Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (2017)

Plot

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Aarti Shukla, a PCS aspirant played by Kriti Kharbanda, meets Satyendra “Sattu” Mishra, a clerk in the Excise Department played by Rajkummar Rao, because her parents are trying to get her into an arranged marriage. Sattu is mesmerized by Aarti’s beauty and intelligence, and Aarti finds Sattu’s unconventional viewpoints to be convenient. They fall in love and agree to marry.

Aarti finds out from her sister Abha that she passed the PCS Exam on the night of their wedding. She also informs her that her in-laws will not let her pursue her career. Aarti flees her house on the advice of Abha and her maternal uncle without informing Sattu, who is devastated.

Due to this incident, both Sattu as well as his family are disgraced by the society since the people assume there must be something wrong with him because of which the girl ran away on the night of the wedding.

After 5 years, Aarti is now a PCS Officer in Lucknow and is accused of taking a bribe. Her investigation case is handled by the local district magistrate, who is revealed to be Satyendra, now an influential IAS Officer.

Now fuelled with immense hatred and unable to forget his heartbreak as well as his family’s disgrace due to Aarti, Satyendra uses his power and influence to torment her and outright tells her that he loathes her. Unable to endure Sattu’s emotional torment, Aarti confronts him and informs him that she left the marriage for her PCS training; but Satyendra retorts that she should have at least confided in him beforehand as he loved her so much.

Later, Aarti meets Mr. Kukreja, who accuses her of taking the bribe. When Sattu learns about the meeting, he immediately orders for Aarti to be arrested. It is revealed at the conclusion of the hearing that Aarti’s friend Neelam was the one who accepted the bribe, and Sattu ordered Aarti sent to prison to safeguard her from an assassination attempt that was being planned by Neelam and Mr. Kukreja.

Sattu gives Aarti permission to continue working after she is found not guilty. Realising that Sattu’s hatred towards her stems from his heartbreak, Aarti spends the next few days attempting to win back Sattu’s love. However, when Sattu spurns her and tells her he has suffered a lot due to her, Aarti decides to move on and marry Sharad. When Sattu hears this news, he feels more and more conflicted.

He reluctantly goes to Aarti’s wedding with his family, but he gets upset when he sees her in her wedding dress. Sattu realises his mistake in rejecting Aarti and pleads with her to marry him instead.

Aarti, on the other hand, turns down Sattu’s offer and leaves. Later, Aarti’s brother reveals that the wedding is a ploy arranged by the Mishra and Shukla families to lure Sattu into marrying Aarti. Sharad is revealed to be Abha’s husband and Aarti’s brother-in-law. The film ends with Sattu laughing along with the families and marrying Aarti.

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Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana: A Wedding Invitation to Love, Revenge, and a Whole Lotta Drama

Picture this: you’re invited to a grand Indian wedding. The baraat is ready, the dhol is thumping, and the buffet promises paneer tikka for days. But halfway through, someone spikes the lassi with plot twists, and suddenly, the shaadi turns into a soap opera where love, betrayal, and bureaucratic revenge crash the party.

Welcome to Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (2017), a Bollywood flick that’s less “come to the wedding” and more “brace for the emotional jalebi spiral.” Directed by Ratnaa Sinha and starring the ever-brilliant Rajkummar Rao and the sparkling Kriti Kharbanda, this movie is a 137-minute ride that’s equal parts heartwarming, heartbreaking, and “wait, what just happened?” Let’s unpack this desi drama with a generous helping of humor, because if we’re going to a wedding, we’re bringing our dancing shoes—and maybe a tissue box.

The Setup: A Match Made in Kanpur (Or So We Thought)

The film opens in Kanpur, where arranged marriages are as common as chai stalls and family honor is guarded like the last samosa at a party. Enter Satyendra “Sattu” Mishra (Rajkummar Rao), a soft-spoken, government clerk with dreams as modest as his scooter. Sattu’s the guy who’d apologize to a speed bump for slowing him down—earnest, lovable, and rocking a mustache that screams “I file your taxes with pride.” Then there’s Aarti Shukla (Kriti Kharbanda), a bright, ambitious young woman who’s studying for the PCS exams (that’s Provincial Civil Services, for those not fluent in Indian bureaucracy lingo). Aarti’s got brains, beauty, and a smile that could convince you to eat karela and like it.

