Our Modern Love Mumbai Baai review in short: episode 2 is the strongest chapter of the Prime Video anthology. Directed by Hansal Mehta, it stars Pratik Gandhi as Manzu, a gay man from a conservative Muslim family, and veteran actor Tanuja as his grandmother. It is a gentle, moving story about love that crosses faith, generation and gender lines.
Baai: quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | Modern Love: Mumbai, episode 2 |
| Director | Hansal Mehta |
| Cast | Pratik Gandhi (Manzar “Manzu” Ali), Tanuja (Baai), Ranveer Brar (Manzu’s partner) |
| Released | 13 May 2022 |
| Where to watch | Amazon Prime Video |
| Language | Hindi |
What Baai is about
Manzu grows up in a large, religious household in Mumbai. The one person who always makes him feel safe is his grandmother, Baai. As a child he spends hours with her, and her love becomes his anchor while the rest of the family enforces rules he does not fit into.
As an adult, Manzu is in a loving relationship with a man, but he has never told Baai. When she falls ill, he goes back to the family home. Old memories return, and so does the fear of losing her without ever showing her who he really is. The question at the centre of the episode is simple: will he tell her the truth?
Also read10 Best Zombie Movies to Watch and Where to Stream in India
Modern Love Mumbai Baai review
Different identities, same emotions
The title of the episode is a promise it keeps. Baai is not a coming-out drama built on shouting matches. It is about two people who love each other and are scared of losing that love. Mehta keeps the tone warm and quiet, and lets small moments do the work.
Pratik Gandhi is the heart of it
Pratik Gandhi, who worked with Mehta on Scam 1992, plays Manzu with restraint. His hesitation, guilt and tenderness come through in his eyes more than his lines. Scenes where he sits by Baai’s bed say more than any speech could.
Tanuja steals every scene
Tanuja brings a lifetime of screen experience to Baai. She is funny, sharp and soft at the same time, and her chemistry with Gandhi feels real. Her presence lifts the episode from good to memorable.
Food as the language of love
Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar made his acting debut here as Manzu’s partner. Food runs through the episode as a link between Manzu, his partner and Baai, and it turns kitchens into places where feelings are shared without words.
Direction and writing
Mehta avoids easy villains. The family’s discomfort is shown as fear of what people will say, not as hatred. That choice makes the story feel closer to real Indian homes, where love and judgement often sit at the same dining table.
What could have been better
At around 40 minutes, the episode moves fast through Manzu’s childhood and his family’s resistance. A few relatives feel sketched rather than written, and the conflict resolves a little neatly. These are small complaints about an otherwise honest piece.
Key takeaways from Baai
- Love between a grandparent and grandchild can be stronger than social rules.
- Coming out is shown as a family moment, not just a personal one.
- Faith and queer identity are treated with respect, without preaching.
Verdict
Baai is the episode most viewers remember from Modern Love: Mumbai. It is tender, well-acted and quietly brave, and it does not need big drama to land its point. If you watch only one episode of the anthology, make it this one. Our rating: 4 out of 5.
Modern Love: Mumbai and what came next
Modern Love: Mumbai is a six-episode anthology based on the New York Times column and the American Amazon series. Each episode is a standalone story with a different director.
| Episode | Director | Lead cast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Raat Rani | Shonali Bose | Fatima Sana Shaikh, Bhupendra Jadawat |
| 2. Baai | Hansal Mehta | Pratik Gandhi, Tanuja |
| 3. Mumbai Dragon | Vishal Bhardwaj | Yeo Yann Yann, Meiyang Chang, Wamiqa Gabbi |
| 4. My Beautiful Wrinkles | Alankrita Shrivastava | Sarika |
| 5. I Love Thane | Dhruv Sehgal | Masaba Gupta, Ritwik Bhowmik |
| 6. Cutting Chai | Nupur Asthana | Chitrangada Singh, Arshad Warsi |
Why Baai still matters
Mainstream Hindi screen stories about gay men from Muslim families are still rare. Baai stands out because it does not treat Manzu’s identity as a problem to be solved. It treats it as part of a family story that every Indian viewer can relate to: wanting the people who raised you to see you as you are.
The episode also gives a senior actor a full, rounded role. Too often grandparents in Indian films are background figures. Here Baai drives the story, and her choices matter as much as Manzu’s.
Amazon followed it with two more Indian editions, Modern Love Hyderabad in Telugu and Modern Love Chennai in Tamil. All three are on Prime Video. Pratik Gandhi and Hansal Mehta have since worked together again on the series Gandhi, in which Pratik plays Mahatma Gandhi.
For more reviews, head to our reviews section and the series page.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Modern Love Mumbai Baai?
Baai is episode 2 of Modern Love: Mumbai, streaming on Amazon Prime Video in India.
Who plays the grandmother in Baai?
Veteran actor Tanuja plays Baai, Manzu’s grandmother.
Who directed the Baai episode of Modern Love Mumbai?
Hansal Mehta directed Baai. He had earlier directed Pratik Gandhi in Scam 1992.
Is Ranveer Brar in Modern Love Mumbai?
Yes. Chef Ranveer Brar made his acting debut in the Baai episode, playing Manzu’s partner.
Sources: Wikipedia: Modern Love Mumbai, IANS Life on Ranveer Brar, IMDb.
