'Never Kiss Your Best Friend-Lockdown Special' Review: Anya Singh and Zain Imam tell a simple yet entertaining tale of love in the time of lockdown

By Tanmayi Savadi

on June 26, 2020

Web Series: Never Kiss Your Best Friend-Lockdown Special

OTT: ZEE5

Cast: Anya Singh, Zain Imam, Jaaved Jaaferi, Niki Walia, Annup Sonii, Juuhi Babbar Sonii

Director: Arif Khan

Rating: 3 Moons

After the success of its not so clichéd story of girl-meets-boy- Never Kiss Your Best Friend featuring Nakuul Mehta and Anya Singh, ZEE5 is back with the series’ lockdown edition. With Anya and Niki Walia returning as Tanie and Happy, Zain Imam and Jaaved Jaaferi are new additions. A made-at-home series, Never Kiss Your Best Friend-Lockdown Special is here to drive away boredom.

Never Kiss Your Best Friend-Lockdown Special picks up from the point where the first edition concluded. Tanie has been through highs and lows post her breakup with her 'best friend' Sumer (Nakuul Mehta). She is convinced that kissing her best friend was the biggest mistake of her life. A believer of friendship and love can’t be blended together, Tanie finds it tough to cope up with a drastic decline in the number of her social media followers. An immensely popular social media influencer and author, her image is tarnished when one of her followers Zayed (Zain Imam) declares that she has been lying about her breakup with Sumer.

This prompts Tanie’s mother-turned-publicist Happy (Niki Walia) to jump to her daughter’s rescue and undo the damage. She suggests her to get into a fake relationship with Zayed, who was apparently the first person whom Tanie kissed that too at the age of 14. As a measure to shift her followers’ focus, Tanie rekindles her relationship with Zayed.

Keeping lockdown as the central theme, the makers incorporate the Dalgona coffee challenge, plank challenge, jhadu-pocha etc. seamlessly. Although slow and predictable, Never Kiss Your Best Friend-Lockdown Special is breezy, light and has its own moments to enjoy. Director Arif Khan has managed to bring out the flavours of love and friendship in the time of lockdown with conviction. With the theme of ‘ladka aur ladki kabhi dost nahin ban sakte’, he has shaped the 10-episode edition in a way that keeps the youth glued to the screen throughout. Written by Sumrit Shahi, Never Kiss Your Best Friend-Lockdown Special is simple, entertaining but the twists and turns are obvious to guess. The series is a lockdown edition where most of the scenes take place through video calls. While it seems unique and fresh in the beginning, it loses its gloss pretty soon.

Anya as Tanie and Zain as Zayed are a refreshing pair to watch out for. They add a punch of masti, pyaar and loads of colourful moments to enjoy on a dull locked-down day. Staying true to the nature of the show, Anya and Zayed show immense promise leaving behind a warm fuzzy feeling. Niki as the loud and overprotective mother enjoys her own moments and doles out a natural performance. Jaaved as Bittoo Mama injects the right amount of fun. He is a delight to watch. In cameo roles, Juuhi Babbar Sonii aka Zayed’s sister Fatima and Annup Sonii as her fiancé shine.

Like its prequel, Never Kiss Your Best Friend-Lockdown Special is simple, entertaining and not preachy. It makes for a superb light-hearted watch over the weekend with your loved ones.