is not too keen on the overly romantic and dramatic tone of DDLJ but Jay defends the movie by declaring, “I think we’re all embarrassed by the bigness of love.” Soon, Naveen and Jay realise they are complete opposites. Naveen finds it weird that Jay is more Indian than Naveen and becomes sceptical. He discovers that Jay is a white guy adopted and raised by Indian parents.
Even though their first date wasn’t great, Naveen gives Jay another chance. However, they run into another problem: Introducing Jay to Naveen’s traditional parents and telling them they’re engaged to be married. Naveen has to confront his biggest fears — years of repressed emotions and confessing to his parents about his feelings for good.
A Nice Indian Boy is a heartwarming and joyous romantic comedy focused on the importance of family, love, and believing in oneself. It pays tribute to the iconic Bollywood movie and touches on the fundamental aspects of culture and tradition. Sethi maintains a balance between Naveen and Jay’s relationship while also showing scenes between Naveen and his family’s struggle to accept that this is who their son is, especially his father who has trouble connecting with him.
Moreover, Naveen’s parents had trouble understanding his choices. Archit doesn’t show any interest in his son’s impending wedding plan. There’s bitterness towards Naveen’s decision to leave home and live the life his father wanted many years ago, even though it is far from his family. But regardless of the bitterness, Sethi shows why their relationship was strained earlier. After reconciling and understanding each other, their relationship grows fondly, while also accepting Jay into their family.
One of the best parts of A Nice Indian Boy is the script. Screenwriters, Eric Randall and Madhuri Shekar create characters with undeniable chemistry and connection. It balances the comedic parts and sentimental moments while pacing out the three separate acts of the film. It’s an excellent script with fantastic characters and shows empathy and romance all meshed in together. Sethi, Randall and Shekar can show the celebration of love and reuniting with family, while also expressing the challenging parts of the human condition.
Additionally, Naveen is one of the best characters written in this film. In the first act, he’s shy and reserved at his sister, Arundathi’s (Sunita Mani) wedding. Six years later, he’s still shy but what makes him shine is when Jay enters his life. Jay is more willing to be open about his relationship, while Naveen finds it hard to confront his family. He’s nervous being honest about his feelings and Jay constantly questions their relationship. It’s hard to be in an interracial relationship, but the film explores why Naveen is not as open about his sexuality with his parents. Jay wants to be part of a family and a community where he can truly belong, but Naveen doesn’t understand this.
Yet, it’s their bond that seals the movie’s fate. Everyone is nervous when it comes to confessing their love. But what makes A Nice Indian Boy’s romance so impressive is that Sethi pays extra attention to Naveen and Jay’s blossoming relationship. Their romance is like a fairy tale — not as close to how Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge makes people feel — but it’s close!
Underneath all the problems and bitterness, there is love and understanding. These foundations of family and romance are the testaments that make A Nice Indian Boy so unique.
Additionally, it shows different perspectives of other background characters. Every character plays an essential part in the story, especially Naveen’s sister, Arundhathi, who shares her own problems with her relationship with her husband and the constant barrage of questions regarding her future children. It juggles these characters’ conflicts and explores the generation’s perspectives with humour and love.
A Nice Indian Boy brings joy and happiness. Everyone dreams of the grand declaration of love and celebrates with family and friends. The bigness of love is indeed embarrassing. But what the film expresses deeply is the heartfelt confessions of true love with over-the-top displays of affection that win the hearts of its viewers.
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