Netflix’s latest original Hindi feature, Gandhari, officially premiered on September 3, 2026, marking another fiery collaboration between star Taapsee Pannu, writer-producer Kanika Dhillon (Dunki, Hasseen Dillruba), and acclaimed director Devashish Makhija (Joram, Bhonsle).
The film centers on Bani (Pannu), a fierce mother who suffers a tragic attack during a train journey through the fictional, mysterious town of Joypurra. When a child-sex-trafficking syndicate abducts her five-year-old daughter, Mishty, the ensuing violence leaves Bani temporarily blind. Forced to adapt rapidly to her physical impairment, Bani relies on her heightened senses, intense physical conditioning, and an arsenal of lethal combat skills to hunt down the network responsible.
Alongside Pannu, the atmospheric revenge saga boasts an ensemble cast including Ishwak Singh, Mita Vashisht, Chhaya Kadam, Swastika Mukherjee, Jatin Sarna, and Prashant Narayanan.
Early Critical Reviews: Powerful Performances Meet Over-Packed Writing
Early critical reception for Gandhari paints it as an ambitious, action-packed effort that ultimately struggles under the weight of its own plot devices.
The Stunts and Lead Performance: Critics unanimously praise Taapsee Pannu’s commitment to the physically taxing role. From performing raw, unassisted stunt choreography—including scaling building walls—to depicting a grief-stricken mother, her “Mardaani-esque” performance anchors the movie. Supporting turns by Chhaya Kadam, Mita Vashisht, and Swastika Mukherjee have also been highlighted for bringing grounded gravitas to an otherwise chaotic world.
Visual Ambition: Devashish Makhija’s direction and the atmospheric setting of Joypurra—a town filled with folk performers and disguise artists (behrupias)—give the film a visually striking, mythic undertone.
Screenplay & Pacing Concerns: The film’s main criticism lands on the screenplay. Several reviewers, including The Times of India and Rediff, point out that the script tries to juggle too many thriller tropes—temporary blindness, child trafficking, betrayal, police inaction, and theatrical villain showdowns—leaving little room for emotional tension to build naturally.
Gandhari is available to stream worldwide on Netflix.
