Amazon MGM Studios, Eternal Sunshine Productions and Chalkboard Entertainment’s Don’t Be Shy! is a love story.
Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das (newfind Aarushi Bajaj), who is quite poor, studies in college. Her biggest achievement is that her classmate, a rich industrialist’s son, Mayank Jhunjhunwala (newfind Piyush Khati), is in love with her. Or so she believes. Dhruv Kumar (newfind Ansh Duggal), who is not as rich, also loves Shy. Effectively, there’s a love triangle, but there are more angles because Mayank ditches Shy for Tara Verma (debut-making Bianca Arora). What happens finally? Who marries whom?
Sreeti Mukerji and Sunayana Kumari have written a story which seems to be heavily inspired by Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year. Sehaj Kaur Maini’s screenplay is ordinary for a good part as the first half is not very engaging and the same holds true about the initial part of the second half. However, the last part of the story and of Sehaj Kaur Maini’s screenplay is not just engaging but also quite interesting and fulfilling. Sehaj Kaur Maini and Sreeti Mukerji’s dialogues are quite nice.
Aarushi Bajaj makes a nice debut and acts well as Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das. Anshu Duggal is endearing in his debut role as Dhruv Kumar. Debut-making Piyush Khati does quite well as Mayank Jhunjhunwala. Bianca Arora is good in her debut role as Tara Verma. Anju Alva Naik makes her mark as Shy’s mother, Jaya Das. Anurag Basu has his moments in a special appearance as Shy’s father, Joy Das. Kunaal Roy Kapoor is nice in a guest appearance as Mr. Q. Neha Dhupia is impactful in a guest appearance as Nandini Verma. Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman play themselves effectively. Tahira Nath (as Mrs. Joshi), Mahesh Thakur (as Mr. Kumar), Farzil Pardiwalla (in the role of Himanshu Kaka), Alisha Prothi (as Riu Kumar), Amit Singh Thakur and Nazneen Madaan (as Mr. and Mrs. Jhunjhunwala), Shireesh Sharma (as Dadu Jhunjhunwala), Avvisha Desai (as the teenaged Shy), Aditya Solanki (as the teenaged Dhruv), Riyanshi Malhotra (in the role of kid Shy), Kiyansh Sanklecha (as kid Dhruv) and the rest act well.
Sreeti Mukerji’s direction is quite nice, especially while wrapping up the drama. Ram Sampath’s music is melodious. Lyrics (Munna Dhiman for Tum ho wohi; Saveri Verma for Baawri and Bandey; Devansh Prasad Vaidya for Jhumo and Tere sang) are in synch with the mood of the film. Song picturisations (Vijay A. Ganguly for Jhumo and Tere sang; Ruel Dausan for Tum ho wohi and Baawri) are youthful. Ram Sampath does a fine job of the background score. Pratham Mehta’s cinematography is eye-pleasing. Amrita Mahal Nakai’s production designing is of a good standard. Dipika Kalra’s editing could’ve been sharper.
On the whole, the last part of Don’t Be Shy! makes the film worth a watch at home on OTT.
Released on 25-9-’26 on Amazon Prime.