Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review: This Luv Ranjan-coded buddy romance with newcomers is a fun, harmless ride for the most part

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review time, and the first thing I want to say is that this film knows exactly who it is made for. It is a Luv Ranjan presentation, directed by debutant Anuj Saini, and it reached cinemas on 23 October 2026 with one simple question: what happens when three friends walk into a school reunion hoping to rewrite an old crush?  

In this Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review, I cover the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story without spoilers, the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast, the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs and the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating from four early critic verdicts. I have written it the way I would explain the film to a friend who texts, “Should I book tickets this weekend?” If you enjoy the Pyaar Ka Punchnama style of banter, you will find a lot to like. If you want something genuinely new, keep reading before you decide. 

Is Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Worth Watching in Theatres? 

For a light, youthful evening, yes. Four reviews published around release day land between 2.5 and 3 out of 5. India TV gave 3/5, Glamsham gave 3/5, Bollywood Hungama gave 2.5/5 and Flickonclick gave 2.5/5.

That averages out to a Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating of 2.75/5, which tells you most of what you need to know: a breezy, one-time watch that is praised for its young energy and Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs, and marked down for a familiar, sometimes loud script.  

In my Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review notes, one outlier stood out. AltBollywood was far harsher and called the film dated, and I will come back to that criticism below. The Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story is simple, so even casual viewers can follow it. 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar at a glance 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Story: What Is the Film About? 

The Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story follows three friends who attend a school reunion, each carrying a reason tied to a past crush. According to Bollywood Hungama, one of them, Gautam, goes with the plan of winning over a girl he liked years ago. The film then branches into three separate romantic tracks, and critics note that each one has its own flavour and its own moments. 

Glamsham describes the pattern clearly: by the interval, the three friends are more or less on the road to the relationships they hoped to revive, and the second half turns more openly romantic as three couples deal with their own complications.  

Flickonclick adds that the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story touches real concerns of young people, such as fear of commitment, work-life balance and the pressure to be in a relationship. I am deliberately skipping plot twists, so this Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story summary stays spoiler-free.  

The pleasure of a rom-com like this is in the small surprises, and a review should not spoil them. 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Cast: Who Are the Six Debutants? 

The biggest talking point before release was the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast. All six leads are making their acting debut, and Luv Ranjan has publicly said that Hindi cinema needs a fresh wave of actors. Here is the full Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast lineup: 

India TV also mentions a cameo by Rajkummar Rao, which gives the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast a familiar face in a sea of new ones. Bollywood Hungama calls the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast likeable, and India TV says the debutants shine. The film’s trailer review at Flickonclick drew a fun comparison: Luv Ranjan launched Kartik Aaryan with Pyaar Ka Punchnama, and he is making the same bet again, six times over, 15 years later. 

My honest take on the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast is this. Six unknown faces is a risk, but it also protects the film from star baggage. You believe these people are college friends, not celebrities playing at it.

Actor Divyenndu, who played “Liquid” in the 2011 hit, even posted a good-luck message to the team, which shows how closely this film is tied to Luv Ranjan’s earlier world. 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Review: Direction and Writing, How “Luv Ranjan-Coded” Is It? 

Anuj Saini’s direction is described by Bollywood Hungama as simple but effective. He takes time to establish each character, their background and their reason for attending the reunion, and the love interests are drawn with some care too. India TV says the first half moves smoothly. 

The writing behind the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story is where opinions divide. The screenplay is credited to Luv Ranjan, Jehan Handa and Anuj Saini. Bollywood Hungama finds it breezy and funny in places but shaky in others.  

Glamsham notes that the humour is more restrained than you would expect from a film connected to Luv Ranjan’s relationship comedies. Flickonclick is blunter, calling the style loud, repetitive and old-fashioned. As a reviewer, I think this split in every Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review is fair.  

If you grew up on Pyaar Ka Punchnama monologues, the rhythm will feel like home. If you did not, it can feel like the same joke told at higher volume. Those mixed notes explain why the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating stays below 3/5 on average. 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Songs: Does the Music Work? 

The Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs have been one of the film’s strongest selling points. Two tracks arrived before release. “Pyaar Manga Hai Tum Hi Se” was released on 27 September 2026 with Jubin Nautiyal on vocals. “Jaane Kis Mod Pe”, sung by Darshan Raval, followed on T-Series Music and leans into nostalgia and romance. 

