Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the romantic drama series Bada Naam Karenge, which premiered on Sony LIV and marks the highly anticipated OTT debut of legendary filmmaker Sooraj R. Barjatya, bringing his signature family values and heartwarming storytelling to the digital space.
Released on February 7, 2025, this Sony LIV Original consists of 9 episodes produced under the banner of Rajshri Productions. Directed by Palash Vaswani with Sooraj R. Barjatya as showrunner, the series stars Ritik Ghanshani and Ayesha Kaduskar in lead roles, alongside veteran actors Kanwaljeet Singh, Jameel Khan, and Alka Amin.
The series brings Barjatya’s trademark warmth and family-centric storytelling to contemporary themes, exploring how modern relationships navigate between tradition and personal desires. Set against the backdrop of an arranged marriage, the show delves into the complexities of love, family expectations, and the secrets that can both unite and divide couples in today’s India.
The Secret Connection: When Past Meets Present
The central plot revolves around Rishabh (Ritik Ghanshani) and Surbhi (Ayesha Kaduskar), who are brought together for an arranged marriage by their families. However, what makes their story unique is the secret connection they formed during the Mumbai lockdown, a bond that neither initially reveals to their families. This hidden past creates both tension and tenderness as they navigate their new arranged relationship.
The series skillfully explores how their previous encounter affects their present dynamics, creating layers of complexity as they try to honor family traditions while grappling with genuine feelings that developed in completely different circumstances. The lockdown setting adds contemporary relevance to their love story, making it resonate with audiences who lived through similar experiences.
Rishabh’s Journey: Between Duty and Desire
Ritik Ghanshani delivers a nuanced performance as Rishabh, portraying a young man caught between respecting his family’s choice and acknowledging his own heart. His character represents the modern Indian male who wants to be a dutiful son while also pursuing authentic emotional connections. Throughout the series, we see Rishabh struggle with whether to reveal their past relationship or let their arranged marriage unfold naturally.
The character development shows Rishabh’s evolution from someone hiding a secret to someone learning to communicate openly with both his family and Surbhi. His journey reflects the generational gap between traditional arranged marriage expectations and contemporary relationship dynamics.
Surbhi’s Dilemma: Love in the Time of Arrangements
Ayesha Kaduskar brings depth and authenticity to Surbhi’s character, showing a woman who must navigate between her genuine feelings and societal expectations. Her portrayal captures the internal conflict of someone who has experienced both organic love and the pressure of family-arranged relationships. Surbhi’s character arc explores themes of agency, choice, and the courage required to be honest about one’s feelings.
The chemistry between Ghanshani and Kaduskar feels natural and lived-in, making their past connection believable while showing how that history complicates their present arranged marriage scenario. Their performances anchor the series’ emotional core.
Family Dynamics: The Heart of Rajshri Storytelling
True to Sooraj Barjatya’s filmmaking legacy, the series places significant emphasis on family relationships and generational perspectives on love and marriage. The supporting cast, including Kanwaljeet Singh, Jameel Khan, and Alka Amin, brings authenticity to the family dynamics, representing different viewpoints on tradition, modernity, and the evolution of romantic relationships.
The series doesn’t shy away from showing how family expectations can both support and constrain young people’s choices, creating realistic conflicts that many viewers will recognize from their own experiences with arranged marriages and family pressures.
Success on Sony LIV
Since its February 7, 2025 premiere on Sony LIV, Bada Naam Karenge has garnered attention as Sooraj R. Barjatya’s successful transition from cinema to digital storytelling. The series’ 9-episode format allows for deeper character development while maintaining the director’s signature style of wholesome family entertainment. Produced by Rajshri Productions and directed by Palash Vaswani, the show has been praised for bringing contemporary relevance to traditional themes of arranged marriage and family values. The series has sparked conversations about honesty in relationships, the evolution of arranged marriages, and how modern couples navigate between personal desires and cultural expectations.
If you love romantic family dramas that blend traditional Indian values with contemporary relationship dynamics, Bada Naam Karenge is the perfect series to binge on Sony LIV.
A heartwarming exploration of love, family, and honesty that proves Sooraj Barjatya’s storytelling magic translates beautifully to the digital medium.
Series Details:
- Number of Episodes: 9
- Platform: Sony LIV
- Rating (IMDb): 9.7/10 (Individual episode rating)
- Genre: Romance, Drama, Family
- Protagonists: Ritik Ghanshani (Rishabh), Ayesha Kaduskar (Surbhi)
- Antagonist: Family expectations and hidden secrets