Common Sense Media Review
By Sakhi Thirani
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bollywood romantic drama crassly appropriates WWII traumas.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bawaal
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
BAWAAL finds school teacher Ajay (Varun Dhawan) obsessed about his social image and ashamed of his wife, Nisha's (Janhvi Kapoor) epilepsy. Can a lesson in World War II history and a trip to Europe save his marriage and change his principles?
Is It Any Good?
This romantic drama directed by Nitesh Tiwari is disappointing and problematic in equal measure. Bawaal is a simple tale about a man's silly arrogance with regard to his marriage that randomly uses the horrific events of WWII and the Holocaust for dramatic purposes in an attempt to make a philosophical point. It fails miserably, with its intentions misplaced and a story that is far too predictable to even pass as entertainment. This Bollywood drama may have wanted to inform and educate its audience, but the results are a cringy, sentimental, and distasteful mess.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how World War II was represented in Bawaal. Did you think it was fair to compare the terrors and tortures of the Nazi regime to a marital conflict? Why might this be considered as crass? How to talk to kids about violence, crime, and war.
Ajay was obsessed with his own image in society and pleasing people? Why is this a problematic attitude to have? What issues can this lead to?
Did you think some of the characters drank/smoked too much? What are some of the real-life consequences of drinking and smoking?
Talk about the potrayal of Nisha. How was she treated by people as a result of her epilepsy?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 21, 2023
- Cast : Varun Dhawan , Janhvi Kapoor , Parth Siddhpura
- Director : Nitesh Tiwari
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Prime Video
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : History , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 137 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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