Single Papa Review: Kunal Kemmu and Prajakta Koli lead a show that wraps you in a baby blanket of pure fun

A Divorce, A Dysfunctional Family, And A Car Seat Surprise

We meet a just about to be divorced Gaurav, played with dependable ease by Kunal Kemmu, and Aparna, portrayed by Isha Talwar. Gaurav is a strange cocktail of entitlement, arrested emotional development, and a yearning for fatherhood that feels both impulsive and earnest. Aparna, understandably exhausted, has had enough of being married to a manchild and is nowhere close to wanting a baby.

But the madness does not stop with the two of them. The Gehlots as a collective are a circus of lovable oddballs, from Ayesha Raza’s delightfully chaotic mother to Manoj Pahwa’s father who seems to operate on his own frequency to Prajakta Koli’s sister Namrata, who feels like the only stable brain cell in the group.

A Baby In The Backseat

Their household is already juggling wedding chaos, rich in-laws drama, and Gaurav’s emotional upheaval when fate decides to upend the script entirely. A baby boy is abandoned inside Gaurav’s car, shocking him into a panic that gradually softens into devotion. What starts as confusion morphs into purpose, and suddenly

Gaurav is determined to become a single father to the little boy he names Amul, because he discovers him in an Amul carton, a detail that is both funny and oddly touching. The only problem is that adoption procedures do not exactly smile upon single men, and the odds of succeeding are practically zero. But Gaurav Gehlot, in a moment of rare clarity, decides to push every boundary and challenge every rule set by the stern and razor sharp adoption centre head Mrs Nehra, played by Neha Dhupia with controlled precision.

Comedy Of Errors But With A Brain

Comedy that dances on the edges of chaos is notoriously difficult to write and even trickier to perform, especially in today’s hyper aware audience culture. You need to be over the top but never stupid, loud but never brainless, outrageous but never repulsive. It is a tightrope so thin that most shows fall off in the first fifteen minutes. Writers Ishita Moitra and Neeraj Udhwani, along with directors Shashank Khaitan and Hitesh Kewaliya, understand this game almost instinctively. They maintain just the right amount of madness without slipping into exhaustion. That signature warmth often associated with the Karan Johar school of storytelling peeks through in the most essential ways, giving the show its heart without letting the humour lose oxygen.

A Family That Is Mad But Never Malicious

A dysfunctional family is easy to write but difficult to humanise. Single Papa walks that line with clarity. The Gehlots are messy, loud, and sometimes exasperating, but never unbearable. Their decisions might be wild but never ill intentioned, which is why you stay with them instead of running for the exit.

The show displays a comforting sense of awareness. It knows exactly how ridiculous these people are but also understands the emotional truth behind their madness. That is one of the strongest pillars holding Single Papa together.

Kunal Kemmu And The Art Of Effortless Feeling

Calling Kunal Kemmu underrated has become a cliché, yet it remains accurate. He slips into Gaurav’s chaotic world with natural comedic timing, sharp instincts, and the kind of emotional vulnerability that creeps up on you unexpectedly. His scenes with Amul are quietly beautiful, especially when he cries or lets a single tear fall. He never oversells the moment and that restraint is what makes it hit harder.

The casting team deserves applause for putting together an ensemble where every actor elevates the material. Prajakta Koli is especially delightful, breaking out of her usual romcom mould and delivering some of the most grounded work in the show. Her sibling bond with Gaurav is written with such authenticity that it becomes one of the standout elements. They can fight, mock, hold each other up, and never once fall into sentimental syrup. It is relatable in the best way.

Comedy, Commentary, And The Touch Of Reality

The show does not shy away from real issues either. The first three episodes do travel along predictable lines, where you more or less guess the hurdles Gaurav will face in his attempt to adopt a child. But that mild predictability sits alongside interesting commentary. The writing pokes at gender biases in adoption, societal expectations of fatherhood, the judgment reserved for male caregivers, and the conditioning that stops men from expressing affection.

There is a brilliant moment when Namrata forces Gaurav and their father to hug it out. Both men resist because that is how most men are raised, but when they finally allow themselves that release, the emotional payoff is heartfelt and loaded with meaning. These tiny bursts of social reflection make the show richer than the average comedy drama.

A Show That Avoids Easy Baby Gags

One easy trap for any baby centric show is to milk entire scenes out of baby reactions and funny cutaways. Single Papa cleverly avoids that. Amul is not a prop or a punchline generator. He remains the emotional anchor, not a gimmick used to extract laughs. The writing refuses to reduce him to a wide eyed comic tool, which gives the show a surprising maturity.

Some Stumbles Along The Way

There are, of course, weaker spots. Suhail Nayyar’s character Pawan feels criminally underused. He plays an important role in the plot but is mostly restricted to being the default comic relief, even though he is capable of more. The climax, though heartfelt, is predictable enough that you can probably guess the ending midway through the season. But even when you see it coming, it still lands gently, and maybe that is the point.

The Gentle Giant Who Steals A Chunk Of Episode Five

When the story hits its stride in the last few episodes, especially episode five titled Chattan nahi Parbat, the show becomes downright infectious. Casting Dayanand Shetty, beloved for playing the tough cop, as the gentle giant nanny Parbat Singh is such a delightful twist that it instantly lifts the narrative.

He enters late but leaves a lasting impression, receiving a beautifully sketched arc that makes you root for him almost instantly.

Some Stumbles Along The Way

There are, of course, weaker spots. Suhail Nayyar’s character Pawan feels criminally underused. He plays an important role in the plot but is mostly restricted to being the default comic relief, even though he is capable of more. The climax, though heartfelt, is predictable enough that you can probably guess the ending midway through the season. But even when you see it coming, it still lands gently, and maybe that is the point.