Their families arrange their marriage faster than you can say “laddu distribution,” and what starts as a shy rishta meeting blooms into a sweet, tentative romance. Sattu and Aarti bond over late-night phone calls, stolen glances, and a mutual love for Kanpur’s chaat scene. It’s all very Hum Aapke Hain Koun-lite, with enough roshogulla sweetness to make you root for them. Rajkummar Rao plays Sattu with such sincerity that you want to hug him through the screen, while Kriti Kharbanda’s Aarti is the perfect mix of spunk and vulnerability. You’re thinking, “Aww, this is nice. They’ll get married, have 2.5 kids, and live happily ever after, right?” Oh, sweet summer child, buckle up.

The Plot Twist: Runaway Bride, Kanpur Edition

Just when you’re vibing with the sangeet prep and mentally picking out lehenga colors, the movie pulls a Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani—except instead of backpacking to Manali, Aarti pulls a runaway bride move that leaves everyone, including the audience, gasping like they just saw biryani without raita. On the wedding night, Aarti ditches Sattu at the altar (well, technically post-pheras, which is even messier) and vanishes into the night. Why? Because her sister’s sob story about a miserable arranged marriage scares her into thinking she’ll lose her dreams of becoming a PCS officer. It’s like Aarti saw 3 Idiots and decided “Aal izz well” means “bolt from your own wedding.”

Now, let’s pause for a hot second. Aarti’s decision is understandable—she’s young, scared, and doesn’t want to trade her ambitions for a lifetime of dal duty. But girl, couldn’t you have had a quick chat with Sattu? The guy’s so whipped he’d probably have built you a study room with a “PCS or Bust” banner. Instead, she leaves him humiliated, his family disgraced, and his heart more broken than a papad in a microwave. The first half ends on this gut-punch, and you’re left wondering if you accidentally switched to a Zee TV serial. But don’t worry, the second half is where things get really wild.

Act Two: Revenge of the Clerk

Fast-forward five years, and Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana decides it’s done playing nice. Sattu’s no longer the scooter-riding sweetheart—he’s now a hotshot government officer with a fancy car, a sharper mustache, and a grudge bigger than a Kanpur traffic jam. Rajkummar Rao transforms into this smoldering, sarcastic version of Sattu who’s basically saying, “You broke my heart, but I upgraded my kurta game.” Meanwhile, Aarti’s a successful PCS officer (dreams achieved, check!), but her life’s about as stable as a thela cart in a storm. She’s single, her family’s still salty about her runaway stunt, and she’s got that “I made a huge mistake” vibe written all over her.

Here’s where the movie throws in a twist so spicy it deserves its own tadka. Sattu, now Aarti’s boss (because of course he is), discovers she’s being investigated for corruption—charges cooked up by her shady colleague. Does he help her? Nope! Our boy Sattu leans into his inner Dabangg and decides to make her life a bureaucratic nightmare. He’s all, “You ran from our wedding? Let’s see how you run from my filework!” It’s petty, it’s glorious, and Rajkummar Rao sells it like he’s auditioning for Villain of the Year. You’re torn between cheering for his glow-up and yelling, “Sattu, therapy exists!”

The Love-Hate Tango: Chemistry and Chaos

The second half is a rollercoaster of emotions, and I mean that in the most Bollywood way possible. Sattu and Aarti’s interactions are like a kathi roll—messy, spicy, and you can’t stop going back for more. Their chemistry crackles, even when they’re throwing shade instead of gulab jamuns. Aarti’s guilt clashes with Sattu’s hurt, and every scene feels like a Karan Johar climax stretched over an hour. Kriti Kharbanda does a solid job showing Aarti’s regret without making her a damsel, while Rajkummar Rao is the MVP, juggling heartbreak, anger, and that tiny spark of love that refuses to die.

But let’s talk about the plot for a second, because it’s doing bhangra moves no one asked for. The corruption subplot feels like it was borrowed from a different movie—maybe one where Sunny Deol yells “Tareekh pe tareekh!” There’s also a creepy colleague who’s so cartoonishly evil you expect him to twirl a mustache and tie Aarti to train tracks. And don’t get me started on the pacing—it’s like the editor got distracted by a shaadi ka ladoo and forgot to trim a few scenes. Yet, somehow, the Sattu-Aarti drama keeps you hooked. You’re mad at them, you’re rooting for them, you’re wondering if they’ll ever stop acting like Saath Nibhaana Saathiya characters.

The Music: Earworms with a Side of Tears

No Bollywood movie is complete without a soundtrack that makes you want to dance, cry, or both. Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana delivers a solid playlist that’s like a wedding DJ who knows when to switch from bhangra to ghazal. The title track, “Jogi,” sung by Yasser Desai and Aakanksha Sharma, is a romantic banger that’ll have you swaying like you’re at a mehndi function.

