Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review: Fresh faces, soulful music salvage messy rom-com

School reunions on screen are built on a familiar formula: heavy nostalgia, unrequited teenage crushes, and second chances at love. Director Anuj Saini’s Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar opens on a relatable note with three best friends — Gautam (Sparsh Walia), Vedant (Kunal Vaid), and Shivi (Sargun Kaur Luthra). Trapped in the corporate grind of targets and promotions while watching their peers get married, the single trio heads to a school reunion camp to confront their childhood flames. What begins as a nostalgic escape quickly spirals into a whirlwind of modern dating chaos, relationship trials, and heartbreak.Upon reaching the camp, each friend finds themselves entangled in distinct romantic dilemmas. Gautam, a shy and delusional romantic, reunites with his classmate Gehna (Alisha Chopra) — a commanding diva nursing a fresh heartbreak who dramatically laments, "Hot hona bhi bohot badi problem hai (Being hot is also such a huge problem)." After an intimate night, Gautam grows cold-footed as Gehna demands a lifelong commitment.Simultaneously, Vedant confesses his long-held feelings to school topper Simran (Sakshi Vaidya), sparking a close bond until her fiance Vikesh (Gobind Singh Mehta) arrives to take her away for their upcoming wedding. Meanwhile, Shivi undergoes a dramatic makeover to attract her crush, serial womaniser Karan Shergill (Tushar Chhibber), exasperatedly declaring, "Cute bula diya usne mujhe, matlab friendzoned. Main cute banne aai hoon? Mujhe to sexy banna hai (He called me cute, which means I've been friendzoned! Did I come here to be cute? I want to be sexy!)." After their intimacy, Shivi walks away heartbroken, realising she developed unreciprocated emotional expectations. When the trio returns home nursing their romantic hangovers, their mission shifts into helping Vedant win back Simran before her wedding festivities wrap up.Co-written by Luv Ranjan, Jehan Handa, and Anuj Saini, the script touches upon genuine youth issues — from work-life balance, Netflix and chill to commitment phobia, obsessive relationships and the normalisation of casual polygamy and the fear of unconditional romance. Their approach to modern dating resonates strongly with both Gen Z and Millennial audiences.Refreshingly, the writers go a step further than previous Luv Ranjan staples like Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, and Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar by refraining from placing the blame entirely on women. Despite a few tone-deaf lines scripted by them — such as "Kidnap karne se pehle ladki ki consent zaruri hoti hai, ladkon ki consent important nahin hoti (Before kidnapping, a girl's consent is mandatory, but a guy's consent doesn't matter)."— the film views romantic friction through the lens of individual emotional flaws rather than outright gender warfare.Where the film genuinely stumbles is its reliance on an outdated daily-soap template. The incessant imposition of intrusive background scores over dialogues during comedic, emotional, or romantic scenes — coupled with over-the-top, artificially loud conversations to force enthusiasm — severely hampers the narrative's engagement quotient. When the screenplay falters, the lead ensemble steps in to keep the narrative grounded. Sparsh Walia as Gautam and Kunal Vaid as Vedant share a strong, effortless camaraderie, paying a cinematic homage to Kartik Aaryan and Sunny Kaushal's bromance in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Sparsh exhibits impressive range, balancing confusion, timidity, and comic timing with subtle nuances, while Kunal complements him well with his impressive screen presence.However, it is Alisha Chopra and Sargun Kaur Luthra who truly dominate the screen. Alisha’s portrayal of the bubbly, unpredictable, yet intensely loyal Gehna breathes life into what could have easily devolved into a clumsy girlfriend stereotype, making her scenes with Sparsh genuinely engaging. Sargun is equally at ease anchored between her male friends, while sparking an intense, combustible chemistry opposite Tushar Chhibber, who holds his ground well as the charmingly relentless Karan Shergill.Sakshi Vaidya offers a wonderfully understated performance as Simran — the only character spared from over-the-top antics — though the redundant writing fails to flesh out her role fully.(Spoilers ahead) However, actor Rajkummar Rao's over-six-minute extended cameo as an ode to Channa Mereya and SRK's Ek Tarfa Pyaar steals the show.Additionally, the soundtrack emerges as the film's strongest USP. Melodic tracks like Jubin Nautial's soothing Pyaar Maanga Hai Tum Hi Se and Darshan Rava, Shreya Jain's slice-of-life Jaane Kis Mod Pe bring genuine soul and warmth to an otherwise repetitive story.Ultimately, Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar suffers from cliched narrative beats and redundant writing. Yet, buoyed by confident performances from its young cast and a soulful album, it manages to hold its ground. If glossy, modern relationship dramas with a fresh-faced ensemble align with your cinematic taste, this one makes for a breezy, one-time watch.Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar theatrically releases on October 23, 2026.- Ends