Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari : A Time-Pass Cocktail of Romance, Confusion, and Dharma-Style Drama

Before jumping into Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, let’s do something important – set the context. Because I truly believe every movie has a purpose. Action movies? They want to sell you adrenaline. Horror movies? Fear. Comedy films? Laughter. And romantic comedies – rom-coms – like Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari? They exist for one reason only: to make you feel good. To make you sit back in the theater with popcorn, smile, maybe even tear up a little, and walk out with that light, happy, “ah, life is nice” feeling.

This one, directed by Shashank Khaitan under Dharma Productions, carries all the DNA of a glossy Karan Johar universe – colorful sets, wedding functions that could fund small nations, picture-perfect leads, and dialogues that balance between emotional and filmi.

Now, when you hear names like Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf, you already expect a certain kind of movie. And yes, you’re right – this is a proper Dharma rom-com with everything that label promises (and everything it sometimes forgets to fix).

The Story: Four Hearts, Two Exes, and One Grand Wedding Mess

The film begins with heartbreak – the kind that’s a little filmy and a little too convenient. Sanya Malhotra’s character dumps Varun Dhawan’s Sunny, announcing that she’s getting married to someone else. Enter Rohit Saraf, the someone else, who, in a cinematic twist of fate, once dated Janhvi Kapoor’s Tulsi – the same Tulsi who now happens to be single.

So, in total, four people, two ex-couples, and one wedding – you can already sense where this is going.
The two lonely hearts, Sunny and Tulsi, decide to team up, attend the wedding, and pretend to be in love. The goal? To make their exes jealous enough to regret their decisions.

You don’t need to be a scriptwriter to guess what happens next – fake love turns into real love, confusion begins, and everyone starts catching feelings at the wrong time. But don’t worry – I’m not spoiling anything. The trailer already did that for all of us.

Direction & Storytelling: Familiar Ground, Light Footsteps

Director Shashank Khaitan, known for his easy-breezy Dulhania series (Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Badrinath Ki Dulhania), stays in his comfort zone here. The narrative follows the same template – modern relationships, misunderstandings, and emotionally colorful people dancing through heartbreaks.

However, this time the writing feels a bit too predictable. The film flows smoothly, yes, but it rarely surprises. There’s no moment that makes you laugh uncontrollably or feel deeply moved. It hovers comfortably between “fine” and “okay.”

Still, Khaitan deserves credit for giving the film a consistent tone – it never gets too dramatic, never too dull. It just… stays safe.

The Performances: The Good, the Middling, and the Missed Chemistry

Let’s talk performances, because if there’s one reason Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari holds itself up, it’s the cast.

Varun Dhawan, playing the “sanskari” yet slightly confused lover-boy, does exactly what he’s known for. His timing is neat, energy infectious, and he brings some genuine charm to the screen. However, there’s a sense of repetition – we’ve seen this Varun before, multiple times.

Janhvi Kapoor looks stunning and carries Tulsi’s emotional vulnerability quite well. But when paired with Varun, something just doesn’t spark. Their chemistry feels manufactured – a beautiful postcard with no real warmth. It’s not bad, but it’s not Alia-Varun levels of magic either.

Sanya Malhotra, as always, brings honesty and spark to even a small role. She’s the kind of actor who can make you care about a scene that might otherwise pass unnoticed. And Rohit Saraf, the “Mismatched” favorite, fits perfectly into the soft, emotional guy archetype.

But surprisingly, the most entertaining performance comes from Abhinav Sharma, playing Sunny’s best friend. He’s not in the spotlight for long, but whenever he appears, he lifts the mood. A side character that adds much-needed life.

The Music & Aesthetics: Full Dharma Treatment

Being a Dharma Productions movie, you already know what to expect – breathtaking sets, glossy costumes, picture-perfect frames, and wedding sequences where even the extras look like models.

The soundtrack follows the template too: a mix of energetic dance numbers and emotional slow tracks. Some songs are catchy enough to hum later, while others just exist because, well, Dharma films must have songs.

Cinematography-wise, everything is grand. Whether it’s the shaadi setup, foreign locales, or dramatic confrontation scenes, everything looks better than real life. Even “middle-class” homes look like they were designed by luxury architects – but that’s Dharma for you.

Writing & Dialogues: Fine but Formulaic

There are some genuinely funny moments, mostly in the first half. The humor feels grounded at times, conversational at others. But when emotional confrontations arrive, characters start explaining themselves like they’re giving TED Talks on heartbreak. “You did this to me!” “No, you forgot who you were!” – it’s all a bit too written.

The film tries to carry moral lessons about love, identity, and moving on, but it does so in a way that feels a little forced. Still, the dialogues have warmth, and you can sense the director’s intention – he wants the film to feel like a warm hug, not a lecture.

The Pacing: Easy Breezy… Maybe Too Breezy

At 2 hours 15 minutes, the film is a comfortable length, but the problem is the rhythm. Since the trailer already gave away most of the story, you spend the first half waiting for something new – which doesn’t arrive.

After the interval, the film picks up slightly. The emotional beats land better, and the confusion becomes somewhat engaging. The last 15 minutes are easily the strongest – it finally feels like things are happening. The ending, too, leaves you smiling – not clapping, but smiling.

The Biggest Problem: Playing It Too Safe

The movie’s biggest issue is its lack of risk. The premise had potential for both fun and emotional depth – two exes pretending to date at their exes’ wedding could have been chaotic, hilarious, even touching. But the execution plays it safe, sticking to the same beats that Dharma has repeated for years.

It’s as if the film doesn’t want to offend anyone – not the characters, not the audience, not even its own clichés. As a result, it feels too polished, too predictable.

There’s also that lack of spark between Varun and Janhvi – the emotional engine that should have driven the film. Without it, everything else feels like a beautifully designed car running on low fuel.

What Works

• Consistent feel-good tone
• Beautiful visuals and rich production design
• Easy chemistry between secondary characters
• A fun final act that ends on a high note
• Performances from Sanya Malhotra and Abhinav Sharma

What Doesn’t Works

• Predictable storytelling
• Lack of chemistry between leads
• Over-explained emotional scenes
• Few memorable dialogues
• Missed potential in a promising premise

Final Thoughts: A Light Mocktail of a Movie

By the end of Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, you don’t walk out disappointed – you just walk out mildly amused. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a mocktail – sweet, nicely presented, a little bubbly, but doesn’t quite leave a lasting taste.

It’s a one-time watch – pleasant enough to pass the time but not powerful enough to stay in memory.

Still, if you enjoy romantic comedies with charming actors, glossy sets, and easy humor – this might be your weekend pick. Don’t expect a Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar-level spark, but expect an evening of light smiles and some good music.

Verdict: “Time-Pass with Dharma Gloss”

Rating: 2.5/5

Watch it once, enjoy the colors, the weddings, the dances, and move on. Just don’t expect fireworks – only fairy lights.