Ziddi Ishq is a Hindi web series adapted from Raj Chakraborty’s 2019 Bengali film Parineeta. The two critic reviews examined here both judge it harshly. Scroll’s Nandini Ramnath calls the plotting contrived and the show unintentionally comic, and OTTplay’s Arpita Sarkar gives it 2 out of 5. This review sets out the premise without late twists, the specific objections the critics raised, and how the series compares with its source film.
What the series is
Ziddi Ishq is a Hindi web series version of Parineeta (2019). Scroll and OTTplay both credit Raj Chakraborty as director of the film and the series. Scroll credits Digant Patil with the series screenplay and Souvik Bhattacharya with dialogue. The original film is the reference point for most of the critical comparisons, so it is covered in its own section below.
The premise, without late twists
The story starts with Mehul’s adolescent crush on Shekhar, her tuition teacher and neighbour. As an adult she is still attached to him. When Shekhar dies, which the reviews describe as suicide, Mehul doubts that conclusion and starts her own investigation. She teams up with a colleague, Anand. The inquiry moves through Shekhar’s girlfriend, Sayantika, a corporate setting, and a businessman, Sidharth.
The reviews describe the premise as a thriller built on that unresolved attachment. Whether the investigation holds up is the central question of the series, and it is where the critics disagree least with each other.
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Cast
- Aaditi Pohankar as Mehul
- Parambrata Chattopadhyay as Shekhar
- Supporting cast reported in coverage: Riya Sen, Priyanshu Painyuli, Barkha Bisht, Sumeet Vyas and Shaji Choudhary
What the two critics said
Both reviews are individual critic opinions, not an audience consensus. Their verdicts overlap on the plotting and pacing, and they differ on how much credit the performances deserve.
| Outlet | Critic | Rating | Main objections | What was praised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scroll | Nandini Ramnath | Not stated (no score in coverage) | Contrived plotting; the show is unintentionally comic | Dignified work by Priyanshu Painyuli and Parambrata Chattopadhyay, set against more mannered performances elsewhere |
| OTTplay | Arpita Sarkar | 2/5 (individual review rating, 2025) | Rushed pacing; character development skipped; performances and adaptation execution fall flat | Not stated in coverage |
Ramnath’s review makes the sharpest point about tone. She writes: “The show takes itself very seriously, making the proceedings all the more ludicrous.” The critic’s objection is not that the series is silly, but that its seriousness is the source of the comedy.
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Does the obsession feel credible?
The whole series rests on Mehul’s attachment to a man who was her teacher when she was a child. That is a power imbalance the drama has to handle carefully. OTTplay’s objection that character development is skipped bears directly on this. If the audience is not shown how the attachment formed and deepened, Mehul’s fixation has to be accepted on trust, and the rest of the plot inherits that weakness.
Does the investigation sustain suspense?
A suspected murder disguised as suicide is a strong hook, and it is the element the series depends on most. Both critics suggest that the plotting undercuts it. Ramnath’s word for the plotting is contrived, and Sarkar’s complaint about rushed pacing points the same way. A suspense thriller needs time for clues and suspects to register before they are overturned, and the reviews indicate that this time is short.
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Performances and tonal control
The critics disagree most on the acting. Ramnath singles out Painyuli and Chattopadhyay for restraint, while describing several other performances as more mannered. Sarkar goes the other way and says performances fall flat. Taken together, the reviews suggest that the cast’s quality varies, and that the weight of the tone depends on which performances the viewer finds convincing.
How it compares with Parineeta
The coverage supports a comparison along four axes:
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- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Plot changes: Coverage says the Hindi version adds or emphasises revenge and action elements. It does not give an episode-by-episode account, so specific changes beyond that cannot be confirmed here.
- Obsession and power imbalance: Whether the teacher-student dynamic is made dramatically credible is the question the critics raise most often, and the series is judged on this point against the film’s treatment.
- Suspicious death: Whether the investigation sustains suspense, as discussed above.
- Pacing and tone: Whether the thriller stays under control, as discussed above.
Viewers who know the 2019 film will be better placed than most to judge which of these changes are improvements. The reviews examined here do not settle that question.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch
OTTplay’s release preview said the series would arrive on JioHotstar on 21 November 2025. A later OTTplay review described it as streaming on JioHotstar and OTTplay Premium. Those are historical release reports. Regional availability and subscription terms are not confirmed in this review, so check the platform listing in your country before subscribing.
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Who it suits
- Viewers who enjoy melodrama that is overwrought enough to be funny, and are happy to watch it that way.
- Viewers who have seen Parineeta and want to see how the story is reframed as a thriller.
- Viewers who want a tightly paced suspense series should expect to be disappointed, according to both critics.
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