Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari Review: Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rohit Saraf, and Sanya Malhotra deliver a confused love story that is neither modern nor sanskari

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari promises a modern sanskari romance but ends up as a glossy cringefest with weak writing and wasted performances. Read full review below!

Bollywood has often thrived on vibrant rom-coms, glossy frames, and dance numbers that promise masala entertainment. Shashank Khaitan’s latest directorial venture, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, starring Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, and Maniesh Paul, arrives with exactly that promise. Co-produced by Dharma Productions and Mentor Disciple Entertainment, written by Shashank Khaitan and Ishita Moitra, this film was marketed as a “modern-day romance with a sanskari twist.” Unfortunately, what unfolds on screen is neither modern nor sanskari; it’s just a confused tale that sinks despite its glossy packaging.

The Plot: A Cringe Cocktail of Love and Situationships

The film begins in Delhi, and within seconds, Varun Dhawan makes his entry as Sunny, a loud, over-energetic character who seems to have lost his charm somewhere between imitating Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. He is paired opposite Ananya (Sanya Malhotra), who is his lover, a woman who communicates more with her eyes than her dialogue. Their romance is framed as a “situationship” rather than a love story. Marriage? Denied. Families? Never on board. From here, the cringe starts rolling downhill.

On the parallel track, we meet Vikram Singh (Rohit Saraf), a polished businessman, who is in a 12-year relationship with Tulsi Kumari (Janhvi Kapoor). However, their bond collapses when Vikram’s elite family rejects Tulsi’s middle-class background.

Tulsi is portrayed as a “Simple Delhi girl” who shops from Sarojini Nagar, carries emotional baggage from her mother, who abandoned her father for a high-flying life. Her mantra is self-growth and “I love myself”, a characterisation that might have worked if the writing weren’t so painfully superficial.

Execution Over Emotion

The biggest culprit here is the writing. The dialogues try too hard to be funny but end up cringeworthy. Scenes meant to tug at heartstrings only elicit yawns. The first half drags endlessly, with the audience struggling to find a hook. By the time the second half picks up some pace—thanks to a wedding disruption subplot and Varun-Janhvi’s budding chemistry—the film has already lost its grip. Even the comedy feels patchy. Jokes about security, body parts, and outdated stereotypes land flat. A Karan Johar cameo, which usually brings sparkle, only piles on the cringe.

Underutilised Actors: Wasted Potential Everywhere

Varun Dhawan: Brings his usual high-energy antics but slips into caricature. His SRK-Salman mimicry amuses briefly before turning tiresome.

Janhvi Kapoor: Clearly positioned as an “element to hold audience attention on screen” with glamour and designer looks, but her poor acting continues to disappoint. She remains more of a fashion prop than a character with depth.

Sanya Malhotra: Criminally wasted with a wafer-thin role that fails to use her acting calibre.

Rohit Saraf: Handsome but saddled with a bland businessman role, lacking depth or spark.

Maniesh Paul: The only true saving grace. His character Kukoo, a witty wedding planner, delivers genuine laughs and easily outshines the leads.

Zabardast Songs, Zero Soul

The soundtrack is energetic, and the choreography is flashy, with big sets, shiny costumes, and foot-tapping beats. Varun dances with his usual flair, but the songs feel more like fillers than organic parts of the story.

A Dull First Half, A Lost Second Half

The film’s pacing is its undoing. The first half is painfully boring, while the second half starts strong but soon dissolves into melodrama, poor dialogue delivery, and predictable twists. By the climax, where “modern love” is supposedly redefined, the audience has already checked out. Shashank Khaitan, once known for entertaining rom-coms, seems to have lost his touch here. The writing is weak, the execution messy, and the emotions hollow. Despite its glossy packaging, the film fails to connect.

Verdict

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari could have been a quirky rom-com satirising modern relationships. Instead, it turns into a cringefest, relying on energetic songs, designer costumes, and Janhvi Kapoor’s glamour to keep the audience’s eyes on screen, yet offering little substance.

If you love comedy with confusion, or if you’re a Varun Dhawan fan, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is a one-time watch, best saved for OTT. But if you plan to watch it for Rohit Saraf, be prepared to be disappointed by his underwritten character. However, the film does try to deliver a moral message for modern-day relationships.

Rating: 2/5