Rangeen review: Promising gigolo drama with bold idea loses charm in execution

India Today

25-07-2025

'Rangeen' the new series on Prime Video, starts off with an idea that's bold, funny, and full of potential. It follows the story of Adarsh (played by Viineet Kumar Siingh), a middle-aged newspaper editor living in a small town, whose life suddenly takes a strange and dramatic turn. After discovering that his wife, Naina (Rajshri Deshpande) is having an affair with a gigolo (Taruk Raina), Adarsh decides to take revenge in a most unexpected way - by becoming a gigolo himself.advertisementAt first, when the trailer was unveiled, it all looked quite interesting and funny. Overall, this sounds like a recipe for an exciting, fun, and emotional ride. And to be fair, the show does try to take us on that journey. We see Adarsh go from being a regular man stuck in a failing marriage and struggling job, to stepping into a secret world he never imagined being part of. The premise alone is something we don't usually see in Indian series, and that makes it fresh. But it fails in execution.As the episodes unfold, it becomes clear that 'Rangeen' doesn't have the clarity of what it wants to say. It jumps from comedy to drama to awkward emotional scenes, without ever really landing on a tone that works. The story tries to cover a lot of topics, from marital problems, broken dreams, damaged pride to small-town judgement. However, it ends up only scratching the surface. There are times the series feels dragged, despite addressing these important themes.
Viineet Kumar Siingh plays the lead role of Adarsh, and while he's a talented actor, here he seems a bit lost. Adarsh is meant to be a man dealing with a deep personal crisis, trying to figure out who he really is. But the performance doesn't fully capture that complexity. He's either too flat or too dramatic, and never quite makes us feel the pain or confusion his character is going through. Moreover, the makers are not clear about the reason why Adarsh became a gigolo. Sitaara (Sheeba Chadha) was right to ask him to think it through. Rajshri Deshpande, who plays Adarsh's wife Naina, doesn't get much to work with either. She is underutilised. And it's a pity, because she's capable of so much more.On the other hand, the supporting actors bring some much-needed life to the show. Taaruk Raina, who we have seen shine in 'Mistmached', plays the gigolo Sunny here. He is fun to watch and, with his charm, confidence, and gives his role a playful energy. Sheeba Chaddha, who is a seasoned actor, stands out as Sitara, the woman who runs the gigolo service through her boutique. She plays her part with quiet strength and calm control, making her one of the more believable characters in the series.advertisementWhile the idea seemed quite intriguing and unique, 'Rangeen' soon loses its uniqueness and becomes just another bland show. It's more of a missed opportunity. The show, which promised to be wild and bold, looked confused and half-baked. Neither the show could do justice to the drama nor the comedy genre.While the title is 'Rangeen', the series is hardly as colourful.- Ends2.5 out of 5 to Rangeen.