Kirat Assi
Self
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare
“My ten year catfish nightmare.”
2024
1h 22m
Director: Lyttanya Shannon
Overview
Kirat falls for a man she meets online, only to get swept up in a virtual relationship that upends her life for years. Her online courtship takes an unsettling turn when she learns that her romantic interest harbours a dark secret and sinister motives, leading to a harrowing ordeal, in this shocking documentary.
Cast
6 peopleReviews
4 min readThe Screen That Loved You Back (And Then Didn’t Exist)
I’ve watched a lot of true-crime documentaries, but few have left me as unsettled as Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare. Not because of gore or violence—this is a story about love, or at least the illusion of it. And that, in some ways, is far more disturbing.
The film opens with Kirat Assi, a bright, articulate woman, describing the man she fell for online. His name was Bobby. He was charming, attentive, the kind of partner who remembered small details about her life.
They never met in person—he was always traveling for work—but their connection felt real. For nine years, Kirat believed in him. Then, one day, she discovered that Bobby didn’t exist.
Worse, the person behind the deception was someone she knew in real life.
The documentary’s greatest strength is its refusal to sensationalize. Director Lyttanya Shannon lets Kirat’s story unfold at its own pace, using a mix of interviews, text message screenshots, and occasional reenactments. There’s no dramatic score swelling at key moments—just the quiet, creeping dread of realizing you’ve been lied to for nearly a decade.
The film doesn’t need embellishment. The facts are horrifying enough.
What makes Sweet Bobby different from other catfishing documentaries (like The Tinder Swindler) is the intimacy of the betrayal. This wasn’t a stranger preying on Kirat’s emotions—it was someone from her own community, possibly even her family. The film hints at cultural and familial pressures that might have made Kirat more vulnerable to the deception, but it doesn’t dig too deep.
That’s both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, the focus stays tightly on Kirat’s experience, avoiding the kind of speculative armchair psychology that plagues true crime. On the other, the omission leaves gaps.
Why did the perpetrator do this? What enabled the lie to go on for so long? The documentary doesn’t provide answers, and that’s frustrating.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.8/10
"A chilling yet frustrating true-crime documentary that leaves viewers torn between fascination and unanswered questions."
The film’s exploration of a decade-long catfishing scheme is gripping, with raw emotional stakes that keep audiences hooked. However, many feel the narrative lacks depth in explaining the perpetrator’s motives, leaving key psychological and logistical gaps unaddressed. latestnetflix.com's take is that the pacing also frustrates some, with repetitive sequences diluting the impact of its most shocking revelations.
What viewers praise
- Gripping real-life mystery The bizarre and prolonged deception at the heart of the story holds attention throughout.
- Emotional authenticity Kirat Assi’s vulnerability and the documentary’s unfiltered access to her trauma resonate strongly.
- Unsettling atmosphere The eerie tone and slow reveal of the catfish’s manipulations create a haunting viewing experience.
Common complaints
- Lack of closure Viewers are left wanting more answers about the perpetrator’s motives and methods.
- Repetitive structure Some sequences drag, rehashing details without adding new insights.
- Thin supporting context The documentary focuses narrowly on the victim’s perspective, leaving broader questions about catfishing culture unexamined.
Recommended for
True-crime documentary fans Psychological thriller lovers Stories of digital deception Emotional survival narratives
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s Sweet Bobby Exposes a Decade-Long Catfishing Nightmare—And the Family Behind It
Netflix’s latest true-crime documentary, Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare (2024), dives into one of the most disturbing cases of online deception ever recorded. latestnetflix.com's take is that Directed by Lyttanya Shannon, the film unravels the harrowing story of Kirat Assi, a woman who was manipulated for nearly a decade by someone she believed was her soulmate—only to discover the truth was far darker than she imagined.
A Love Story Turned Psychological Horror
The documentary is based on the 2021 Tortoise Media podcast of the same name 
, which first brought Kirat’s story to light. According to the evidence, Kirat was catfished by a man named "Bobby," who she met online and believed was her perfect match. Their relationship spanned years, filled with romantic gestures, deep conversations, and even plans for a future together. But as the film reveals, "Bobby" was never who he claimed to be—and the deception went far beyond a simple online scam.
What makes this case particularly chilling is the identity of the catfisher. Reports confirm that Kirat was manipulated by a family member, though the exact relationship remains a key part of the documentary’s mystery . The film explores how coercive control and psychological manipulation played a role in keeping Kirat trapped in the lie for so long, with director Lyttanya Shannon and Kirat herself discussing the broader implications of catfishing beyond just romantic deception .
The Real "Bobby" and the Family at the Center of the Scandal
The documentary features appearances from key figures in the case, including Bobby Jandu, Sanj Jandu, and Hemma Gulhane 
. While the evidence doesn’t specify their exact roles, it’s clear that the Jandu family is central to the story. Forbes reports that the catfisher, later identified as Simran Bhogal, was connected to Kirat’s life in ways that made the deception even more insidious .
The film doesn’t just focus on the perpetrator—it also examines the emotional toll on Kirat, who has spoken openly about the trauma of realizing her entire relationship was a fabrication. In an interview with Glamour, Kirat and director Lyttanya Shannon discuss how the case challenges perceptions of catfishing, framing it as a form of coercive control rather than just a digital prank .
Where Is the Catfisher Now?
One of the biggest questions surrounding Sweet Bobby is what happened to Simran Bhogal after the truth came out. According to Forbes, Bhogal’s current whereabouts remain unclear, though the documentary likely sheds light on the legal and personal fallout of the case . The film’s release has reignited public interest in the story, with many viewers eager to understand how such an elaborate deception could go unnoticed for so long.
A Cautionary Tale for the Digital Age
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare isn’t just a true-crime documentary—it’s a warning about the dangers of online relationships and the lengths to which manipulators will go to control their victims. With its Netflix release on October 16, 2024 , the film has already sparked conversations about trust, coercion, and the blurred lines between love and psychological abuse.
For those who think they’d never fall for a catfish, Sweet Bobby proves that even the most intelligent people can be fooled—especially when the deception comes from someone they least expect.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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