Why I’d like to watch 2005’s Bunty Aur Babli as a Gen Z over today’s Nadaaniyan, Loveyapa

Not selling love

The best part about Bunty Aur Babli was that it didn’t try to sell you love at first sight. Even in changing times, our hearts still gravitate toward deep-rooted, emotionally grounded narratives. Rakesh and Vimmi meeting while running away from their own problems felt far more relatable than, say, a girl faking a boyfriend just to win her friends back. No one actually does that. And let’s be honest—what type of father asks his daughter to exchange phones with her boyfriend as a pre-wedding condition? Sure, Instagram reels and social media have seeped into daily life, but that doesn’t mean today’s generation lives entirely in illusion. In Loveyapa and Nadaaniyan, even when they tried to sell love, all I saw was attraction, lust, and surface-level aesthetics. No substance.

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Cringe dialogues and name-calling

‘Kuchipoo’, ‘Babu shona’, or any other cringe name-calling isn’t what the Gen-Z do in relationships. Take that iconic scene in Bunty Aur Babli where they con a man into buying the Taj Mahal—what stood out wasn’t just the scam, but how they pulled it off together. Their chemistry felt natural, not forced. Whereas, the problem with many of today’s films is the absence of genuine connection. They peddle the idea that modern couples only seek reel-life connections—but that’s far from the truth. We don’t hate love; we hate pretentious love. We are the generation that cries over K-dramas and writes love confessions on social media. We want romance, just not the kind that’s fake, cringe-worthy, or full of red flags.

When acting mattered

From Rani Mukerji’s loud and confident nature to Abhishek Bachchan’s swag, the duo brought substance to Bunty Aur Babli with their stellar performances, along with Amitabh Bachchan’s tadka being the beating heart. Ibrahim Ali Khan in Nadaaniyan and Junaid Khan in Loveyapa lacked emotional depth, offering only over-the-top acting. Giving aesthetic montages to the audience cannot help with character development. Even if you’re crafting a modern mood board, why leave out the emotional core? Their romantic arcs and breakdowns felt hollow, leaving no real impression, only making me long for the con artists who once redefined love with wit, warmth, and chemistry.

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Don’t give us new romance, give better romance

I am not saying this from a nostalgic point of view, but to actually win hearts with storytelling, there is a dire need for better romance, instead of making it brand new and trendy. Evolving with the times isn’t a bad thing—but when every aspect is exaggerated for effect, it can drown out the authenticity and warmth that make it meaningful.

I urge filmmakers to explore Gen Z romance through characters who are genuinely in love, who fail, and even win together. Our love is not just complicated because of phones and the internet, but also real – Fellow Gen Z.