Nikunj, an overworked software quality lead, quits his corporate job in Ahmedabad after a career setback and turns his love of cooking into a home food business. When orders outgrow him, his former colleague Shreya joins to build an app and handle the tech and marketing side of the fledgling startup. As the venture grows, the two partners struggle to raise investment and keep the business alive while it strains their personal lives, with Shreya's impending marriage to a skeptical doctor hanging in the balance.
Dhunki is one of the rare Gujarati films that treats startup ambition as real drama rather than backdrop. Nikunj, played by Pratik Gandhi, walks out of a thankless IT job after a presentation crashes and the blame lands on him, and rebuilds himself around the one thing that relaxes him, cooking. When the orders pile up, his old colleague Shreya, played by Deeksha Joshi, comes on board to build the app and run the business side. What follows is the grind every founder knows, chasing investors, burning through cash, watching staff leave, and paying for the dream in the currency of personal life.
The film's strength is its honesty. Abhimanyu Mishra of the Times of India, who rated it three and a half out of five, called the performances brilliant, the direction assured, and the music a genuine lift, and singled it out as a film for anyone who wants to follow what they desire. Mid-day, at three, praised the acting and the small authentic details that make the Ahmedabad startup world feel lived in rather than staged. Gandhi is the anchor, all quiet stubbornness and fatigue, while Joshi gives Shreya the sharper edge, and her turn later won her a Critics Choice Best Actress nod.
It is not flawless. The film takes its time reaching the central conflict, and the early stretch lingers on character before the stakes sharpen. But that patience is also why the relationships land. Dhunki does not sell a fantasy of overnight success, it shows the cost, and that grounded quality is what has kept it worth watching well beyond its release.
Verdict
A grounded, well-acted Gujarati drama about the real cost of chasing a dream, carried by Pratik Gandhi and Deeksha Joshi.
What works
- Pratik Gandhi anchors it with a restrained, believable lead
- Honest, unglamorous take on startup struggle
- Deeksha Joshi's award-winning turn as Shreya
- Authentic Ahmedabad detail and a strong score
What holds it back
- Slow to reach its central conflict
- Early stretch lingers before stakes sharpen
- Familiar startup-journey beats
- Modest production scale in places
Cast & crew
Writers: Anish Shah
Music: Siddharth Amit Bhavsar
Cast: Pratik Gandhi (Nikunj), Deeksha Joshi (Shreya), Vishal Shah (Hardik), Kaushambi Bhatt (Ankita), Jaimini Pathak (Mr. Shroff)
Producers: Kuldip Patel, Jay Shah, Anish Shah
Watch the trailer
Play the official trailer on YouTubeMore from Anish Shah
More Drama Gujarati films
Frequently asked
Is Dhunki worth watching?
A grounded, well-acted Gujarati drama about the real cost of chasing a dream, carried by Pratik Gandhi and Deeksha Joshi. Kevu Che rates it 3.5 out of 5.
What is Dhunki about?
Nikunj, an overworked software quality lead, quits his corporate job in Ahmedabad after a career setback and turns his love of cooking into a home food business. When orders outgrow him, his former colleague Shreya joins to build an app and handle the tech and marketing side of the fledgling startup. As the venture grows, the two partners struggle to raise investment and keep the business alive while it strains their personal lives, with Shreya's impending marriage to a skeptical doctor hanging in the balance.
What is the IMDb rating of Dhunki?
Dhunki (2019) holds an IMDb rating of 7.1 out of 10.