There’s a moment in Daadi Ki Shaadi where Neetu Kapoor’s Vimla Ahuja simply looks at her family and the film’s entire emotional compass snaps into focus. But the moment passes, and what follows is a two-and-a-half-hour struggle between a script that wants to be heartfelt and a comedy engine that never quite turns over.
Neetu Kapoor carries the film’s heart while Kapil Sharma plays to his persona
Neetu Kapoor is the film’s saving grace. Her performance as Vimla Ahuja has been repeatedly praised for adding warmth to a production that desperately needs it. Filmfare noted that “for all its over-the-top execution, the film’s compassion ultimately shines through”, and that compassion is almost entirely hers.
Kapil Sharma, meanwhile, shoulders the comic burden in a conventional family-entertainer setup. His appeal here is tied more to his established persona than to any strongly written character arc. When the jokes land, he’s serviceable; when they don’t, the writing leaves him stranded.
Ashish R Mohan’s direction gets the tone wrong more often than right
Director Ashish R Mohan clearly understands the family-comedy framing and keeps things accessible for a mainstream audience. But the execution repeatedly undermines the intent. Reviews have described the film as over-the-top, with weak control over both humour and emotional payoff.
The screenplay, credited to Kiran Kotrial and Sajid Qureshi, is the film’s biggest liability. Bollywood Hungama put it bluntly: “DAADI KI SHAADI suffers from a flimsy script, ineffective humour and an emotional core that fails to connect.” The structure is linear, but the writing is thin.
The comedy-drama balance is the film’s core failure
The film’s genre premise, a family dispute around marriage and generational expectations, is accessible enough for a broad audience. The conflict between tradition and modern sensibilities has worked in Hindi cinema for decades. But Daadi Ki Shaadi never finds the right register for its jokes.
The humour is broad and mainstream, but multiple reviews have called it ineffective. The emotional beats, when they arrive, feel unearned because the screenplay hasn’t done the groundwork. The film leans on interpersonal dynamics rather than high-concept plotting, which should work, but only if the writing is sharp enough to sustain it.
What’s frustrating is that the film’s compassion and sentiment remain intact even when the execution wobbles. The intent is understandable; the craft is not. Pacing and tonal control are inconsistent throughout, and the film never settles into a rhythm that serves either its comedy or its drama.
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni’s debut signals intent more than achievement
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni’s casting drew attention in release coverage, and her debut feels like a statement of intent from the producers. The coverage emphasises the significance of her presence more than detailed performance notes, which suggests a role that’s more symbolic than demanding.
Sadia Khateeb and R. Sarathkumar round out the supporting roster without leaving much of a mark. The film appears to rely on interpersonal family conflict rather than a single antagonist, which is a reasonable choice, but the ensemble needed stronger writing to make their individual moments register.
The box office verdict is clear despite the film’s warm intentions
The numbers tell a story the reviews already hinted at. The film opened to just ₹0.60 crore India net on day one, with worldwide gross of ₹0.72 crore, according to Republic World and Patrika citing Sacnilk. Through May 30, Sacnilk reported the first-week total at ₹4.90 crore India net and ₹5.84 crore worldwide, against a budget estimated between ₹20-45 crore by Amar Ujala.
Koimoi reported the film as a flop in its closing box office wrap-up, and Republic World described it as a poor opener after early reviews were not favourable. The audience complaints mirror the critical response: weak jokes, uneven pacing, and writing that many viewers found thin and predictable.
Browse more Hindi Drama reviews for films that actually balance laughter with heart.
Daadi Ki Shaadi is a film that means well but can’t execute. If you’re a Neetu Kapoor completist, you’ll find her warmth worth the ticket. Everyone else can wait for streaming, and even then, only if you’re in the mood for a family drama that never quite becomes the comedy it wants to be. I found myself checking the runtime more than once, which is never a good sign.
Daadi Ki Shaadi gets a 2 out of 5, a film with genuine compassion buried under a script that needed another draft.
For a more grounded take on family reconciliation, see Ek Din review.
Ankit Jaiswal is the Chief Author, covering Indian cinema and OTT releases with honest, no-filler criticism. An SEO strategist by background, he brings a research-driven approach to film writing, cutting through hype to tell you exactly what's worth your time.