Critics largely agree that the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs help the film. India TV lists it among the reasons to watch, and Flickonclick calls the soundtrack soulful. I tend to judge rom-com music by one test: does it still make sense when the film is not playing?  

The Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs pass that test because both tracks are built around longing and old memories, which is exactly the film’s subject. Keep in mind that the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs are only a small album, so do not expect a full jukebox of chartbusters. 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Review: What Works and What Doesn’t 

What works 

• A young, energetic Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast that feels connected to today’s Gen Z and millennial audience 

• A smooth first half and clear character set-up 

• Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs that support the emotions instead of interrupting them 

• Three distinct romantic tracks, so the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story rarely repeats itself 

• A short Rajkummar Rao cameo in the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast list that adds a fun surprise 

What doesn’t 

• A Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story built on familiar rom-com formulas, which several critics flagged 

• Loud and repetitive writing in stretches 

• Some situations that need a generous suspension of disbelief 

• Gender portrayals that AltBollywood criticises as outdated, with female characters shown as confused while the men are treated as sympathetic victims 

That last point in this Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review deserves a fair hearing. It is a real criticism, and younger viewers who care about modern portrayals of relationships should factor it in.  

At the same time, other reviewers found the film harmless and fun, so this is a matter of taste and sensitivity, not a universal verdict. 

Critic Ratings Compared: The Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Rating Table 

The Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating of 2.75/5 puts it in the “decent, with reservations” zone. For context, that is a score you would expect from a film that entertains without becoming a must-see. I will update this Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review table as more reviews arrive, so bookmark the page if you are tracking the film. 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar vs Pyaar Ka Punchnama: Same Magic or Same Formula? 

You cannot write a Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review without mentioning Pyaar Ka Punchnama, which released 15 years ago in 2011. Flickonclick’s trailer review even asked whether this is “Pyaar Ka Punchnama 3 in disguise”, while AltBollywood says the new film revives the old blueprint for 2026 and feels like an extended music video. 

My view on the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story is a middle path. The new film, with its fresh Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast, is clearly cousin to Luv Ranjan’s earlier work, with friendship, fear of commitment and relationship chaos at the centre.  

But it is gentler in tone, with the reunion setting, the multiple couples and the romantic second half pulling it toward a warmer, more conventional love story. If you want the sharp edge of the original, you may miss it.  

If you want a lighter, music-driven version with Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs front and centre, this works better. Expect the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating to depend heavily on how much you love that older style. 

For more films in this space, browse our Romance movie reviews and Comedy movie picks. 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Review: Who Should Watch It, and Who Should Skip It 

Watch it if you want to see the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast in action, you are in your late teens or twenties, enjoy rom-coms with friend-group banter, like the idea of nostalgic Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs, or simply want a no-pressure weekend outing with friends. 

Skip it if the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story sounds too formula-driven, you are tired of formula romance, want sharp and original writing, or dislike loud humour and older-style gender portrayals. A Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating near 3/5 suits viewers who want fun, not perfection. 

Box Office and OTT Release: What We Know So Far 

Because the film opened today, 23 October 2026, official opening-day numbers were not available when I published this. I do not want to guess the figures, so I will update this section once verified collections are reported. You can follow related releases in our Upcoming Movies section. 

On streaming, no OTT platform or date has been announced. Listings currently show the film as theatrical only. I will also revisit the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating once more verdicts are in. Once an announcement is made, we will cover it in our OTT section, so check back there if you prefer to wait for the streaming release. 

Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar Review: Final Verdict 

My Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review comes down to a simple line: it is a harmless, youthful and music-rich rom-com that does not break new ground. The Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast brings charm, the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs add warmth, and the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story is easy to follow even if you can predict some turns.  

The writing keeps it from rising higher. With a Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating of 2.75/5 from critics, I would call it a good one-time theatre watch for fans of the genre and an optional watch for everyone else. 

Conclusion 

To wrap up this Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar review, Luv Ranjan’s latest is an easy-going reunion rom-com that works best when you treat it as light entertainment. Its strengths are the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar cast, the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar songs and a few genuinely funny moments.  

Its weaknesses are a formula-heavy Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar story and loud writing. Given the Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar rating of 2.75/5, if you are a fan of the genre, book it for a relaxed outing. If you are not, there is no shame in waiting for the OTT release.  

Tell me in the comments what you think of the film, and keep following JustWebSeries for more honest reviews, OTT updates and weekend watchlists. For more reviews like this one, visit our Movie Reviews page.

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