It’s got that perfect mix of longing and desi vibes—think Arijit Singh if he took a chill pill. Then there’s “Piya More,” a peppy number that’s basically begging for a sangeet choreography video on Instagram Reels. The background score by Anand Raj Anand and team is suitably dramatic, though sometimes it feels like the violins are working overtime to make you cry.

My personal favorite? “Tu Banja Gali Benaras Ki.” It’s so sweet it could give you diabetes, but in a good way. The lyrics are pure poetry, and Rajkummar and Kriti’s chemistry in the song makes you forget they’re about to spend the next hour plotting against each other. The only dud is “Mera Intkam Dekhegi,” Sattu’s revenge anthem that’s trying way too hard to be Baazigar-level iconic. Sorry, Sattu, Shah Rukh Khan called—he wants his nafrat vibe back.

The Side Characters: Family, Foes, and Filmi Feels

Bollywood loves its supporting cast, and Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana serves up a thali of quirky relatives and nosy neighbors. Sattu’s mom (played by Alka Amin) is the classic desi maa who’d guilt-trip you into eating an extra paratha while crying about family honor. Aarti’s parents, especially her dad (Vipin Sharma), bring the right mix of stern and soft, though her sister’s subplot feels like it was written to justify Aarti’s bad life choices. Then there’s the villainous colleague, who’s so slimy he makes Anupam Kher’s creepy roles look cuddly. The sidekicks—Sattu’s friend and Aarti’s confidante—add some comic relief, but they’re as forgettable as the pulao at a wedding buffet.

What I love is how the film captures the small-town vibe of Kanpur. The gossiping aunties, the over-the-top wedding prep, the way everyone knows everyone’s business—it’s like someone filmed my cousin’s shaadi and added a revenge arc. The sets and cinematography are nothing groundbreaking, but they nail that UP ka mahaul where every street corner has a paan shop and a backstory.

The Climax: Love Wins (Or Does It?)

No spoilers—okay, maybe a tiny one, but I’ll keep it vaguer than a kundali prediction. The climax is a mix of courtroom drama, family showdown, and a love confession that hits you right in the feels. It’s chaotic, it’s filmi, and it’s got enough twists to make M. Night Shyamalan jealous. Does Sattu forgive Aarti? Does Aarti redeem herself? Will there be a last-minute dulhe ki entry on a horse? I’m not telling, but let’s just say the ending tries to tie up loose ends like a pandit tying a mangalsutra.

Is it satisfying? Mostly. The resolution leans hard into Bollywood’s “love conquers all” mantra, which works if you’re in the mood for dil se dil tak vibes. But if you’re a cynic, you might roll your eyes at how neatly everything wraps up—like a sari pleat that magically stays perfect. Either way, Rajkummar and Kriti sell the heck out of it, and you’ll probably need a kulfi to cool down from all the emotions.

Why It Works (And Why It Wobbles)

Let’s get real: Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana isn’t Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. It’s not even Tanu Weds Manu. But it’s got heart, hustle, and a lead pair that makes you care, even when the script feels like it’s auditioning for Balaji Telefilms. Rajkummar Rao is the film’s secret weapon—whether he’s the shy groom or the salty boss, he’s so good you forget he’s acting. Kriti Kharbanda holds her own, though her character’s decisions sometimes make you want to shake her and say, “Beti, ek baar soch leti!” The romance is believable, the revenge is juicy, and the Kanpur setting gives it a grounded charm that big-city Bollywood often misses.

On the flip side, the film bites off more than it can chew. The corruption angle feels like it wandered in from a Vijaypath remake, and the second half drags like a baraat stuck in traffic. Some plot points—like Aarti’s sudden fear of marriage—needed more buildup to avoid feeling like a TV serial cliffhanger. And while the music slaps, the choreography is as basic as my uncle’s bhangra moves at a family function.

The Verdict: Come for the Shaadi, Stay for the Tamasha

At 137 minutes, Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana is a bit like a desi wedding itself—colorful, emotional, occasionally overstuffed, but impossible to leave early. It’s a film that swings big, misses sometimes, but lands enough punches to keep you invested. If you love Bollywood’s mix of pyaar and dushmani, served with a side of dialoguebaazi, this one’s for you. Just don’t expect logic ka laddoo—this is a movie that runs on dil ka diesel.

Would I recommend it? Haan ji, zaroor! Watch it for Rajkummar Rao’s masterclass in acting, Kriti Kharbanda’s radiant charm, and a story that reminds you why Bollywood weddings are never just about the pheras. Grab some popcorn, maybe a dabba of mithai, and dive into this Kanpur love saga. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll probably text your ex by mistake. And isn’t that what a good shaadi movie’s all about?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 jalebis. Sweet, twisty, and a little messy—but oh, what a feast!