A school reunion can bring back memories that people thought they had left behind. Old friendships, unfinished conversations and teenage crushes suddenly become part of the present again. This is the central idea of Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar, a Hindi romantic comedy directed by Anuj Saini and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg.
Released on 23 October 2026 under the Luv Films banner, the movie follows three friends who return to their school reunion in the hope of reconnecting with their first crushes. Sparsh Walia, Alisha Chopra, Kunal Vaid, Sakshi Vaidya, Sargun Kaur Luthra and Tushar Chhibber play the six central characters.
Rather than concentrating on one love story, the film connects three romantic situations through friendship, humour and the awkwardness of meeting someone after years apart.
The Film at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar |
| Release Date | 23 October 2026 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Romantic Comedy |
| Runtime | 142 minutes |
| Certification | A |
| Director | Anuj Saini |
| Writers | Luv Ranjan, Jehan Handa, Anuj Saini |
| Producers | Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg |
| Production House | Luv Films |
| Music Label | T-Series |
The film has a runtime of 2 hours and 22 minutes. Its theatrical release date, certification and production credits are listed by Bollywood Hungama.
Three Friends and Their Unfinished Stories
The story introduces Gautam Govind Sharma, Vedant Rawat and Shivi Pradhan, three close friends who share a flat in Delhi-NCR. They also work at the same company, Cyber Nexus. Their everyday routine changes when they receive an invitation to a three-day school reunion in Mussoorie.
Initially, the reunion does not interest them. But when they discover that their former crushes will also attend, their plans change. Each friend sees the event as an opportunity to revisit feelings that were never properly expressed.
Gautam wants to meet Gehna Gundecha, Vedant hopes to reconnect with Simran Sandhu, and Shivi wants another chance with Karan Shergill.
The three romantic tracks are different in their emotional expectations. Gautam’s story is about meeting someone he has admired for years and discovering that real closeness can be very different from an imagined romance. Vedant’s situation involves reconnecting with Simran while her wedding celebrations are approaching. Shivi’s experience explores the gap between physical attraction and emotional expectations.
These differences give the story more variety than a conventional single-couple romance. The friends also have to deal with one another’s decisions, making their friendship an important part of the film rather than just a background element.
The reunion is therefore not simply about remembering school. It becomes a test of whether old feelings can survive contact with present-day reality.
Who Plays Whom?
The film’s six lead actors form three central romantic pairings.
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Sparsh Walia as Gautam Govind Sharma: One of the three friends, Gautam attends the reunion hoping to reconnect with Gehna.
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Alisha Chopra as Gehna Gundecha: Gehna is Gautam’s former crush. Her relationship with him becomes one of the film’s main romantic tracks.
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Kunal Vaid as Vedant Rawat: Vedant is Gautam’s friend and hopes to meet Simran again.
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Sakshi Vaidya as Simran Sandhu: Simran is the person Vedant wants to reconnect with.
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Sargun Kaur Luthra as Shivi Pradhan: Shivi is the third friend and has feelings for Karan, a senior from school.
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Tushar Chhibber as Karan Shergill: Karan is Shivi’s former school crush.
The supporting cast includes Mohit Chauhan as Duggal Sir, Nikhat Khan as Ira Mam, Gobind Singh Mehta as Vikesh Bharti, Abhishek Kapoor as Chintan Shah (Chull), Rishabh Dev Singh as Karan Bothra (KB), Ishika Jaiwani as Kanupriya Rana and Rajat Sukhija as Dushyant. Rajkummar Rao is also credited with a cameo appearance.
These character names and associations follow the published Bollywood Hungama cast listing.
What Makes the Story Interesting?
The strongest idea behind the film is the difference between remembering someone and knowing them. A school crush often exists in memory as an ideal version of a person. Years later, a reunion can challenge that image.
Gautam, Vedant and Shivi approach their old crushes with different expectations. Their experiences show that reconnecting does not automatically mean that two people are ready for a relationship. One person may be interested in romance, while the other may have moved on or may not share the same emotional expectations.
This creates opportunities for comedy, misunderstandings and uncomfortable conversations. It also gives the film a chance to look at modern relationships through three different perspectives.
The friendship between the leads is another important element. They encourage one another, discuss their romantic problems and become involved in each other’s plans. Their group dynamic connects the separate love stories and gives the film its ensemble identity.
