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Movie Name: Prem Keetanu
Directed by: Apoorv Singh Karki
Starring: Veer Pahariya, Aparshakti Khurana, Rakesh Bedi, Nikhil Vijay
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Release Date: October 02, 2026
Running Time: 138 Minutes
Language: Hindi
Rating:
Production Company: Avanika Films, Bhavana Studios, Phars Film Company
Budget: Rs.- crore
A group of college friends navigate heartbreak, family expectations, career challenges and growing up. This comedy-drama follows their journey as they search for love, purpose and success.
Prem Keetanu: Overview
‘Prem Keetanu’ teaser: Veer Pahariya stars in a college tale of romance and comedy
The trailer for ‘Prem Keetanu’, starring Veer Pahariya, Aafiya Sayed and Aparshakti Khurana, promises a tale of love and friendship
The makers of Prem Keetanu have released the teaser for the movie. The Hindi film stars Veer Pahariya and Aafiya Sayed in lead roles.
The movie is reported to be a remake of the Malayalam blockbuster Premalu (2024), starring Naslen and Mamitha Baiju in lead roles and directed by Girish AD. The removal of Premalu from streaming platform JioHotstar has increased speculations about Prem Keetanu being the remake of the Malayalam hit.
The movie is produced by Avanika Film Production and Phars Film Present in association with Bhavana Studios, the banner which bankrolled Premalu. Apoorv Singh Karki has directed Prem Keetanu, known for making Manoj Bajpayee’s courtroom-drama Sirf EK Bandaa Kaafi Hai.
Set against the chaotic charm of UP and NCR (Delhi – Gurgaon), the film blends humour, young emotion, romance and chaos. The narrative is elevated by a vibrant soundtrack that perfectly complements every mood, college madness, first love, heartbreak, and the bittersweet journey of figuring life out. This is a comedy, relatable, entertaining ride about finding love, finding yourself, and laughing through the messiness of growing up.
The teaser hints at a college drama filled with romance, comedy, and madness. Aparshakti Khurana, Rakesh Bedi and Nikhil Vijay are the other prominent actors in the movie. Prem Keetanu is co-written by Deepak Kingrani.
Arjun Kukreti is the cinematographer while Ritesh Soni is the editor. Sachet Parampara, Amkur R Pathakk, Rahul Mishra, The Risk and Shashi Suman have worked on the music for the movie. Prem Keetanu is produced by Gaurav Verma while Dharam Soni is the co-producer. Deepak Upreti is the associate producer.
Meanwhile, Premalu revolves around Sachin (Naslen), a jobless engineer, who falls in love with Reenu, an IT professional. Sachin’s journey to win Reenu’s heart turns out to be far from easy.
Movie Trailer:
Movie Review:
A breezy Gen Z rom-com that scores on humour and youthful charm
Story:
A jobless engineering graduate, Vishal Thakur (Veer Pahariya), navigates one-sided love, the challenges of early independence, and the complexities of modern relationships while figuring out life and love.
Review:
In an era of complicated relationships and increasingly elaborate romantic dramas, Prem Keetanu keeps things simple, banking on youthful romance, relatable situations and a generous dose of humour. A remake of Girish AD’s 2024 Malayalam hit Premalu, the film adapts the original’s easygoing charm. While it delivers several laugh-out-loud moments and benefits from a likeable ensemble, its familiar romantic premise and uneven pacing keep it from rising above familiar rom-com territory.
The story follows Vishal Thakur (Veer Pahariya), a 23-year-old BTech graduate struggling to figure out his future. With no clear career ambitions, a strained relationship with his family and little luck in finding a job, Vishal is desperate for a fresh start. His dream of pursuing further studies in the US also hits a roadblock. Through it all, his roommate and friend, Magan Arora (Nikhil Vijay), remains his constant companion.
Vishal’s romantic journey begins with an awkward encounter with Suhani Sharma (Aafiya Sayed) during college admissions. A misunderstanding prompts her to curse him with a rather unusual prediction: he will never find a girlfriend in college. Years later, their paths cross again at a wedding, and Vishal finds himself falling for her. However, Suhani, an IT professional, has a different idea of her ideal partner. She prefers someone older, mature and professionally established — qualities embodied by her boss, Ranjeet Singh (Aparshakti Khurana). What follows is a familiar romantic tug-of-war as Vishal attempts to win her over while confronting the gap between his aspirations and her expectations.
The film’s biggest strength is its ability to find humour in everyday situations. The first half, set against the backdrop of campus life and youthful friendships, is lively and entertaining. Vishal and Magan’s camaraderie provides some of the film’s funniest moments, with their banter and misadventures lending the narrative an easy, infectious energy. The dialogue-writing by Girish AD and Deepak Kingrani works particularly well, keeping the comedy conversational rather than forced.
However, the film’s breezy approach comes at a cost. Unlike Chhichhore, which balanced youthful humour with the emotional weight of friendship, failure and growing up, Prem Keetanu doesn’t explore its characters’ struggles in much depth. Vishal’s uncertainty about his future and his complicated family equation are introduced but never explored with enough depth. The second half shifts towards the central love triangle, slowing the narrative considerably. While the romantic conflict remains watchable, its predictable trajectory and familiar tropes dilute the emotional impact.
The performances, fortunately, keep the film engaging. Veer Pahariya brings an approachable, boy-next-door quality to Vishal, making his romantic insecurities and everyday struggles relatable. Nikhil Vijay steals the spotlight through his effortless comic timing. Aafiya Sayed makes a promising debut as Suhani, bringing freshness and confidence to the role. Aparshakti Khurana adds his trademark comic flair as Ranjeet, ensuring the romantic rivalry remains entertaining. Rakesh Bedi is convincing as Suhani’s supportive father.
At 138 minutes, Prem Keetanu is a breezy rom-com that delivers on humour and youthful charm, even if its predictable plot and limited emotional depth keep it within familiar genre territory. Likeable performances, particularly Nikhil Vijay and Aparshakti Khurana’s comic turns, make it an enjoyable watch. Overall, it is a light-hearted entertainer that scores on humour and camaraderie but plays it safe with its love story.
