‘Loveyapa’ Review: Khushi Kapoor & Junaid Khan ace Rom-Com

Loveyapa is a fresh romantic comedy that offers a unique spin on love among Gen Z.

By highlighting the addiction of younger generations to their mobile phones and subsequent trust issues, the film carves a love story that you don’t see at the movies anymore.

The film stars Khushi Kapoor and Junaid Khan in lead roles. Both are classified as products of nepotism. 

Junaid is the son of superstar Aamir Khan, and Khushi is the younger daughter of the legendary actress Sridevi.

Despite the expectations this places on them, Khushi and Junaid hold their own in the film.

Directed by Advait Chandan, Loveyapa is filled with humour and memorable moments. It is an adaptation of the Tamil film Love Today (2022).

However, is this enough for the audience to invest over two hours of their time?

We are here to help you decide if you should watch Loveyapa or not.

A Charming Story

Before you watch Loveyapa, you need to know that the younger generation – commonly termed ‘Gen Z’ – is under immense pressure from the digital world.

Using their phones, Gen Z is able to make decisions involving their food, friendships, and shopping.

One of the most important yet serious decisions they can also make is who to date and with whom to build relationships.

A single swipe can determine whether people date or reject others.

In the evolving world of social media and AI, this is becoming more and more complicated with deepfakes now easy to generate.

Loveyapa tells the story of Baani Sharma (Khushi Kapoor) and Gaurav ‘Gucci’ Sachdeva (Junaid Khan).

They are a young couple who are madly in love. Gaurav can’t get enough of his ‘Baani Boo’ while Baani equally swoons over her ‘Gucci’.

However, the situation gets complex when Baani’s father, Atul Kumar Sharma (Ashutosh Rana), compels the couple to swap their phones to see if they really know each other.

While Atul accepts that they are in love, he wants to examine how much they trust each other.

This leads to Gaurav and Baani panicking as they have questionable material on their phones, including texts with previous partners and histories on dating apps.

Loveyapa narrates the following scenes hilariously, and Junaid and Khushi carry the script with impeccable comic timing.

Gaurav’s sister Kiran (Tanvika Parlikar) also attempts to engineer a similar tactic with her fiancee Anupam (Kiku Sharma).

The story moves at a comfortable pace and underlines the pressures that young people face due to phones and social media.

Performances

In his debut film, Maharaj (2024), Junaid impressed many with his diction. However, his performance was debatable, with many comparing him to his father.

Meanwhile, Khushi was subjected to trolling during her early career. Many opined that she had only been given opportunities due to her parents.

However, in Loveyapa, the two actors dispel all claims of surviving from nepotism.

Khushi and Junaid are mature performers, who immerse themselves into the genre with ease.

They are charming, funny, and genuine. The film has an equal balance of seriousness and humour.

The pair nail the eccentricities of their characters, including the way they deliver the corny nicknames, the childlike banter, and the palpable heartbreak.

During the climax, Baani faces a horrifying incident. The aftermath of this is conveyed by the two actors as if they are veteran performers.

The other actors playing their friends and family members are equally terrific. As Baani’s conventional father, Ashutosh strikes the right balance between love and protectiveness. 

Gaurav’s mother (Grusha Kapoor) despises her son’s fixation on his phone. Grusha delivers her character’s angst in such ways that the audience laughs whenever she is up there.

However, in a tender moment, Gaurav’s mother tells her son: “Relationships are hard. They take effort to maintain.

“On your phones, it only takes one swipe. Real life isn’t like that. Learn to be patient.”

This encapsulates the small-minded thinking dependency on technology that can create and is, therefore, a vital message for the Gen Z audience.

Via their subplot, Anupam and Kiran also get many moments to shine. However, they are somewhat overshadowed by Khushi and Baani’s angle.

Direction & Execution

The script of Loveyapa ticks all the right boxes for a relatable romantic comedy. However, the execution of such a genre can be difficult to master.

Advait Chandan previously helmed Secret Superstar (2017) and Laal Singh Chaddha (2022).

Both were films with serious subject matters. They depended more on drama than comedy.

With Loveyapa, the director proves his versatility. The film is directed masterfully, with great cinematography.

The movie includes a lot of graphology to communicate the texts and emojis. 

While this is necessary for the film, the overuse of these aspects in the film risks alienating older viewers or those who are unfamiliar with them.

The music is composed by a variety of composers. However, while the music of Advait’s previous two films created longevity, the soundtrack of Loveyapa is quite forgettable.

The only song worth remembering is the remix of ‘Poora London Thumakda‘ from Queen (2013), which briefly plays while picturing a gorgeous Baani.

As mentioned previously, the pace of the film is comfortable and smooth. However, scenes in the latter part of the film are quite slow, and this makes the film feel sluggish.

However, Loveyapa succeeds due to its important message, its performances, and its comedy. It is a relatable and heartwarming ride.

Junaid and Khushi breathe life and charm into their characters and the film. 

They prove that they are much more than their surnames.

Loveyapa is essential viewing for Gen Z. Even young people unfamiliar with Bollywood should give this film a go.

It is sure to leave an indelible imprint on the hearts of young people and older generations, including parents and teachers who care for Gen Z.

The film underscores the dangers and risks involving mobile phones and deepfakes. But above all, it is an ode to love, trust, and companionship.

Loveyapa begins with a disclaimer saying: “Falling in love is injurious to health.”

Want to know why? Gather your friends and family and watch this rollercoaster romance.

You will not be disappointed!