Ansh Duggal and Pragati Srivastava’s Nakhrewaalii has received a mixed response from critics, with opinions differing over its humour, performances and approach to gender roles. Directed by Rahul Shanklya and produced by Aanand L. Rai, the romantic comedy uses a cross-dressing premise to explore patriarchal attitudes, consent and the challenges women face. While Hindustan Times finds the film entertaining, particularly for its comic moments, other reviews argue that its progressive intentions are weakened by predictable writing and an underdeveloped social message.
The film follows Sumit Mishra (Ansh Duggal), a young man from Hardoi who moves to Delhi for higher studies. After falling for Paridhi (Pragati Srivastava), the daughter of his landlord, Sumit faces an ultimatum from her parents: he must secure a government job within a month if he wants to marry her. When his attempts prove unsuccessful, he disguises himself as a woman named Sumita to apply for a vacancy reserved for women. The decision leads to a series of mistaken identities and comic situations that challenge his assumptions about women.
Among the more positive responses, Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times gives the film 3 out of 5 stars and considers it an entertaining watch. He appreciates director Rahul Shanklya’s handling of the comedy, particularly in the first half, which features several funny one-liners and amusing sequences. Suri notes that the second half also manages to sustain the laughter, allowing the film to stand on its own despite similarities to Dream Girl 2. He praises the confident screen presence of Ansh Duggal and Pragati Srivastava, while also highlighting Kumud Mishra’s reliable performance, Gopal Datt’s funny one-liners and Akash Makhija’s comic timing. The soothing music is another aspect he finds suitable for the story.
Archika Khurana of The Times of India, who rates the film 2.5 out of 5, acknowledges that its central role-reversal idea offers scope for humour and social commentary. She finds the first half relatively better paced and believes the romantic track works slightly better than the comedy. Khurana also considers Duggal’s performance promising, noting the charm and rawness he brings to Sumit. Pragati Srivastava’s assured screen presence and feisty portrayal of Paridhi also receive appreciation. The supporting cast, particularly Akash Makhija, Gopal Datt and Kumud Mishra, provides some relief.
However, the film’s execution remains the biggest concern across the more critical reviews. Khurana argues that the writing barely explores the gender inequalities at the centre of its premise. Instead, the narrative relies on predictable mistaken identities, familiar comic situations and broad generalisations about men and women. She also points out that the second half struggles to balance its social commentary with comedy, while the sexual innuendos and situational humour rarely generate genuine laughs. The underwhelming music and distracting dubbing and lip-sync issues further affect the experience.
Anurag Singh Bohra of India Today also acknowledges the film’s progressive intentions, particularly its attempt to address consent, patriarchal conditioning and the everyday harassment and objectification women experience. However, he believes these ideas are undermined by exaggerated slapstick, loud background scores and overused cross-dressing tropes. Bohra appreciates the earnest performances of Duggal and Srivastava, while Akash Makhija brings much-needed comic relief as Jhaadi. Gopal Datt and Kumud Mishra also add stability to the supporting cast. Despite these strengths, he feels the characters lack depth and the film misses an opportunity to offer a more grounded exploration of its themes.
The Hollywood Reporter India offers the sharpest criticism, questioning the film’s understanding of gender and social awareness. The review argues that Sumit’s transformation into Sumita becomes a convenient comic device rather than a meaningful experience that helps him understand women’s struggles. It also criticises the portrayal of Paridhi as an idealised girlfriend shaped around a male perspective. Sumit’s behaviour and the film’s treatment of harassment, misogyny and consent make its eventual attempts at social commentary feel forced rather than convincing.
Overall, Nakhrewaalii has a premise that could have offered both entertaining comedy and meaningful observations on gender roles. While its performances and comic moments find appreciation, particularly in Hindustan Times, the other reviews point to familiar storytelling and an underdeveloped social message. The film’s intentions may be progressive, but its execution leaves critics divided over whether it succeeds in delivering either effective comedy or meaningful social commentary.
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Film Details: Nakhrewaalii
Director: Rahul Shanklya
Writer: Divy Nidhi Sharma
Cast: Ansh Duggal, Pragati Srivastava, Akash Makhija, Kumud Mishra, Gopal Datt, Ayushi Varma and others
Producers: Jyoti Deshpande, Aanand L. Rai and Himanshu Sharma
Production Houses: Colour Yellow Productions and Jio Studios
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Drama
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 2 hours 9 minutes
Release Date: October 30, 2026