Review: 'Call Me Bae' is a shoutout to all the aspirational Gen Z's with Ananya Panday delivering her best

The trailer of the comedy-drama series 'Call Me Bae' had already gotten us with the self jibes on Ananya Panday and the quirks in her riches-to-rags story. So to all those out there who were actually looking forward to it and love guilty pleasure shows like Emily In Paris, the other high school teen drama stuff or even not in the same category but Schitts Creek, the vibe is set, and you are in for a ride with Bae, offering you lots of drama, womanhood, romance and of course puns and easter eggs.

Bae's Riches to Rags Story

Put to helm by Colin D'Cunha, Call Me Bae centers around Bella (played by Ananya Panday)—or as you can call her, Bae—who lives and breathes luxury. Born with a golden spoon, she marries rich businessman Agastya (Vihaan Samat) in a dreamy, fairy-tale wedding straight out of a Sid-Kiara Bollywood romance, complete with Ranjha playing in the background and the same jokey pandit who made everyone laugh. Their fairytale wedding location? Lake Como, of course. But wait—Bella’s got a patriotic streak, choosing Lakshadweep for the honeymoon instead of the Maldives (or so she claims).

Everything seems perfect on the surface, but as we know, not everything that shines is gold. Bella’s marriage quickly falls apart, and soon she’s forced to leave behind her luxurious, keto-and-carb-free life. Off she goes to Mumbai, where she’s about to meet her real 'struggles'. Here, she joins TRP, a news channel, and her life turns into one giant clickbait headline.

From there, the plot dives into journalism, politics, feminism, and the chaotic power of social media, with plenty of jabs and witty commentary along the way.

A Nod to The GEN Zs

Call Me Bae is basically a modern-day biopic for every Gen Z dreamer out there. Sure, Bae has all the luxury and wealth, but she’s also got the same "delulu" energy—obsessed with Instagram, chasing viral fame with random videos, and tangled in a web of likes, follows, and subscribers. Beneath it all, though, there’s the same story of a messy family, a broken past, childhood trauma, insecurities, and complicated relationships. There’s drama with situationships, love triangles, and friendships that follow the "bro-code," except here, it’s the "Behen-code"—a term that’s sure to go viral!

Ananya Panday Supremacy

I can say, this, by far is Ananya Panday's best performance and, not just because she is playing someone her age and, as people would be saying, herself, but because we get to see layers in character, from the bratty bimbo with all the Gucci's and Prada's to the independent women who don't give up. Becoming the aspirational journalist who seeks justice, the emotional soul who feels dejected by her own family, the one who seeks attention from her super busy husband to the best girlfriend with her girl gang, to the one who is kind with all and preaches, 'kindness never goes out of fashion'. She has shown the kind of range she can deliver, and thanks to the long-format content, she gets the stage to shut those questioning her acting skills and keep it as raw and natural as she can. 

If you had to take a drink every time Bae casually drops the name of a random course she’s done in some far-off country, you'd probably be passed out by episode 2 or 3. And if you took another sip every time she snaps a selfie (definitely giving off major Emily Cooper vibes) with the perfect hashtags, well, you’d be tipsy, drunk, and beyond by the end!

Other Performances

As for the other performances, Vihaan Samat as Aggy gets to play around a bit with his role, but at the core, he's the classic boy-next-door—just a super-rich version. He’s the kind of guy who’d miss his wife’s birthday for a meeting with Elon Musk about Tesla. Vir Das as SS (SatyaJeet Sen), the lead anchor at TRP news, is clearly a parody of Arnab Goswami and other loud journalists. While Vir nails his character, at times it feels a bit over-the-top or exaggerated. But with the depth and layers given to SS, it works for the role.

Muskaan Jaferi as Saira is a breath of fresh air, feeling like an upgraded version of her Mismatched character—more bubbly, fun, and lively. There are moments where her performance gets a bit too dramatic, but her bond with Bae is super chill. Together, they nail that perfect "behen-code" vibe.

Niharika Lyra Dutt as Tammara is sharp, layered, and owns her role. She shares great chemistry with both Bae and Saira, making them a fun, dynamic trio. Gurfateh Pirzada, as Neel N, is the suave and attractive boss everyone would want to work for. While his backstory has some depth, his character could have been developed more. But his chemistry with Ananya is on point, and if you’re hooked on the show, you’ll definitely find yourself rooting for them.

Varun Sood has probably gotten the most screen time of his career here, playing Bae’s gym trainer and an important part of her life. He gives a sincere performance. The rest of the cast, including Lisa Mishra, Mini Mathur, and some fun cameos, all add to the plot and complement the writing perfectly.

The Writing & Screenplay

Ishita Moitra, Samina Motlekar, and Rohit Nair have done an amazing job with the writing. From the clever one-liners to the playful digs at TV anchors and journalism, the script is full of sharp humor. The cameos that pop up in every episode add to the fun and keep the story moving. They’ve also sprinkled in bits from iconic shows and characters, like nods to Poo from K3G, Hedwig from Harry Potter, and the socialites of South Delhi and SOBO. It’s the perfect blend of pop culture references, giving life to Colin D'Cunha's vision for the show and how he plans to take it forward.

The Verdict

Overall, Call Me Bae is a fun and entertaining watch, filled with relatable moments, especially for those who enjoy feel-good shows. It nails the Gen Z slang and lifestyle, perfectly matching the vibe of its target audience. With spot-on casting and strong performances, it’s a great pick for anyone looking to escape into something light and enjoyable.

Rating

***1/2 (3.5/5) stars