Gehraiyaan is a layered, grown-up relationship drama carried by Deepika Padukone’s best performance in years. Shakun Batra’s film, streaming on Prime Video, gets the messiness of modern love right in its first half but loses grip after the interval. Watch it for Deepika, the music and the mood, not for the thriller turns.
Released directly on Prime Video on 11 February 2022, Gehraiyaan was one of the most discussed Hindi films of that year. More than four years later, it is still the film people bring up when they talk about Deepika’s range. This spoiler-free review has been refreshed with where the film and its cast stand in 2026.
Gehraiyaan: quick facts
| Director | Shakun Batra |
| Cast | Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajat Kapoor |
| Producers | Dharma Productions, Viacom18 Studios, Jouska Films |
| Music | OAFF and Savera |
| Release | 11 February 2022, Prime Video |
| Runtime | About two and a half hours |
| Where to watch | Prime Video |
Gehraiyaan movie review: the story
Alisha (Deepika Padukone) is a yoga instructor in Mumbai, stuck in a six-year relationship with Karan (Dhairya Karwa), who has quit his job to write a novel. Money is tight and she is carrying most of the load. When her cousin Tia (Ananya Panday) invites them to Alibaug with her fiance Zain (Siddhant Chaturvedi), Alisha and Zain are drawn to each other almost at once.
Zain is ambitious and charming, but his real estate business is tied to Tia’s family money. Tia’s family keeps reminding him of the favours they have done for him. He has, as the saying goes, a foot in two boats, and the film is about what happens when the water gets rough.
Alisha also carries an old wound: her mother’s death and a strained relationship with her father, played with quiet weight by Naseeruddin Shah. These family secrets become important later.
What works
Deepika Padukone’s performance
Deepika plays Alisha as someone who is tired, guilty, hopeful and angry, often within a single scene. The film relies on silences more than dialogue, and she makes those silences count. Whenever the script slips, she holds it together.
Characters you cannot easily judge
Nobody in Gehraiyaan is fully good or fully bad. Alisha and Zain cheat, but the film shows why without excusing it. Karan is frustrating but not a villain. Tia is not just the betrayed fiancee. This grey writing is the film’s best quality and what made it feel new in mainstream Hindi cinema.
The music and the mood
The soundtrack by OAFF and Savera was trending before the film released, and it still holds up. Doobey and the title track sit perfectly with the film’s grey seas, rainy skies and glass apartments. The cinematography uses water and boats as a constant reminder of how close these characters are to going under.
Siddhant Chaturvedi
Siddhant plays Zain’s charm and desperation well. His chemistry with Deepika was the main talking point from the trailer, and it works on screen.
What does not work
The first half is a sharp study of a relationship falling apart. After the interval, the film tries to become a thriller, with secrets from the past and a dramatic turn involving Zain’s business. The twists are easy to see coming, and the pace drops.
Ananya Panday and Dhairya Karwa also get less to do than their characters deserve. Tia, in particular, is underwritten for someone so central to the story.
Verdict
Gehraiyaan is not a perfect film, but it is a brave one for a big-banner Hindi release. It treats adult relationships seriously and trusts its actors. If you like slow, character-led dramas, it is worth your time, mainly for Deepika Padukone. For more film reviews, visit our reviews section.
Who should watch Gehraiyaan
Gehraiyaan suits viewers who liked Shakun Batra’s earlier Kapoor and Sons or slow, talky dramas about relationships. It is not a romance in the usual Bollywood sense. There are no big song-and-dance numbers and no clear happy ending for anyone.
If you want a twist-heavy thriller, the second half may frustrate you. If you want a film that shows how people actually behave when they are lonely, tempted and scared of their past, the first hour is among the best Hindi film writing of recent years. Watch it with headphones; the sound design and music matter.
Where the cast is in 2026
Deepika Padukone has since starred in Pathaan (2023), Fighter (2024), Kalki 2898 AD (2024) and Singham Again (2024). In September 2025, the makers of Kalki 2898 AD announced she would not be part of its sequel. She is next set to appear in King with Shah Rukh Khan and in Atlee’s film with Allu Arjun, as reported by multiple outlets.
Siddhant Chaturvedi led Dhadak 2 (2025), and Ananya Panday appeared in Kesari Chapter 2 (2025). For more on the cast, see our Bollywood section.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Gehraiyaan?
Gehraiyaan is a Prime Video original and streams only on Prime Video in India.
Is Gehraiyaan worth watching?
Yes, if you enjoy slow relationship dramas. The first half and Deepika Padukone’s performance are the highlights; the second half is weaker.
Who plays Zain in Gehraiyaan?
Siddhant Chaturvedi plays Zain Oberoi, Tia’s fiance, who gets involved with Alisha.
Is Gehraiyaan suitable for family viewing?
It is an adult drama about infidelity with intimate scenes, so it is better suited to adult viewers.
Sources: Wikipedia: Gehraiyaan, The Daily Guardian on Deepika Padukone.
