Loveyapa film review: A valentine’s romance led by Khushi Kapoor and Junaid Khan that’s sweet but too safe

Dubai: Love in contemporary times, where most are glued to their phones and chats, can be a treacherous terrain.
Director Advait Chandan’s romantic comedy Loveyapa taps into this bleak reality with a deft hand, wrapping it in a candy-coloured cinematic concoction.

At its heart are two young lovers, played by Khushi and Junaid, caught in the throes of an intense courtship. They call each other ridiculously cheesy names, wake up to sweet good mornings, and fall asleep whispering sweet nothings.

In other words, they are the kind of cloyingly sweet, loved-up pair who could be walking billboards for Valentine’s Day. Gaurav Sachdeva and Baani Sharma are annoying, period. Largely due to how perfect and conflict-free they appear. Let me put it this way—their relationship is more pristine than Khushi’s pearly whites.

But before you choke on all that sugar rush, conflict appears in the form of Khushi’s on-screen father, a straight-laced and strict disciplinarian played efficiently by Ashutosh Rana.

He challenges the couple to do a phone swap for a night and openly dares them to see if they can survive each other’s mobile phone chronicles. As far as concepts go, it’s a kicker of an idea, and director Advait Chandan runs with it. Khushi and Junaid, coltish in love, struggle with the emotionally charged scenes, but the novelty of the concept propels them forward.

Junaid shines in moments where he plays the possessive, jealous boyfriend, showing immense promise, while Khushi’s earnestness makes her endearing in many scenes. But for a film centered on romance, their chemistry is disappointingly vanilla—flat and devoid of any real spark. The movie would have benefitted immensely if these two had combustible, explosive chemistry to elevate the stakes.

But it’s not a deal breaker. The parts where the film takes a satirical swipe at how love and commitment can never be confined to black and white keeps our interest alive. It truly takes off when it begins exploring the greys in their relationship.

But be warned: a lot of precious time is lost in the two being mad at each other as they uncover the more unsavory aspects of their on-phone and digital personas—moments where you’ll find yourself itching to swipe left on both.

A welcome distraction comes in the form of Kiku Sharda, who plays a seemingly kind but overweight doctor set to marry Gaurav’s sister. His subplot offers a subtle nudge at how ‘pretty privilege’ is often denied to him, adding an unexpected layer of depth to the narrative. But those scenes overstay their welcome.

The movie had plenty of promise—it’s not often you see a mother schooling her grown son on how relationships aren’t as disposable as switching to a new phone. Or Khushi Kapoor’s disciplinarian father delivering a rare moment of wisdom, urging his daughter to learn to repair broken things rather than replacing them with shinier toys.

These moments add weight to Loveyapa, but unfortunately, the film doesn’t fully capitalise on its potential.

But one thing that stood out wasn’t just Khushi and Junaid’s uneven, fractured love story. Junaid’s dynamic with his friends—his bromance, their college mischief, their obsession with risqué material, and their playful camaraderie—offered a refreshing distraction. These moments injected some much-needed energy into the film, making their bond feel far more authentic than the central romance. And, that’s a shame, though. The movie had the potential to be what Barbie was to patriarchy—a sharp, entertaining commentary on modern relationships and our digital obsessions. But instead, it settles for a saccharine romance that never truly digs deep.

Swipe right if you're on the lookout for a strictly vanilla romance that never really peaks.

 Our Gulf News Rating:

Film: Loveyapa

Director: Advait Chandan

Cast: Khushi Kapoor, Junaid Khan, Ashutosh Rana,Kiku Sharda, Grusha Kapoor

Stars: 3 out of 5