Chand Mera Dil

Story: College sweethearts Aarav (Lakshya) and Chandni (Ananya Panday) get married following an unplanned pregnancy. Their passionate love is upended when an incident drives a wedge in their relationship.

Review: Director Vivek Soni’s movie begins as a breezy campus romance, with Aarav twinning with Chandni to get her to notice him, sneaking into hostel rooms, and sharing other stolen moments. However, it soon turns into a contemporary romantic and domestic drama as they transition to married life after an unplanned pregnancy. The story then pivots to portray financial strain, stalled dreams, exhaustion, and resentment as the couple is forced to mature too quickly.

The first half effectively depicts a realistic take on urban romance and early parenthood. The couple’s journey from passionate young lovers to two people navigating domestic life, and the toll it takes on their personalities and careers, will resonate with viewers. Their struggle feels convincing because they are pushed into adulthood at a stage when they should have been focusing on themselves and their ambitions.

Written by Soni, Tushar Paranjpe, and Akshat Ghildial, the movie does not glamorise early marriage or parenthood, making the narrative believable. It subtly captures postpartum physical, mental, and emotional upheaval in women’s lives, when Chandni confesses to her friend about breaking down for no reason, and has a confrontation with Aarav. It also addresses the pressure on men to provide, as Aarav takes it upon himself to support Chandni and their newborn daughter, while refusing to let his wife lend a helping hand.

Emotionally charged scenes build the tension well, especially when Aarav and Chandni’s families meet at a restaurant on their first wedding anniversary, just when the couple has decided to part ways.

Though the script and screenplay remain taut in the first half, the narrative loses steam post-interval. The second act suffers from pacing issues, and melodrama takes over. Introducing Chandni’s colleague Kevin as part of a love triangle, and Aarav spending time with Kaavya, slows down the story.

Debojeet Ray’s cinematography deserves mention, as the tonality shifts from vibrant to more moody and intense when the drama heightens. Sachin-Jigar’s compositions are well-placed and complement the narrative throughout, including memorable songs such as the title track, the pumped-up Khasiyat, and the intense Phir Ajnabi.

Lakshya shines as the romantic hero, while also delivering Aarav’s confusion, insecurity, resentment, regret, and redemption powerfully. Ananya Panday shows noticeable growth as a performer and handles the emotionally demanding scenes with restraint instead of melodrama, especially when Chandni places dignity above love. The duo also has great on-screen chemistry and complements each other’s raw emotions.

Chand Mera Dil is not a typical love story. While the film occasionally loses grip due to uneven pacing, it still offers a mature take on contemporary relationships and the harsh reality of growing together.