Film

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

Name: Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: 2020
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Pankhuri Awasthy, Gajraj Rao, Manu Rishi Chadha

Romantic comedy
Light-hearted

A buoyant Hindi-language romantic comedy about two men fighting for their right to marry against family pressure and social convention. Warm, funny, and genuinely romantic rather than preachy, it's a film that wants you to root for love while laughing at the chaos around it. For anyone who loves a good underdog love story with heart.

TMDb rating

3.0

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like romantic comedy that stays cheerful under family pressure, where a stubborn couple's devotion matters more than any grand gesture.

Skip it if you need a tight plot, since this sequel leans on its predecessor's setup and spends two hours with relatives circling the same argument.

What it asks of you: Brisk, chatty scenes packed into a full two hours, with little room to breathe; it stays light and is easier to follow if you have seen the first film.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Dostana2008

Two straight men pretend to be a couple in this earlier Bollywood romcom. It's lighter and more traditionally comedic than Shubh Mangal, but shares that same energy of using disguise and misunderstanding to explore attraction and identity.

But The premise relies heavily on the joke of "pretending to be gay," which lands differently now. It's more frivolous than sincere.

Kapoor & Sons2016

A family dramedy that juggles multiple relationships and generational conflict with real warmth. It has that same balance of comedy and genuine emotion, and understands how messy families can be while still loving them.

But It's less focused on romance and more on family dynamics overall. The tone can feel scattered between different storylines.

Badhaai Do2022

A spiritual successor that pairs two queer people of different orientations in a marriage of convenience. It's thoughtful, funny, and tackles similar themes of family acceptance with even more nuance and tenderness.

But It's slower-paced and more willing to sit with sadness. Less of a crowd-pleasing rom-com, more of a character study.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Courage Under Fire1996

Both are Indian films about queer love, but Fire arrived when such stories were genuinely perilous to tell. Shubh Mangal exists in the freedom Fire fought for; watching them back-to-back shows how the conversation has evolved.

Deepa Mehta's groundbreaking film about two women in a loveless marriage who fall for each other. It's visually gorgeous, emotionally raw, and was genuinely dangerous to make in 1990s India. It blazed the trail that films like Shubh Mangal now walk safely.

But It's a serious drama, not a comedy—tragic and slow in places. The sexuality is explicit, and the ending is uncompromising rather than triumphant.

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga2019

Another Indian film about LGBTQ+ identity and family acceptance, but from a daughter's perspective. It has genuine warmth, good performances, and that same desire to make space for love in a conservative setting.

But The execution is uneven; some scenes feel heavy-handed. The father's arc strains credibility.

Dil Dhadakne Do2015

A multi-generational family story on a cruise ship with romance, humor, and real insight into marriage and expectations. It's bigger in scale but has that same blend of comedy and emotional honesty about what families actually are.

But It's long and tries to do too much. The cruise ship setting can feel artificial, and some subplots don't land.

Piku2015

Sparkling chemistry between leads, a father-daughter relationship that's messy and loving, and a romantic storyline that sneaks up on you. The humor is sharp and the emotions genuine without ever becoming sentimental.

But The father character's digestive issues are played for laughs repeatedly. If that gag doesn't work for you, there's a lot of it.

Raazi2018

A taut spy thriller with a romance at its core that's quietly powerful. It shows how love can coexist with duty and danger, with strong performances and real stakes throughout.

But It's a spy film first, romance second. If you're coming for a love story, this might feel too geopolitical and heavy.

Luka Chuppi2019

A sweet romantic comedy about a live-in relationship that plays with conservative expectations in small-town India. It's lighter fare with genuine charm and chemistry between the leads.

But It's fairly conventional in structure. The humor can be obvious and it doesn't have much to say beyond the immediate plot.

Shaandaar2015

A romantic comedy set around a destination wedding with good energy and charming performances. It's unambitious but earnest, and occasionally genuinely funny about the chaos of weddings and family.

But It's thin on plot and character development. The humor often feels like filler, and the romance lacks real spark.

The Half of It2020

Both are films about male-centered romance (one queer, one straight, one undefined), but this one is animated, set in America, and far less optimistic. Same year, opposite register—seeing how the same story feels in a different context is illuminating.

A witty, melancholy romance about a queer girl ghostwriting love letters for a boy who's falling for another boy. It's smart, tender, and uses humor to explore how love doesn't fit into neat categories, and how we sometimes have to let people go.

But It's quieter and more introspective than Shubh Mangal. The resolution isn't a traditional happy ending, and some will find that unsatisfying.

C.R.A.Z.Y.2005

Where Shubh Mangal is about fighting for love now, C.R.A.Z.Y. is about surviving love's slow evolution. It's set in the 1970s-90s, subtitled, and far more elegiac—but both are ultimately about families learning to make room for their queer children.

A Canadian film spanning decades in a Quebecois family as the youngest son slowly comes out. It's funny, heartbreaking, musically alive, and captures how queerness unfolds in a family that loves you but doesn't understand. The portrait of paternal love evolving is unforgettable.

But It's slow and episodic, jumping through years. The father's homophobia in the middle section is real and sustained—not immediately redeemed. Some patience required.