Web Show: Never Kiss Your Best Friend S2

Cast: Nakuul Mehta, Anya Singh, Karan Wahi, Sarah Jane Dias, Jaaved Jaaferi, Niki Walia, Sapna Pabbi, Rituraj Singh

Director: Harsh Dedia

OTT: ZEE5

Episodes: 8 

Rating: 3.5 Moons

The first season of Never Kiss Your Best Friend, adapted from Sumrit Sahi's book of the same name, premiered on ZEE5 in 2020. Now, 2 years later, Nakuul Mehta and Anya Singh have reunited to take the story of Sumer Singh Dhillon and Tanie Brar forward. The second season focuses on how Tanie's life has changed after she saw Sumer kiss another girl at a party in the year 2020.

Tanie has shifted from Mumbai to London with her loud, Punjabi possessive mother Happy (Niki Walia). Her Bittu mama (Jaaved Jaaferi) is also with them, but for a different purpose. After writing one successful and one failed novel, Tanie is struggling to write a basic script for Meraki, a production company, she works for. After initial difficulties, she succeeds in impressing Lavanya (Sarah Jane Dias), the head of the OTT department of Meraki, with an unconventional script for the company's first-ever web series. 

As destiny had planned, Tanie happens to cross her path with Sumer, who is selected as the director of the web series. Sumer and Tanie, for obvious reasons, don't break the ice instantly. Instead, they grow closer to other members of the team. While Sumer finds comfort around Lavanya and her relates to her personal struggles, Tanie gets attracted to Karan (Karan Wahi), the lead actor in her web series. 

Never Kiss Your Best Friend Season 2, just like its predecessor, is easy-breeze and a light-hearted feel-good show. It takes us into Tanie and Sumer's changed lives and how they go about professional and personal setbacks. While the outer crust of the series might seem sweet like candy floss, the inner core is supported by strong emotions. Never losing grip over the primary theme of Never Kiss Your Best Friend, director Harsh and his team of writers deliver a fun, enjoyable and binge-watchable series at a time when the OTT is cluttered with crime thrillers and darker stories. Just like the first season, Never Kiss Your Best Friend comes across as a clutter-breaker. 

The freshness to the show is added by Karan Wahi, Sarah Jane Dias and Jaaved Jaaferi, who are the new but prominent additions to the tale. While Karan and Sarah's charming presence grows on you, Jaaved's comic timing and effortlessly is what you need to feel refreshing on a hot summer day. 

Sumrit Shahi, Durjoy Dutta and Mishkka Shekhawat are credited for the story of Never Kiss Your Best Friend Season 2. They delicately and sensitively show the relationships shared by Sumer with his estranged father and Lavanya's bond with her aged father who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Mishkka, Mehak Jamal and Harsh's screenplay will keep you hooked to the screen throughout. Never Kiss Your Best Friend Season 2 is a sweet, quick watch and there are no dull moments.

Nakuul, who does the heavy lifting with Anya, Karan and Sarah in Never Kiss Your Best Friend Season 2, is flawless. There can be no other Sumer. His chemistry with Anya has been witnessed in the first season. Without losing out on the best elements of his character, Nakuul breathes life into Sumer once again after a gap of 2 years. Sumer's banters with Tanie to compatibility with Lavanya, one will certainly enjoy watching him. Do not miss his scene with his on-screen father Rituraj Singh; it will leave you teary-eyed. 

Anya shines as Tanie, a writer who breaks the fourth wall and establishes a connection with her audience. Fitting beautifully into the character like a glove, the actress strikes the right balance between emotional scenes and light-hearted portions. She is the soul of Never Kiss Your Best Friend Season 2, if Nakuul is the heart. Anya is fun to watch as Tanie. 

The new additions- Karan Wahi and Sarah Jane Dias are equally perfect. Without any doubt, Karan will make many go weak on their knees. His chocolate boy looks and abs to die will attract many eyeballs and his performance will have a lasting impression on the audience. Sarah gets a sensitive, mature and relatable role. Be it her rivalry with her brother Rajeev or her desire to make her father feel proud, she has maintained the character's graph steady and impresses throughout. 

Jaaved as Bittu mama is thoroughly lovable. The desire to express his feelings to his crush Sangeeta (Deepti Bhatnagar) will remind you of your own childhood crush. He definitely deserves a spin-off season; are the makers listening? Niki as Happy is endearing as always. She lights up the screen with her presence and one cannot stop admiring her. Sapna Pabbi as Alisha does a good job, so does Rituraj Singh. 

Never Kiss Your Best Friend Season 2 is a perfect binge-watch show this summer. Sit back with your buddies, grab a tub of popcorn but remember, never kiss your best friend! 

PeepingMoon gives Never Kiss Your Best Friend Season 2 3.5 Moons