Vicky Kaushal
Sanjay Chaturvedi
Overview
Individually, bank employees Sanjay and Karina don't earn enough to be able to buy a home, so they decide to enter into a marriage of convenience.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readA Home of One’s Own, or the Illusion of It
I’ve lived in cities where the dream of owning a home feels like a cruel joke—where the numbers on a mortgage calculator might as well be written in hieroglyphics, and where the idea of “settling down” is less about roots than about survival. Love per Square Foot lands in that exact emotional real estate, a romantic comedy that treats Mumbai’s housing crisis not as backdrop but as antagonist. It’s a film that understands something fundamental: in a place where space is currency, love isn’t just blind—it’s broke.
Anand Tiwari’s film follows Sanjay (Vicky Kaushal) and Karina (Angira Dhar), two bank employees whose salaries are as cramped as their rented flats. Individually, they can’t afford a home; together, as a married couple, they might just scrape by. The catch?
They’re not in love. Or at least, they’re not supposed to be. What begins as a transaction—marriage as a means to an end—slowly, predictably, becomes something messier.
The film’s premise is so relatable it hurts, a modern-day Pride and Prejudice where the Bennets’ estate is replaced by a 300-square-foot flat in Andheri. But here’s the thing: Love per Square Foot isn’t interested in reinventing the rom-com. It’s interested in what happens when the genre’s usual escapism collides with the very real, very unsexy grind of adulting in a city that demands everything and offers little in return.
Tiwari’s direction is unshowy but effective, grounding the film’s humor in the specifics of urban life. The opening act moves at a clip, introducing us to Sanjay and Karina through the kind of small, telling details that make them feel like people you might actually know. Sanjay’s flat is a shrine to his aspirational self—posters of Warren Buffett on the wall, a bookshelf stocked with titles like Rich Dad Poor Dad that he’s clearly never read.
Karina, meanwhile, is all efficiency, her life organized into color-coded spreadsheets, her dreams measured in square footage. Their meet-cute isn’t a grand gesture but a bureaucratic one: a shared bank loan application, a mutual realization that they’re both being priced out of the city they call home. It’s a setup that could easily veer into cynicism, but Tiwari keeps the tone light, even when the stakes feel heavy.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 6.5/10
"A charming but uneven romantic comedy that shines in moments of humor and chemistry but struggles with pacing and predictability."
Viewers appreciate the lighthearted and relatable premise of navigating love and housing struggles in Mumbai, with standout performances from Vicky Kaushal and Angira Dhar adding warmth and humor. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, the film’s reliance on familiar romantic comedy tropes and a meandering second act leaves some feeling underwhelmed by its lack of depth or surprises.
What viewers praise
- Engaging lead performances Vicky Kaushal and Angira Dhar deliver chemistry and charm, making their characters’ journey feel authentic and endearing.
- Relatable premise The film’s exploration of Mumbai’s housing crisis and modern relationships resonates with audiences, offering a fresh take on romantic comedies.
- Lighthearted humor Several scenes and dialogues are praised for their wit and ability to balance the film’s emotional and comedic tones.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn romantic comedy formulas, leaving little room for surprises or originality.
- Pacing issues The second act drags, with some viewers feeling the film loses momentum before the climax.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including those of the parents, feel thin and underutilized, adding little to the story.
Recommended for
Romantic comedy fans Vicky Kaushal admirers Lighthearted indie film lovers Urban relationship stories Netflix original movie viewers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Love per Square Foot: Netflix’s Rom-Com with a Bollywood Twist
Love per Square Foot (2018) is a rare Bollywood rom-com that blends the chaos of Mumbai’s housing crisis with the messiness of modern love. Directed by Anand Tiwari—an actor, writer, and theater veteran—this Netflix original stars Vicky Kaushal and Angira Dhar as two strangers who enter a marriage of convenience to secure a home loan. latestnetflix.com's take is that but beneath the film’s lighthearted premise lies a mix of on-set surprises, unexpected cameos, and a director who wore multiple hats to bring the story to life.
A Director Who Does It All
Anand Tiwari isn’t just the director of Love per Square Foot; he’s also a seasoned actor and writer with deep roots in Hindi theater and cinema 
. Born in 1983, Tiwari has built a reputation for his versatility, working across stage, screen, and digital platforms. While the film’s official credits don’t list him as a writer, his background in storytelling likely shaped the movie’s sharp dialogue and relatable characters. The project marked one of his early directorial ventures, proving he could balance humor with heart—a skill that would later define his work in films like Bard of Blood (2019) and Thank You for Coming (2023).
The Fake Marriage That Almost Wasn’t
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I_eypETmKo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CE7eqyMx2Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCr0amrMPt0
The film’s central plot revolves around Sanjay (Vicky Kaushal) and Karina (Angira Dhar), two strangers who fake a marriage to qualify for a government housing scheme. But what starts as a transactional arrangement quickly spirals into genuine chaos—and, eventually, love. Clips from the film, including the official trailer and behind-the-scenes interviews , show Kaushal and Dhar’s chemistry as they navigate their accidental union. One standout scene, teased in a Netflix promo , reveals the moment their "marriage" becomes official—complete with awkward vows and a room full of skeptical family members.
The film’s humor thrives on the absurdity of Mumbai’s real estate market, where space is scarce and love is often a secondary concern. While the movie doesn’t delve deep into the mechanics of "price per square foot" , it uses the concept as a clever backdrop, turning a mundane financial metric into a catalyst for romance.
The Ranbir Kapoor Cameo That Stole the Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRjed5lv9rg
One of the film’s biggest talking points was the surprise appearance of Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor. In a scene that quickly went viral , Kapoor plays himself, crashing a wedding sequence in a meta, fourth-wall-breaking moment. The cameo was so unexpected that it became a highlight for fans, with clips racking up millions of views. While Kapoor’s role was brief, it added a layer of star power to the film and gave audiences a fun Easter egg to dissect.
A Cast of Familiar Faces
Beyond Kaushal and Dhar, Love per Square Foot boasts a supporting cast of seasoned actors who bring depth to the film’s ensemble. Supriya Pathak and Raghubir Yadav play Karina’s parents, while Ratna Pathak Shah and Brijendra Kala add their signature comedic timing to the mix. Alankrita Sahai, Gajraj Rao, and Kunaal Roy Kapur round out the cast, each delivering performances that elevate the film’s rom-com tropes.
Despite its strengths, the movie received mixed reviews. On SensCritique, it holds a modest 5.9/10 rating , with some critics praising its fresh take on the genre while others found it predictable. Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score reflects a similar divide, though the film’s Netflix availability has kept it in the conversation years after its release.
The Netflix Effect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLnC5MKFPfk
As one of Netflix’s early forays into original Bollywood content, Love per Square Foot benefited from the platform’s global reach. The official trailer and behind-the-scenes interviews helped build anticipation, while Netflix’s algorithm ensured it found an audience beyond traditional Bollywood fans. Clips like Kaushal’s "purest moments" montage and the accidental marriage scene became staples of the film’s marketing, proving that even a modest rom-com could thrive in the digital age.
The Verdict: A Lighthearted Win with Heart
Love per Square Foot may not have been a critical darling, but it succeeded in what it set out to do: deliver a charming, relatable story about love and real estate in Mumbai. With its mix of humor, heart, and a standout cameo, the film remains a fun watch for fans of Bollywood rom-coms. And while the behind-the-scenes details are sparse, the glimpses we have—from Tiwari’s multi-hyphenate role to Kapoor’s surprise appearance—paint a picture of a project that was as enjoyable to make as it is to watch.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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