Prem Keetanu Review: Veer Pahariya’s Harmless Rom-Com Has Enough Charm to Entertain, But Needed More to Impress

Mumbai, October 2, 2026: Veer Pahariya's Prem Keetanu arrives with a familiar Bollywood promise — friendship turning into love, heartbreak, youthful confusion and plenty of humour. Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, the romantic comedy also stars Aafiya Syed, Aparshakti Khurana, Nikhil Vijay and Rakesh Bedi.

The film is a Hindi adaptation of the 2024 Malayalam hit Premalu. While Prem Keetanu retains the broad romantic-comedy setup, the Hindi version attempts to give the story its own setting, characters and Bollywood flavour.

What is Prem Keetanu about?

The story follows Vishal Thakur (Veer Pahariya), a young man trying to figure out his career and personal life while dealing with his feelings for Suhani (Aafiya Syed).

Their first meeting does not exactly suggest a conventional love story. A series of misunderstandings and playful clashes eventually develops into friendship, and Vishal later realises that he has fallen for Suhani.

The complication arrives in the form of Ranjit (Aparshakti Khurana), Suhani's successful and more settled colleague, who also has feelings for her. Suhani herself has a checklist for the kind of partner she wants, creating a familiar romantic triangle.

Veer Pahariya brings youthful energy

Veer Pahariya, who previously appeared in Sky Force, gets a substantially different role here. As Vishal, he plays a young man caught between career uncertainty, friendship and one-sided love.

Several reviews have found his performance likeable, particularly in the lighter portions. The Times of India described the film as a breezy Gen-Z rom-com that benefits from humour and youthful charm, while MissMalini praised Pahariya's performance in the coming-of-age story.

However, the response has not been uniformly positive. Amar Ujala criticised Pahariya's expressions and romantic chemistry, while The Hollywood Reporter India found his characterisation inconsistent across the film.

Aparshakti Khurana and Nikhil Vijay add to the fun

Aparshakti Khurana plays Ranjit, Vishal's rival in the love story. His polished corporate persona provides a contrast to Vishal's uncertain career and less organised life.

Nikhil Vijay, meanwhile, plays Vishal's friend Magan and supplies several of the film's comic moments. Even reviews that found the central romance uneven have highlighted the supporting cast's ability to keep individual scenes lively.

Where the film works — and where it falls short

The film's strongest moments come from its friendship, situational humour and youthful atmosphere. The first half, in particular, has been described as breezy, with funny exchanges and performances that keep the story moving.

The problem is that the romantic storyline follows a fairly predictable path. The screenplay also shifts between comedy, romance, heartbreak and coming-of-age drama without always giving those elements enough room to develop.

The film also features seven songs, and some reviews have argued that the frequent musical interruptions affect the pace. The Hollywood Reporter India similarly criticised the film for moving between several tonal and genre modes instead of maintaining a consistent emotional rhythm.

Reviews are divided

The critical response to Prem Keetanu has been notably mixed.

The Times of India praised its simplicity, humour and youthful appeal, while Bollywood Bubble described it as a warm and sincere coming-of-age comedy-drama despite predictable portions.

At the other end, The Hollywood Reporter India criticised the adaptation for losing some of the qualities that made Premalu effective, while Cinema Express also gave the film a sharply negative assessment.

That split perhaps sums up Prem Keetanu best: it has enough charm, humour and youthful energy to make parts of the experience enjoyable, but the predictable romance and uneven writing prevent it from making a stronger impression.