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Netflix unveiled the hilarious and heartwarming trailer of its upcoming family comedy, Single Papa, introducing viewers to Gaurav Gehlot, a 30-year-old lovable man-child, whose idea of adulting is not worrying about his underwear because his mom still buys them, and counting on timely pocket money from his father. That is, until he leaves his boisterous Indian family absolutely shaken by announcing that he is adopting a baby. The event was held at the J.W. Marriott on December 2.
Created and co-produced by Ishita Moitra and Neeraj Udhwani, with Shashank Khaitan as executive producer, Single Papa is directed by Shashank Khaitan, Hitesh Kewalya and Neeraj Udhwani, and produced by Aditya Pittie and Samar Khan under the Juggernaut Productions banner.
The trailer gives audiences a first look at Gaurav’s hilarious yet heartfelt journey as he tries to balance baby bottles with bad decisions, often at the same time. From fumbling with diapers, dodging unsolicited advice from everyone within a 10-km radius, to trying to convince his shocked parents that this is not a prank, the show promises humor, sensitivity, and drama.
Headlined by Kunal Kemmu, the series features Manoj Pahwa, Ayesha Raza, Prajakta Koli, Neha Dhupia, Suhail Nayyar, Dayanand Shetty, Aisha Ahmed, Dhruv Rathee and Isha Talwar.
Through all the frictions, the question remains: Will Gaurav realize that becoming a dad comes with its own challenges? And that with his eccentric family, will the journey be equal parts hilarious and heartwarmingly absurd?
Kunal, who steps into the role of Gaurav Gahlot, says, “Playing Gaurav has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. The character is flawed, funny, and fiercely loving… just like so many real-life single parents. I think audiences will see themselves and their families in this show. The warmth of every character is what makes this show so special and wholesome!”
Prajakta Koli, as Namrata, Gaurav’s sister and occasional voice of reason, says, “Single Papa highlights what a perfectly imperfect Indian family looks like. Noisy, loving, opinionated, dramatic, but always there for each other. I am a single child, so I never understood what bickering with siblings felt like before Single Papa. The banter with Kunal, the arguments, the affection, just flowed naturally. I think it’s a perfect show to binge-watch with your family.”
Neha Dhupia, who plays the no-nonsense Romilla Nehra, adds, “As a parent myself, what touched me the most about Single Papa is how honestly it portrays the chaos, tenderness and imperfections that make families what they are. Parenting is never linear, never perfect, and the show captures that beautifully. It blends humor and heart in a way that feels deeply real. Being a part of this world was incredibly fulfilling, and I can’t wait for audiences to feel the warmth, madness and love we’ve created.”
Hitesh added, “What sets Single Papa out from the normal single-parent films and shows is the fact that a man is adopting a baby who is not his biological progeny.” Producer Samar Khan mentioned that many a year ago, he had actually tried to adopt one and legally could not, so that when the script reached him it was an instant click with him. Samar has been mainly associated with thrillers, so he was also looking for a change.
Co-writer and co-producer Ishita Moitra, known for her feel-good work like Four More Shots Please!, Call Me Bae and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahanii, stated that she was very interested in what she called “mamta-wali masculinity”—and said that she and husband-co-writer Neeraj like to tell stories where there is a sensitive man and celebrate those men whose masculinity is deeply rooted in love, kindness and care. “We know many such people and we must celebrate such mardaangi (maleness). Comedy, drama and emotion come later, but the theme of the show is exploring the unique journey of a very unique man, an unsung hero and a single father,” she said.
Manoj Pahwa and Neha Dhupia were pretty lackadaisical when I pointed out that the just-released series (presented by Pankaj Tripathj), Perfect Family, also has both of them in the cast with very interesting interactions between them. Asked if they had extensive scenes together here as well, both were non-committal and Manoj merely said that the two series were different even if both were comedies. Which was a bit like stating an obvious fact like which direction the sun rises! Ho hum!
Along with the customary mutual raves about each other, the launch was spiced up by some competitive games as well. All in all, the series looks worth a watch when it streams on 12th December.
