Written by Eric Randall and based on Madhuri Shekar’s play, gently flips the script on cultural expectations and romantic norms, all while celebrating identity, family, and love. The title itself playfully references a familiar phrase heard in many South Asian households, but instead of a girl finding “a nice Indian boy,” we’re introduced to two men—Naveen (Karan Soni) and Jay (Jonathan Groff) who spark a connection in a place of deep cultural tradition: a Hindu temple.
Their meet-cute is charming, and their differences- cultural, personal, and professional are vast. Naveen, a quiet and overworked doctor, lives a reserved life mostly revolving around family dinners and polite avoidance of his own desires. He’s deeply closeted emotionally, unsure if love, especially queer love, is something he can truly claim. Jay, on the other hand, is a vibrant, open-hearted photographer. He is a free-spirited person who is unapologetically himself. Though white, he was raised by Indian parents and embraces the culture with genuine love, even singing traditional hymns with a Broadway flair (it is only right we have a tune of two from the great Groff).
The film finds its soul in the warmth of family. Naveen’s parents, Megha (a delightful Zarna Garg) and Archit (Harish Patel), walk the line between meddlesome and deeply loving, providing some of the film’s funniest and most touching moments. Megha’s winking meta-commentary on romantic clichés, especially in gay cinema, is one of many moments where the film plays with genre tropes while still honoring them.
While the romantic comedy follows familiar beats, its strength lies in its sincerity. Karan Soni delivers a heartfelt performance with layers of vulnerability, while Groff’s quiet confidence complements him perfectly. The film doesn’t aim to radically challenge tradition, but instead explores how traditions can evolve and be reclaimed on one’s own terms.
Director Roshan Sethi approaches the material with grace, crafting a heartfelt narrative about identity, belonging, and the universal need to be seen. This isn’t just a queer South Asian rom-com; it’s a story about love in all its forms—familial, cultural, and romantic.
A Nice Indian Boy shows us that Bollywood-style love stories aren’t just for straight people, and they aren’t just for Indian people either. When love is sincere and deep, it transcends boundaries, making this a film as universal as it is specific.
CHRISKRATING★★★★☆
