Alia Bhatt
Badrunissa Shaikh
Darlings
“Violence against women is injurious to health”
2022
2h 14m
16 · HindiDirector: Jasmeet K Reen
Overview
Badru hopes her volatile husband will reform if he stops drinking. But when his rage goes too far, she and her mom boldly, albeit clumsily, seek revenge.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Joke That Cuts Too Deep
I’ve seen this movie before—or at least, I’ve seen its DNA. A woman trapped in a cycle of abuse, her hope clinging to the thinnest threads of denial. A husband whose charm curdles into violence the moment the bottle touches his lips.
A mother who’s spent years swallowing her own rage to keep the peace. Darlings isn’t breaking new ground in its premise, but what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in the way it twists the knife—gently, almost lovingly—into the ribs of its audience. This isn’t just a story about domestic abuse. It’s a dark comedy about the absurdity of survival, the farce of love when it’s weaponized, and the quiet, desperate calculations women make to stay alive.
Jasmeet K Reen’s debut feature opens in the cramped, humid alleys of a Mumbai chawl, where Badru (Alia Bhatt) and her mother Shamshu (Shefali Shah) share a one-room home that feels both too small and too exposed. Badru’s husband, Hamza (Vijay Varma), is a train ticket examiner—a job that sounds bureaucratic and dull until you realize it’s the perfect cover for a man who thrives on control.
He’s charming in public, a doting husband in the eyes of neighbors, but behind closed doors, his temper flares like a match in a gas leak. Badru, ever the optimist, believes she can fix him. "He’ll change," she tells her mother, and herself, again and again.
It’s a line that’s been uttered in countless homes, in countless languages, and it lands here with the weight of a lie we’ve all heard before.
What makes Darlings different isn’t the abuse—it’s the way the film refuses to let us look away from the mundanity of it. There are no grand, cinematic moments of violence here. No slow-motion punches or operatic screams.
Instead, there’s the quiet horror of a woman picking up a broken glass from the floor, her hands trembling as she tries to hide the evidence before the neighbors notice. There’s the way Hamza’s voice drops to a whisper when he’s angry, as if he’s trying to lull Badru into a false sense of security before he strikes. There’s the way Shamshu, a woman who’s spent her life making do, watches her daughter’s suffering with a mix of fury and resignation, her own trauma bubbling just beneath the surface.
The film’s dark comedy doesn’t come from the abuse itself—there’s nothing funny about that—but from the absurd lengths Badru and Shamshu go to in their quest for revenge. Their plan is equal parts brilliant and ridiculous, a mix of slapstick and strategy that feels like something out of a Bollywood farce, if Bollywood farces were written by women who’ve had enough. They’re not superheroes.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.5/10
"A darkly comic but gripping take on domestic abuse, lifted by powerful performances but uneven in tone."
Viewers praise its bold handling of a sensitive subject and standout performances from Alia Bhatt and Shefali Shah. Some find the comedy-drama mix jarring and feel it undercuts the heavier themes. Its unpredictability keeps viewers engaged but sometimes feels disjointed.
What viewers praise
- Powerful lead performances Bhatt and Shah bring depth and authenticity.
- Bold storytelling An unflinching, fresh look at domestic abuse.
- Strong chemistry The leads' electric dynamic.
- Engaging unpredictability Twists keep viewers hooked, if abruptly.
Common complaints
- Uneven tone Dark comedy and drama don't always mesh.
- Underdeveloped side characters Vijay Varma's role lacks depth next to the leads.
- Pacing issues Some scenes drag or rush.
- Mixed reception on humor Some find the comedy inappropriate for the subject.
Recommended for
Fans of dark comedy-dramas Alia Bhatt and Shefali Shah admirers Viewers who enjoy socially relevant films Those who like unpredictable narratives Audiences open to tonal experimentation
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 Darlings: Alia Bhatt and Shefali Shah’s Dark Comedy Collaboration
Netflix’s Darlings (2022) marked a bold directorial debut for Jasmeet K Reen, blending dark comedy with raw drama. The film, starring Alia Bhatt and Shefali Shah, follows a tumultuous mother-daughter duo navigating an abusive marriage. While the trailer teased a gripping narrative, behind-the-scenes moments reveal a lighter side to the cast’s dynamic—especially between Bhatt and Shah, latestnetflix.com maintains, whose off-screen chemistry became a highlight of the production.
A Director’s Vision: Jasmeet K Reen on Storytelling Freedom
Reen’s approach to Darlings was deeply personal, and she made it clear she wanted creative control. In an interview, she emphasized that Bhatt gave her the space to tell the story her way, a rare luxury in Bollywood. "Alia Bhatt let me tell the story my way," Reen said, hinting at the trust between director and lead actress. This collaboration likely shaped the film’s unflinching tone, balancing humor with harrowing themes.
The director also opened up about the challenges of helming her first feature for Netflix. In a separate conversation, she described the experience as both exhilarating and daunting, given the platform’s global reach. While specifics about the film’s development remain scarce, Reen’s enthusiasm suggests a hands-on process, from scripting to post-production.
Cast Chemistry: Bloopers and Bonding
The cast’s camaraderie was evident in behind-the-scenes footage, offering a glimpse into the lighter moments on set. A blooper reel showcased Bhatt, Shah, and Vijay Varma’s playful energy, with the trio cracking jokes and improvising scenes. These unscripted moments likely helped ease the tension of filming Darlings’ darker sequences, where Shah’s character grapples with domestic violence.
Shah, known for her intense performances, and Bhatt, a Bollywood powerhouse, shared a mentor-mentee dynamic off-screen. Their rapport translated into a compelling on-screen relationship, with Shah’s world-weary mother contrasting Bhatt’s fiery resilience. Varma, who played the abusive husband, also drew praise for his nuanced portrayal, though his off-screen interactions with the cast remain largely undocumented.
Trailer Hype and Critical Reception
The film’s marketing leaned heavily on its star power, with two official trailers dropping ahead of its August 5, 2022, release. Both trailers highlighted the film’s tonal shifts, from dark humor to emotional gut-punches, setting high expectations. Critics responded with mixed but generally positive reviews. SensCritique rated it 6.3/10, calling it a "dramatic comedy" with a runtime of 133 minutes. Meanwhile, Rotten Tomatoes aggregated reviews without a consensus score, though the cast’s performances were frequently praised.
Despite the buzz, Darlings didn’t dominate awards season, and its reception was overshadowed by other 2022 releases. However, its Netflix platform ensured a wide audience, and the film’s themes of empowerment resonated with viewers.
What We Still Don’t Know
For all its behind-the-scenes glimpses, Darlings keeps some details under wraps. There’s no confirmation on the film’s budget, shooting schedule, or whether the cast improvised key scenes. Rumors about on-set tensions or creative clashes remain unconfirmed, as the available evidence focuses on the cast’s positive dynamic. Without deeper interviews or production notes, these aspects of Darlings’ making-of story remain speculative.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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