A Nice Indian Boy Parent Guide

At his sister’s riotously colorful Indian wedding, Naveen Gavaskar (Karan Soni) knows that everyone expects him to be the next to marry; to settle down with a “nice Indian girl”. Naveen would love to have his own wedding, but he’d prefer a “nice Indian boy” – a dream that feels impossible.

Six years later, Naveen remains isolated. He’s a successful physician, but he avoids discussing anything personal with his parents. He banters with his colleagues and tries awkwardly to develop relationships online. Then he meets Jay (Jonathan Groff).

An orphan adopted by Indian parents, Jay Kurundkar is white but immersed in Indian culture. He’s also a photographer, an artist, and a confident, open-hearted, free spirit. In other words, he’s exactly what uptight Naveen needs. And Naveen is terrified. Terrified of dealing with his parents’ complicated emotions around his homosexuality. Terrified of saying what he wants out of life. And, maybe, terrified of getting what he wants.

A Nice Indian Boy is a rom-com with heart. It delivers the expected elements – a meet-cute, an awkward first date, soulful glances, and big romantic gestures. It’s laugh-out-loud funny and filled with moments that will elicit happy tears (I certainly choked up several times). If you have traditional views on homosexuality, you’re not going to enjoy this movie, but all other rom-com fans will probably have a blast.

What makes A Nice Indian Boy work so well is the depth of its characters – even the secondary ones. Naveen’s mother (Zarna Garg) isn’t just a stereotypically interfering mother, she’s desperately trying to understand her son. She makes cringey comments, but she also immerses herself in gay-themed television, hoping to connect with Naveen. His father (Harish Patel) is uncomfortable with Naveen’s sexuality, but he also loves his family and is willing to reassess his original view of Naveen and Jay’s relationship. And Naveen’s sister, Arundhathi (Sunit Mani) is capable of both cruelty and kindness. In other words, the Gavaskar family is loving, crazy, and irritating. Just like most other families.

Most importantly, Jay and Naveen’s opposites-attract relationship works thanks to the acting skills of the leads. Karan Soni’s Naveen is brittle, anxious, and unsure of himself, “walking through life like an apology”. It’s obvious that until he can fully accept himself, assert his right to be who he is, he won’t ever be happy. And Jonathan Groff gives Jay courage, warmth, and a desperate need to belong to a family. His steady gaze is combined with a rich speaking voice that gives him great screen presence. (Seriously, I could listen to him talk all day.)

The only real downside to this film is the negative content, which would make this unrated film a soft “R”. There is a discreet gay bedroom scene with kissing and embracing but no explicit nudity, some cussing (including four sexual expletives), and a bit of drinking. The biggest issue is drug use, with a main character who vapes frequently, and even drives a vehicle immediately after vaping marijuana. Add in a scene of inadvertent consumption of weed edibles followed by a very stoned character, and this movie isn’t suitable for young viewers.

The negative content is insanely frustrating because A Nice Indian Boy is such a buoyant, bubbly film; a story that reminds us of the wholeness and joy that come from being part of a loving, nurturing family. It’s a tale of acceptance, forgiveness, hope, growth, and the winding path to love. It’ll make you laugh and cry happy tears. What more could you want from a rom-com?