Badhaai Do is one of the most important LGBTQ+ films to come out of India in recent years. Released in 2022, this bittersweet comedy-drama boldly tackles the realities of queer life under heteronormative social structures.
Through the lens of a fake marriage between a gay man and a lesbian woman, the film explores identity, family pressure, and the quiet revolution of choosing your own version of happiness. It’s not just a feel-good movie—it’s a culturally relevant, emotionally grounded story that reflects India’s evolving yet complex attitudes toward same-sex love.
Badhaai Do Official Trailer
Suman Singh, a PE teacher, and Shardul Thakur, a police officer, find themselves caught between personal truths and societal pressures. Both are queer, both are constantly hounded by their families to get married—and so, they strike a deal: a lavender marriage to silence the noise.
But this seemingly perfect arrangement unravels when Suman’s girlfriend moves in with them. The couple’s lives spiral into a chaotic and comical mess of lies, secrets, and mistaken identities. What starts as a convenient cover turns into a journey of self-acceptance, heartbreak, resistance, and unexpected healing.
The film traverses the tension between traditional Indian family values and the raw desire for freedom and love. With biting humor and sincere emotion, it sheds light on queer existence in a country still navigating decriminalization and social acceptance.
Badhaai Do Cast
Charactor
Shardul is a closeted gay police officer torn between duty and identity.
Rajkummar Rao
Rajkummar Rao is one of India’s most versatile actors, known for intense and offbeat roles in films like Newton, Aligarh, and Stree. His portrayal in Badhaai Do is emotionally restrained yet deeply moving, bringing nuance to a character rarely explored in mainstream Bollywood.
Suman is a fiercely independent lesbian teacher trying to live on her own terms.
Bhumi Pednekar
Bhumi Pednekar has built a reputation for choosing socially impactful roles. From Dum Laga Ke Haisha to Saand Ki Aankh, she has consistently challenged stereotypes. In Badhaai Do, she captures Suman’s vulnerability and fire with remarkable depth.
Director
Harshavardhan Kulkarn
Directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, who previously helmed Hunterrr (2015), Badhaai Do marks a tonal shift toward more socially conscious storytelling. Kulkarni's approach is honest, humanizing, and refreshingly non-exploitative—bringing levity and grace to heavy themes.
MOVIE HIGHLIGHT
The lavender marriage premise isn’t just a plot device—it’s a mirror held up to many closeted queer Indians still navigating family expectations and arranged marriages.
The chemistry between the leads lies not in attraction, but in emotional partnership, mutual defense, and the kind of empathy only two closeted people can share.
The mother-in-law surveillance subplot offers both comic relief and sharp commentary on societal policing of reproductive expectations.
Most of all, the scene where Shardul comes out during a family confrontation, defending Suman and claiming space for himself, is one of the most memorable moments in modern Indian queer cinema.
Badhaai Do Review
Review
Story (5/5)
Badhaai Do is more than just a rom-com; it’s a nuanced exploration of form versus substance in modern Indian marriages. The story is brave, resonant, and emotionally intelligent—especially in how it captures the conflicting demands of duty, love, and identity.
Acting (4.5/5)
Both leads give compelling, grounded performances. The chemistry lies not in romance, but in their evolution from partners in crime to co-conspirators in survival and, eventually, family. Supporting characters, especially the meddling relatives, add texture and warmth.
Chemistry (4/5)
This isn’t a love story in the traditional sense. The chemistry emerges through solidarity, frustration, and the slow-building trust between two people caught in a trap of cultural expectations. Their dynamic is one of the film’s most unexpected strengths.
Production (4/5)
The production team smartly balances color, chaos, and choreography—true to the Bollywood spirit. The pacing falters slightly toward the end, but the lively editing and thoughtful mise-en-scène largely keep things grounded.
Ending (5/5)
The final scenes deliver a quiet but powerful punch. The message is clear: family can be chosen, identity must be owned, and happiness doesn’t have to look like the societal template. The decision not to dissolve the marriage, but instead redefine it, is a striking choice—and one that feels deeply earned.