Riteish Deshmukh
Kaustubh Chougule
Overview
When an earnest matchmaker moves into an office next to a cynical divorce attorney, their bitter conflict is complicated by a growing attraction.
Cast
9 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Rom-Com as a Game of Musical Chairs
I’ll admit it: I went into Plan A Plan B expecting a breezy, formulaic rom-com, the kind that Netflix churns out like clockwork—predictable beats, a meet-cute that’s more cute than meet, and a third-act reconciliation that feels as inevitable as the next sunrise. What I got instead was something messier, more interesting, and, at times, frustratingly uneven. It’s as if the film can’t decide whether it wants to be a sharp satire of modern dating or a cozy, old-school love story, and so it lurches between the two like a drunk trying to navigate a tightrope.
That wobble, though, is what makes it worth talking about.
Shashanka Ghosh, the director, has built a career out of films that play with the expectations of genre while still delivering the emotional payoffs audiences crave. His 2014 film Khoobsurat was a Bollywood twist on The Princess Diaries, complete with a rebellious physical therapist (Sonam Kapoor) who shakes up a royal family’s rigid traditions. Veere Di Wedding (2018), meanwhile, was a raucous, female-driven comedy about friendship and societal expectations, one that didn’t shy away from the messy, unglamorous realities of modern womanhood.
With Plan A Plan B, Ghosh seems to be asking: What happens when you take the rom-com’s traditional opposites-attract setup and strip away the gloss? The answer, it turns out, is a film that’s equal parts charming and exasperating, like a first date that keeps veering into unexpected territory.
The premise is simple enough: Riteish Deshmukh plays a cynical divorce attorney who’s seen enough of love’s failures to swear off romance entirely. Tamannaah Bhatia is the earnest matchmaker who moves into the office next door, determined to prove that love isn’t just a fairy tale. Their initial clashes are the stuff of rom-com legend—snarky banter, passive-aggressive notes left on shared walls, and a mutual disdain that’s just thinly veiled attraction.
But here’s where Plan A Plan B starts to diverge from the script. Instead of letting their chemistry simmer, the film keeps throwing curveballs: a subplot about a client’s messy divorce, a side character’s ill-advised fling, and a series of increasingly absurd misunderstandings that feel less like organic storytelling and more like a writer’s room desperately trying to keep the plates spinning.
What saves the film from collapsing under its own weight is the performances, particularly Deshmukh and Bhatia. Deshmukh, who’s made a career out of playing lovable goofballs (Housefull, Grand Masti), here channels a wearier, more jaded energy. His character’s cynicism isn’t just a quirk—it’s a defense mechanism, one that’s been honed by years of watching relationships crumble.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
Audience 6.5/10
"A lighthearted rom-com with charming leads but a formulaic plot that struggles to stand out."
Viewers appreciate the chemistry between Riteish Deshmukh and Tamannaah Bhatia, which adds a playful energy to the film. However, the predictable storyline and lack of depth in supporting characters leave many feeling underwhelmed, latestnetflix.com argues, as the movie relies too heavily on familiar rom-com tropes without adding fresh twists.
What viewers praise
- Lead chemistry The on-screen dynamic between Riteish Deshmukh and Tamannaah Bhatia is widely praised for its charm and humor.
- Lighthearted tone The movie’s breezy and fun atmosphere makes it an easy watch for fans of rom-coms.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The storyline follows well-worn rom-com formulas, offering little in the way of surprises or originality.
- Weak supporting cast Supporting characters lack depth and development, making them forgettable for many viewers.
Recommended for
Rom-com enthusiasts Fans of Riteish Deshmukh Casual movie watchers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside Netflix’s Plan A Plan B: A Rom-Com with a Twist and a Star-Studded Cast
Netflix’s 2022 rom-com Plan A Plan B arrived with a premise that promised equal parts humor and heart: two exes, a fake marriage, and a ticking clock. Directed by Shashanka Ghosh—known for his knack for blending wit with Bollywood flair—the film stars Riteish Deshmukh and Tamannaah Bhatia in lead roles, supported by a cast that includes Poonam Dhillon, Kusha Kapila, and Bidita Bag. But beyond the trailer’s polished charm, latestnetflix.com argues, what’s the real story behind the movie? Here’s what the buzz reveals.
A Director’s Signature Touch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HykofdboPyg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhE_AAzPWkE
Shashanka Ghosh has carved a niche in Hindi cinema with his sharp, dialogue-driven comedies. Before Plan A Plan B, he helmed projects like Quick Gun Murugun (2009) and Veere Di Wedding (2018), the latter earning praise for its unapologetic take on female friendships. Ghosh’s style—lighthearted yet layered—seems to translate well to Netflix’s global audience. While the evidence doesn’t dive into his creative process for Plan A Plan B, his past work suggests a focus on character dynamics and situational humor, which the trailer and cast interviews hint at delivering.
The Cast’s Chemistry: More Than Just On-Screen Spark?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FRRYhmrUjE
Riteish Deshmukh and Tamannaah Bhatia’s pairing is the film’s biggest draw, and early reactions suggest their chemistry is a highlight. In a promotional clip , the duo debates the merits of truth versus lies in relationships, a theme that likely mirrors their characters’ fake-marriage predicament. Their banter feels effortless, raising questions about whether their off-screen rapport played a role in the film’s tone.
The supporting cast adds depth, with Poonam Dhillon—veteran of 1980s Bollywood classics—bringing gravitas, while Kusha Kapila’s comedic timing (fresh off Ghost Stories and Masaba Masaba) promises laughs. In a behind-the-scenes discussion , the cast collectively describes marriage as “neither a bed of roses nor a punishment,” a line that teases the film’s balanced take on modern relationships.
Behind the Scenes: Netflix’s Gamble on Rom-Coms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsXChaPR4h4
Plan A Plan B is part of Netflix India’s push to dominate the rom-com genre, a space traditionally ruled by theatrical releases. The streaming giant has had mixed success with originals like Ludo (2020) and Ajeeb Daastaans (2021), but Plan A Plan B’s trailer and promotional material suggest a more mainstream, crowd-pleasing approach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeUoQfKzAyM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFPvnxqkH2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pdqm162mCw
What’s unclear is how the film was received critically. While Rotten Tomatoes lists it 
, no score or consensus is visible in the snippet. YouTube reviews exist, but without access to their full content, it’s hard to gauge reception. Rumor (unconfirmed) suggests the film may have struggled to stand out in Netflix’s crowded slate, but the cast’s promotional efforts—including multiple interviews —indicate confidence in its appeal.
The Verdict: Lightweight Fun or Something More?
If the evidence is any indication, Plan A Plan B leans into familiar rom-com tropes: fake relationships, witty one-liners, and a dash of family drama. The trailer and cast interactions suggest a film that’s more about entertainment than reinvention. Whether it delivers on that promise remains to be seen, but for fans of Deshmukh and Bhatia—or Ghosh’s brand of comedy—it’s likely a safe bet.
For now, the behind-the-scenes story is thin on drama but rich on star power. If you’re craving a breezy, bingeable rom-com, Plan A Plan B might just fit the bill.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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