Not a memorable line or a dramatic scene is the first thing that comes to mind after watching Do Deewane Shaher Mein. It’s the quiet in between talks. People left the theater slowly, without hurrying or chatting much. They might have been processing it at the time. Or perhaps they were attempting to determine whether or not anything had actually occurred.
The movie centers on Shashank and Roshni, two individuals who carry their personal fears like invisible baggage against the tense backdrop of Mumbai. Shashank, portrayed by Siddhant Chaturvedi, is a marketing expert whose confidence is subtly shaped by a speech impairment. It seems as though the character is continuously negotiating with himself as you watch him maneuver through office meetings, changing his words mid-sentence.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Film Title | Do Deewane Shaher Mein |
| Release Date | February 20, 2026 |
| Director | Ravi Udyawar |
| Main Cast | Siddhant Chaturvedi, Mrunal Thakur |
| Genre | Romance, Drama |
| Runtime | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Setting | Mumbai, India |
| Distributor | Pen Studios |
| Reference | IMDb Listing, NDTV Movie Review |
Roshni, played by Mrunal Thakur, experiences a distinct form of insecurity. She works in the fashion industry, where she is surrounded by carefully manicured perfection, but she secretly wonders where she fits in. Her apartment feels more like a waiting room for emotional clarity than a home because of the dim lighting and unfinished thoughts.
There are no fireworks when they first start dating. No spectacular collision. Just long pauses, courteous smiles, and conversations arranged by families. It’s difficult to ignore how purposeful that restraint seems, as though the movie is bucking the impulse to amuse itself too soon.
It appears that director Ravi Udyawar is more concerned with emotional hesitancy than with resolution. Uncomfortable situations take longer than anticipated to resolve. This can occasionally be quite effective. At other points, it seems as though the narrative itself is unclear about its next move.
Mumbai, on the other hand, is background noise rather than a spectacle. Trains go by. Cell phones hum. Elevators in offices come and go. Despite the personal crises taking place in cafés and apartments, the city continues to move. That portrayal has a subdued honesty to it. Still, something seems a little phony.
Although Shashank’s speech impairment is portrayed as a fundamental aspect of who he is, his life seems to be going well otherwise. The film never fully resolves the contradiction created by his stable job and sea-facing apartment. It’s still unclear if this tension was intentional by the filmmakers or if they just missed it.
Particularly in the scenes where Roshni faces her reflection, Mrunal Thakur exhibits moments of true vulnerability. However, it also seems as though her character’s fears are more conceptual than actual. She doesn’t appear to be someone who has been shunned by society. She appears to be momentarily irritated by it.
There are moments of genuineness when you watch them together. A communal meal. An awkward joke. A discussion that nearly takes a deeper turn. These moments seem brittle and prone to shattering. However, they are fleeting.
Quiet love stories have always been a problem for Bollywood. Dramatic confessions, extravagant gestures, and emotional closure are all preferred by the industry. Do Deewane Shaher Mein chooses ambiguity over those conventions. It feels brave to make that decision. It feels dangerous, too.
The movie comes at a time when realism is becoming more and more popular among viewers, thanks to global storytelling trends and streaming services. It appears that producers and investors think softer narratives have a place. However, it’s still unclear if theatergoers will accept them completely.
Patience is particularly tested by the pacing. The movie starts to veer off course at almost two and a half hours. Emotional beats are repeated in scenes without becoming more profound. Discussions veer around emotions without really addressing them. Nevertheless, that drift has an oddly alluring quality. Maybe it’s a reflection of contemporary relationships themselves—uncertain, incomplete, and changing.
Couples were chatting about dinner plans and checking their phones as they stood close to the exit outside the movie theater. Nobody appeared to be emotionally disturbed. Nobody appeared to be let down either. Simply neutral. Be calm.
Do Deewane Shaher Mein seems to be trying to avoid overwhelming its viewers. It wishes to quietly sit next to them.
