Kaushaljis vs Kaushal review: A well-meaning message undone by flawed execution!

Aiming to be the next Badhaai Ho, exploring parental divorce and emotional distance in relationships, the film has heart but lacks the pulse to truly bring it to life.

I remember when in This Is Us, a character once remarked that every couple eventually faces a crossroads: they must decide whether to fight for each other or go their separate ways to salvage what’s left. It’s a bittersweet moment—either they break apart or learn to live together. In long-term relationships, it’s inevitable for some emotional distance to form, often fueled by personal regrets that push the other partner toward a lonely edge. And in today’s world, where privacy and space are increasingly prioritized, that distance feels even more profound. This is exactly what Kaushaljis vs Kaushal wants to explore. But at best, it remains a well-intentioned idea on paper, never fully transforming into a compelling, emotionally resonant film.

The plot is simple, much like any small-town social dramedy. We meet Yug (Pavail Gulati), a Ayushmann Khurrana or Rajkumar Rao coded young man working in advertising. He’s from Kannauj but lives in Noida, employed at an agency heavily inspired by Van Gogh, which emphasises blending creativity with messaging—much like his parents, who balance an odd but often practical paint of unfulfilled dreams in the face of responsibility. His father (Ashutosh Rana) is an accountant by profession but a passionate qawwali singer at heart, while his mother (Sheeba Chaddha) is a housewife who dabbles in making attar (perfume). Their life regrets have simmered into resentment, and the spark is lit by Yug, who unwittingly suggests they separate—a modern solution from the younger generation to the older one. This advice backfires when Yug falls for Kiara (Isha Talwar), a foreign-returned woman looking for a groom whose family embodies the Hum Saath Saath Hain ideal.

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On paper, Seema Desai’s film seems like a clever idea: a younger generation schooling the older, only to be taught a lesson in return for their own shortcomings. But if only good intentions were enough to make a film work! It’s in the execution where Kaushaljis vs Kaushal falters, coming across more like a misguided child unsure how to bring its thoughtful message of staying connected in an overly connected world to life. For instance, Yug’s desire to “make it big” by becoming someone else, distancing himself from his roots, and his parents’ quest to find themselves by separating—are relatable conflicts. But the way the film presents them diminishes their resonance rather than deepening it.

So then, the film leans heavily on dialogue to convey what the scenes themselves fail to communicate. Nearly every few minutes, a character launches into a monologue, whether at home or in court. Even the judge delivers a lecture at one point! And this reliance on heavy-handed dialogue further highlights the film’s desperation to push its agenda. The plot is padded with exaggerated situations that feel more animated only existing to the film going, and unnecessary, superficial songs serving as little more than time fillers. Despite the standout performances from Sheeba Chaddha and Ashutosh Rana, who bring nuance to otherwise underwritten roles, there’s little to redeem this film. Even Pavail Gulati and Isha Talwar can’t do much with what they are handed! 

Ultimately, the film’s attempt to address emotional distance in relationships can’t bridge the gap between its well-meaning concept and its poor execution. It relies too much on a handful of heartfelt moments and impactful lines to prop itself up imitating to be a public service film rather than just being one. I just wish Kaushaljis vs Kaushal had focused on being a smart, cohesive film instead of dressing up its clever concept to merely appear “important” working as a smokescreen, leaving us to question whether criticizing the film is akin to rejecting the very idea one might agree with!

Kaushaljis vs Kaushal is currently streaming on JioHotstar! 

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