#REVIEW: “A NICE INDIAN BOY”

By Mr. Will Wong

Roshan Sethi‘s A NICE INDIAN BOY brings back the RomCom in the best way possible in a way that feels familiar, yet fresh, giving a very knowing wink all the cliches of the genre.

The story centers on Naveen (Karan Soni, who also happens to be the real-life partner of Sethi), a young Doctor who’s constantly told at family weddings “he’s next”. Little do they know that Naveen is actually into men and a traditional Indian wedding just might not be in the cards for him. Or is it?  Naveen comes from a supportive family, his parents doing their best to make him feel included, constantly getting their education from OUTtv. He crosses paths with Jay (Jonathan Groff), a freelance Photographer, and they both strike a connection almost instantly, which develops into love. Interestingly, Jay was adopted and orphaned by Indian parents.  From here, the Film focuses-in on Naveen‘s insecurities and being afraid of wanting because of generational and societal pressures, and he must learn to love and accept himself in order to fully love Jay.

What makes Sethi‘s film so unique is that this isn’t simply about getting to that fairy tale ending only. It’s about the process of getting there, the emotions, the self-exploration, the journey of growth. And it manages to do it with tons of charm and laughter along the way. Megha (Zarna Garg) and  Archit (Harish Patel) steal the entire show. They are the parents we all need, perhaps too invested in their children’s lives, but all of it coming from a genuine place of love. Soni, whom we remember from the Deadpool franchise, truly gets the chance to showcase his talents here, breathing life into Naveen with a relatable vulnerability. Groff gives us a bit of a modern Mr. Darcy reservedness that helps ground the story as emotions run high in the family.  The Rom-Com isn’t so much about going against the grain of tradition and the institution of marriage, as much as it is about pondering what it all means and making it one’s own.

A NICE INDIAN BOY is a pure pleasure and a real crowdpleaser waiting to be discovered.

Renaissance Media release A NICE INDIAN BOY April 4, 2025.