Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt’s first Prime Video production, Don’t Be Shy, arrived on the streaming platform on September 25, 2026. The coming-of-age romantic comedy, directed by debutant Sreeti Mukerji, introduces four newcomers in lead roles. Reviews have been mixed, with several major outlets calling the film predictable, boring, and out of touch with the generation it tries to portray. The film runs for 2 hours and 28 minutes and streams in Hindi with English subtitles across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
What the Film Is About
Shyamili “Shy” Das, played by Aarushi Bajaj, is a 20-year-old college student with her entire life mapped out. She plans to marry her wealthy boyfriend Mayank Jhunjhunwalla, get an MBA from IIM, become a CEO, and have two children by 30. To fit into her college’s rich crowd, she hides her middle-class background and pretends her family lives in Dubai and runs a boutique. In reality, her parents run a struggling saree shop in Mumbai.
Her plans fall apart when Mayank, played by Piyush Khati, breaks up with her. He wants to pursue singing instead of his family business. Shy then plots to win him back. Her path crosses with Tara, played by Bianca Arora, Mayank’s new girlfriend. Instead of becoming rivals, Shy and Tara form an unlikely friendship. Childhood friend Dhruv, played by Ansh Duggal, completes the main group.
Who Is in the Cast
The film stars four fresh faces. Aarushi Bajaj plays Shyamili “Shy” Das. Piyush Khati plays Mayank Jhunjhunwalla. Bianca Arora plays Tara. Ansh Duggal plays Dhruv. Supporting roles are played by Kunaal Roy Kapur, Anurag Basu, Neha Dhupia, and Anju Alva Naik. Alia Bhatt also appears in a cameo in the promotional song Re Bawri.
Who Made the Film
Don’t Be Shy is written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji. This is her directorial debut. She previously worked as an assistant director on films like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) and Brahmastra (2022). The film is produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt under their banner Eternal Sunshine Productions. Grishma Shah and Vikesh Bhutani serve as co-producers. In an interview with Filmfare, Mukerji said:
There is no DBS without Alia and Shaheen. I hate to be cheesy, but they’ve been the producers of my dreams.
When and Where to Watch
Don’t Be Shy premiered globally on Prime Video on September 25, 2026. The film is available in Hindi with English subtitles. Viewers in India, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and over 240 other countries and territories can stream it.
What Critics Are Saying
Reviews have been largely critical. The Hindustan Times gave the film 2 stars. Its review said the film “merely pretends to understand how teenagers think, but makes a mess of it all with a boring screenplay.” The review added that “none of it feels remotely fresh” and called it “less an honest portrayal of teenagers and more an adult’s idea of what teenagers are supposed to be like.”
This teen drama merely pretends to understand how teenagers think, but makes a mess of it all with a boring screenplay.
NDTV gave the film 2.5 stars. It wrote that the film is “colourful, occasionally funny and carried by a promising young ensemble, but its predictable storytelling and uneven pacing keep it from becoming the memorable coming-of-age film it clearly wants to be.”
Koimoi was harsher. Its review stated:
The biggest problem with Don’t Be Shy is it considers its audience as too immature and shallow! And honestly, it is embarrassing, because the Gen-Alpha is way too smart to fall for something as shallow and artificial as this story!
WION’s review said the film “attempts to tell a Gen Z story, but sets it in the early 2000s and delivers a very run-of-the-mill, coming-of-age campus tale.”
Rediff called the film “cliched” and said it has a “predictable plot and reliance on young adult genre tropes.”
What Reviewers Liked
Not every review was negative. The Times of India gave the film 3 out of 5 stars. It wrote that the film “may not offer much that is new in terms of story or storytelling, but its belief in good people, old-school romance, female friendship and love for samosas gives it an easygoing charm.”
Filmfare gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars and called it “frothy, colourful, romantic and just the right amount of silly.”
Pinkvilla also gave 3 out of 5 and praised the performances. It wrote: “Aarushi Bajaj is a standout; the actress brings in effortless comic timing and a lively Gen-Z attitude to the lead role.”
The friendship between Shy and Tara was a common point of praise. NDTV noted that “the relationship that develops between the two women gradually becomes the film’s emotional centre, and their friendship is easily among its better-written elements.”
What Reviewers Did Not Like
A major criticism was that the film does not understand the generation it tries to show. The Hindustan Times review said: “It is less an honest portrayal of teenagers and more an adult’s idea of what teenagers are supposed to be like.”
The runtime was also a problem. The film runs for 2 hours and 28 minutes. India Today wrote that the “nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime feels longer than it needs to.” Many reviews said the film could have been at least half an hour shorter.
Another common complaint was the predictable plot. Bollywood Bubble wrote: “The biggest problem is that Don’t Be Shy takes too long to find its rhythm. The central romantic triangle has potential, but the writing doesn’t create enough tension or emotional investment between the characters.”
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Social Media Reactions
Viewer reactions on X were split. Some praised the film for its storyline, fresh Gen-Z appeal, and Aarushi Bajaj’s performance, calling it a fun and comforting watch. Others were not impressed. One viewer called it a “YA misfire” and said it left them “wry and annoyed.”
Also Read: Alia Bhatt Says Producing Don’t Be Shy Gave Her a Different Level of Joy and Fulfilment
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