Raj Chakrabarty, celebrated for his 2019 Bengali hit Parineeta, returns with Ziddi Ishq, his maiden Hindi-language web series. Streamed on JioHotstar, this adaptation promised an emotional thriller but unfortunately lands far from the gripping intensity of its source material. While the original earned heartfelt praise from audiences and critics alike, this remake struggles to capture even a fraction of its charm.
Story
The plot follows Mehul (Aaditi Pohankar), a modest Bengali woman deeply enamored with her tuition teacher and neighbor, Shekhar Da (Parambrata Chattopadhyay). Her affection, known to her friends, gradually twists into an overpowering obsession.
Things take a tragic turn when Shekhar Da introduces his girlfriend Sayantika (Riya Sen) to Mehul — only for him to be found dead days later under circumstances officially branded as suicide. Distraught but unconvinced, Mehul embarks on a determined quest to expose the truth.
Her investigation draws her into the orbit of Siddharth Roy Chaudhary (Sumeet Vyas), CEO of Unicorn, the company where Shekhar and Sayantika worked. As secrets unfold — including damaging allegations against Shekhar — the story attempts to weave a tense conspiracy. But with hurried pacing, underdeveloped characters, and gaps in logic, it never quite lands the emotional weight it aims for.
Performances
Parambrata Chattopadhyay lends dignity to Shekhar Da’s character, though he is let down by erratic emotional cues in high-stakes scenes. Aaditi Pohankar’s Mehul, unfortunately, comes across as emotionally muted, depriving the series of much-needed intensity.
Riya Sen’s Sayantika feels inconsistent and undercooked, while Sumeet Vyas offers a steadier turn as Siddharth, though his portrayal remains surface-level. Supporting actors like Priyanshu Painyuli and Barkha Bisht add some nuance, helping anchor the otherwise shaky ensemble.
Behind the Scenes
With higher production values than the Bengali original, Ziddi Ishq is visually polished. However, Digant Patil’s screenplay and Souvik Bhattacharya’s dialogue dilute the narrative impact. The adaptation tones down Arnab Bhaumik and Priyanka Poddar’s story, stripping away much of its complexity. Heavy-handed plotting and occasional unintentional humor result in tonal inconsistency — a serious thriller that sometimes feels unintentionally absurd.
Final Verdict
While Ziddi Ishq carries the framework of a compelling mystery — obsessive love, suspicious death, hidden corporate secrets — its execution falters on nearly every front. Raj Chakrabarty’s choice to adapt Parineeta into Hindi might have seemed logical given its prior success, but without the emotional depth and cohesion of the original, this version feels hollow.
For viewers new to the story, the rushed pace and lack of character depth may leave them disengaged. For fans of the Bengali film, Ziddi Ishq may serve only as a reminder of how powerful the original was — and how adaptations can sometimes miss the essence entirely.
✅ Best For: Fans of romantic thrillers seeking something new to stream, though expectations should be tempered.
❌ Skip If: You value strong character arcs, tight pacing, or the emotional beats of the original Parineeta.
