The teenager Mehul is madly in love with her tuition teacher Shekhar. The significant age gap, the inappropriateness of the dynamic, Shekhar’s obvious elder sibling vibe – none of this matters to Mehul (Aaditi Pohankar), whose obsession with Shekhar (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) borders on the unhealthy.

Shekhar appears before a grown-up Mehul even after he has died allegedly by suicide, following an accusation that he abused his girlfriend Sayantika (Riya Sen). Convinced that Shekhar is innocent, Mehul teams up with her colleague Anand (Priyanshu Painyuli) to investigate the connections between Shekhar, the corporate executive Moushumi (Barkha Bisht) and the sleazy businessman Sidharth (Sumeet Vyas).

Sidharth is supposed to be very dangerous – he walks round with his bodyguard Rakha (Shaji Choudhary) and barks such orders as “Increase her dose! She should feel the pain!” Mehul, blinkered by her devotion to Shekhar, is unbothered, effortlessly transforming herself from grieving unrequited lover to avenging angel.

Ziddi Ishq is a Hindi web series version of Raj Chakraborty’s Bengali film Parineeta (2019). Chakraborty has directed the JioHotstar show too, which has improved production values and a few better actors than the movie but the same stubborn-stupid plotting and overblown moments.

Digant Patil’s screenplay, with dialogue by Souvik Bhattacharya, tones down the original story by Arnab Bhaumik and Priyanka Poddar. The pulpy thriller is nevertheless seething with heavy contrivances and oodles of unintended comedy. The show takes itself very seriously, making the proceedings all the more ludicrous.

Giggly as an adolescent and seductive as an adult, Mehul is unhinged at all times, driving even an otherwise fine actor like Aaditi Pohankar to distraction. Pohankar has been far better than she is in Ziddi Ishq, gnashing her teeth in frustration or fixing her stare on anybody who might have wronged Shekhar.

Pohankar is matched by Sumeet Vyas, who overdoes the louche act. Various supporting actors similarly behave in silly ways.

By contrast, Priyanshu Painyuli, as Mehul’s adoring colleague, and Parambrata Chattopadhyay, as Mehul’s forever love, are remarkably dignified. Riya Sen, playing Shekhar’s ex Sayantika, is in a category by herself, scattering F-bombs and sporting a strange accent.

📰 Crime Today News is proudly sponsored by DRYFRUIT & CO – A Brand by eFabby Global LLC

Design & Developed by Yes Mom Hosting