Director Roshan Sethi’s debut feature film, 7 Days—also a collaboration with lead star Karan Soni—was notable for using 2020’s worldwide pandemic as a launching point for its rom-com trappings. A Nice Indian Boy fully embraces queer romantic comedy territory, establishing Sethi as a reliable force in this eternal subgenre. With Soni at the center, opposite dreamboat Broadway favorite Jonathan Groff, the couple’s charming chemistry and cultural specificity aide in crafting a unique take. A light-hearted tone, celebration of Bollywood, and sugary-sweet romance make A Nice Indian Boy a major event in the LGBTQIA+ space.
Naveen (Soni, Deadpool, 7 Days) has struggled living in the shadow of his sister (Sunita Mani, You Hurt My Feelings, Servant) and her seemingly perfect relationship, wondering how his parents will react when he, too, brings home a “nice Indian boy.” Six years after her wedding, Naveen’s family clearly struggle in coming to terms with his differences, oftentimes in laugh-out-loud ways. His mother (Zarna Garg, To the Letter, Zarna Garg: One in a Billion) shares the plot of Sean Penn-starrer Milk in the hopes to connect with Naveen; at home, they play “gay TV for you” to understand more about the queer lifestyle. Needless to say, they do not make the idea of a non-traditional romantic relationship easy to digest.
As with any rom-com, the meet-cute happens rather early on. Naveen briefly crosses paths with Jay (Groff, Glee, Looking), while praying at his local temple. They do not exchange words though until Jay appears as the photographer at Naveen’s hospital. He reemerges seen only in silhouette, adding a stylish charm to the proceedings. After promising that he isn’t following Naveen around town, Jay proposes a first date: a theatrical screening of 1995’s Bollywood classic, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Afterward, Jay discloses that he was adopted by an Indian family at a young age, learning vital values about life and love. Even Groff’s swoon-worthy vocals directly recalling a song from DDLJ cannot make the situation any less awkward, as Jay spills his guts to Naveen. As open as Jay is in every regard, Naveen cannot figure out how to even tell his parents that he has a boyfriend at all.
The script from Erin Randall nicely sets up Naveen and Jay through a bit of awkwardness, eventually allowing them to share a first kiss at the opening of Jay’s art exhibit. Split into five different chapters, A Nice Indian Boy allows plenty of time to build up their bond before introducing the wildcard: Naveen’s family. Will they accept their son dating a white man rather than a “nice Indian boy?” Sethi finds tasteful ways to expand the depth of the central relationship while still freeing up space for silly family hijinks. Leaning into the Bollywood of it all, DDLJ becomes a central throughline in this relationship, eventually trying directly into the adorable climax.
For those unaccustomed to Indian culture or the exceptionally catchy music, A Nice Indian Boy makes for a perfect first taste. Ironically, only last month, I watched DDLJ for the first time with my Guianese best friend, realizing it was a Shah Rukh Khan touchstone—to this day, India’s iconic love story remains one of the longest-running ever shown on the big screen. Sethi and his crew must realize the impact of this story, emulating some of its sweeter elements to make them palatable for American audiences. Jay and Naveen are such a sweet couple, given dialogue to reflect the complexity of their romance. A Nice Indian Boy effortlessly evokes sweetness and positivity without dwelling in the negative. In other words, it evolves into a near-perfect rom-com supercharged with celebratory customs and zippy humor.
A Nice Indian Boy screened at 2025’s Palm Springs International Film Festival, and heads to theaters on Friday, April 4th.
