Movie: Maharani
Director: Viral Shah
Cast: Manasi Parekh, Shraddha Dangar, Ojas Rawal, Sanjay Goradia
Theatrical Release Date: 1 August 2025
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak, Pritesh Thakkar, Madhu Sharma
Run Time: 2hrs 21mins
A quietly subversive domestic comedy with big heart and bigger laughs; Panorama Studios’ Maharani, helmed by National Award-winning director Viral Shah, is a sharp, emotionally grounded Gujarati social comedy that finds drama, humour, and poignancy in the mundane rhythms of domestic life.
With powerhouse performances from Manasi Parekh and Shraddha Dangar, the film zeroes in on the complicated—and often underappreciated—bond between a modern working woman and her house-help.
Manasi Parekh plays Manasi, a driven banking professional juggling work deadlines and parenting in sub-urban Mumbai. When domestic chaos becomes too much, she turns to Rani (Shraddha Dangar), an unconventional and spirited house-help whose eccentric methods and loud personality bring equal parts madness and magic into the household.
What begins as comic relief quickly evolves into something more layered. When Rani is fired after a series of mishaps, Manasi’s quest to replace her turns into a spiral of relatable frustration and revelation. The narrative tracks this transition with charm and nuance, offering a thoughtful reflection on unseen emotional labour, quiet companionship, and the unlikely solidarity between women who, in very different ways, hold homes together.
Manasi Parekh, fresh off her National Award win for ‘Kutch Express’, delivers a performance that is restrained yet resonant. She embodies a character familiar to many urban viewers: self-sufficient but stretched thin, progressive yet tethered to domestic expectations. Her portrayal of frustration, eventual empathy, and growth is the emotional spine of the film.
Shraddha Dangar’s Rani is the wildcard—messy, funny, unpredictable, but never reduced to stereotype. She brings a balance of comic energy and emotional intelligence, offering a character who’s both a source of chaos and quiet wisdom. Dangar as Rani playing a layered, self-aware character, fully commits—and it shows.
Supporting performances from Ojas Rawal, Sanjay Goradia, and others round out a believable domestic ensemble. The world of Maharani feels lived-in, complete with side characters who add texture without pulling focus.
Adapted from the Marathi film ‘Nach Ga Ghuma‘ (2024), the Gujarati version doesn’t just translate—it localizes, capturing the social dynamics of middle-class households in Gujarat with wit and care. Writers Raam Mori and Hardik Sangani root the screenplay in real-life rhythms, mining laughter and emotion from everyday situations.
Despite some in-your-face product placements that momentarily break immersion, Viral Shah’s direction keeps the film tonally consistent—balancing farce and feeling, slapstick and sincerity. He frames Maharani as more than just a domestic comedy; it’s a tribute to invisible bonds forged in kitchens, living rooms, and morning tea conversations.
Maharani blends everyday realism with strong performances and culturally grounded storytelling. It’s a comedy that doesn’t shout but speaks volumes—about empathy, resilience, and how women hold up the invisible scaffolding of daily life.