Direction and the Creative Team
Anuj Saini directs Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar and shares the writing credit with Luv Ranjan and Jehan Handa. The project is produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg under Luv Films.
Vidushi Tiwari is credited for cinematography, while Manan Sagar handles editing. Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray are the production designers. Sohel Sanwari is credited for sound design, and Hitesh Sonik composed the background score.
The choreography team includes Bosco Martis, Raju Khan, Ganesh Acharya and Vijay Ganguly.
Managing three romantic tracks requires careful pacing. The film’s central challenge is making each relationship feel meaningful while keeping the friendship scenes entertaining. Published reviews differ on how successfully the screenplay achieves that balance.
Songs and Music: T-Series Soundtrack
The film’s music is released under the T-Series label. Rochak Kohli composed most of the soundtrack, while Tanishk Bagchi contributed to “Zulmi”. The album features several familiar voices from contemporary Hindi music.
Some of the released tracks include:
| Song | Singer | Composer |
|---|---|---|
| Pyaar Maanga Hai Tumhi Se | Jubin Nautiyal | Rochak Kohli |
| Purane Din | Arijit Singh | Rochak Kohli |
| Jaane Kis Mod Pe | Darshan Raval, Shreya Jain | Rochak Kohli |
| Chaand | Faheem Abdullah | Rochak Kohli |
| Saale Dil | Aditya Rikhari | Rochak Kohli |
| Kamaal | Rochak Kohli | Rochak Kohli |
| Zulmi | Heer | Tanishk Bagchi |
The lyricists credited across the soundtrack include Raj Shekhar, Kumaar and Gurpreet Saini. For example, “Pyaar Maanga Hai Tumhi Se” is sung by Jubin Nautiyal, composed by Rochak Kohli and written by Raj Shekhar. “Purane Din” features Arijit Singh with music by Rochak Kohli and lyrics by Kumaar. “Jaane Kis Mod Pe” features Darshan Raval and Shreya Jain, with lyrics by Gurpreet Saini.
The soundtrack suits the film’s nostalgic theme. “Purane Din” connects with memories of earlier years, while “Pyaar Maanga Hai Tumhi Se” offers a more direct romantic mood. “Jaane Kis Mod Pe” adds another perspective to the album through its duet format.
The official music releases and album information can be checked through T-Series and Apple Music.
What Did Film Critics Think?
The film received a mixed but generally moderate critical response.
The Times of India review awarded it 3 out of 5 stars. Critic Archika Khurana appreciated the nostalgic premise, witty dialogue and youthful performances, but felt that predictable storytelling reduced the emotional impact. The review also noted that the friendship among the three leads feels more convincing than some of the romantic developments.
India Today’s review highlighted the energy of the young ensemble and the soundtrack. However, it criticised repetitive writing and the way background music is used in several scenes.
Filmfare also gave the movie 3 out of 5 stars. Its review recognised the humour and the potential of the newcomer cast, while suggesting that the screenplay could have been stronger.
Hindustan Times appreciated the comedy and the lively second half but questioned the emotional strength of some romantic relationships.
Taken together, the reviews point to a clear pattern: the performances, friendship and music are among the film’s more successful elements, while predictable storytelling and uneven romantic development are its main weaknesses.
Should You Watch Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar?
The film is likely to appeal to viewers who enjoy friendship-led romantic comedies and stories about old crushes. Its three relationship tracks offer different situations, and the young ensemble gives the movie a fresh identity.
However, those expecting a completely original love story may find the familiar romantic situations less satisfying. The critical response suggests that the film works better as a light entertainer than as a deeply emotional romance.
Trailer and OTT Availability
The official trailer was released ahead of the theatrical premiere and introduces the six lead performers, the school reunion and the film’s central romantic idea.
The film reached cinemas on 23 October 2026. As of 2 November 2026, a confirmed OTT platform and digital release date have not been established in the listings checked. Any streaming announcement should be verified through Luv Films or the relevant platform before being published.
Final Thoughts
Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar builds its story around a relatable experience: meeting someone you once liked and discovering whether those old feelings still mean something. Its three romantic tracks, friendship-focused narrative and nostalgic soundtrack give it a clear identity.
The film’s young cast and comic moments have received appreciation, although critics have also pointed out weaknesses in the screenplay. It may be a suitable choice for viewers looking for a light romantic entertainer, especially those who enjoy stories about school memories and second chances.r
