Director: Abhishek Sharma
Cast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sumedh Mudgalkar, Siddharth Nigam, Priyank Sharma, Boman Irani, Shazahn Padamsee, Anusha Mani, Kunwar Amar
Streaming On: JioHotstar
Runtime: 20 episodes (40 Minutes)
In the crowded genre of campus musicals, Hai Junoon arrives with glitter, gusto, and the promise of passion — but ultimately fizzles out like a soda left open too long. Streaming on JioHotstar, the 20-episode series tries to marry the chaos of college life with the drama of artistic rivalry. While the canvas is vibrant, the storytelling rarely goes beyond surface-level dazzle.
Set in the fictional but ultra-competitive Andersons College, the story revolves around two student groups competing for artistic supremacy: the polished music group Supersonics and the gritty, free-flowing dance crew Misfits. The show positions itself as a clash between discipline and rebellion, technique and instinct — but this central conflict never fully matures into something memorable.
Neil Nitin Mukesh, making his full-fledged web series debut, brings a sense of calm and gravitas to the character of Gagan Ahuja — a once-celebrated musician returning to his alma mater as a mentor. While his screen presence is dependable, the character is burdened with inconsistent writing, often switching moods without context. Still, Neil manages to lend moments of sincerity that briefly elevate the series.
Sumedh Mudgalkar, cast as Sebi — the spirited leader of the Misfits — is perhaps the heart of the show. His performance has a lived-in quality that feels authentic, even when the writing doesn’t support it. He navigates emotional vulnerability and cocky bravado with surprising ease, giving the series a much-needed pulse.
Jacqueline Fernandez, unfortunately, feels miscast. As Pearl Saldanha, a choreographer and Misfits mentor, she floats through scenes with little emotional investment. Her character is meant to be bold and unconventional, but Jacqueline’s portrayal often feels too restrained, missing the nuance needed for the role.
Among the younger ensemble, Siddharth Nigam and Priyank Sharma bring energy, but their characters suffer from a lack of depth. Priyanka Sharma and others have flashes of promise, but most are reduced to plot devices — placed into romantic angles or dramatic arcs that feel more like filler than substance.
Visually, the show is polished. The choreography is flashy, the costumes are Instagram-friendly, and the college setting is cinematic. The musical performances are staged with flair, and the soundtrack — featuring industry greats like Shaan and Sonu Nigam — adds a nostalgic charm. But when songs become a substitute for storytelling, even good music begins to feel like a gimmick.
What Hai Junoon lacks is emotional glue. The script tries to juggle serious themes — identity, class struggle, creative freedom, and mental health — but none are explored with enough care. Instead, the show moves from one dramatic beat to the next, often with little build-up or payoff.
Hai Junoon – Dream, Dare, Dominate has flashes of promise — especially in its performances by Neil and Sumedh — but is ultimately let down by hollow writing and uneven direction. It wants to be a coming-of-age musical, a campus drama, and a social commentary all at once, but doesn’t dig deep into any of them.
By the time the finale rolls around, the story feels more like an overextended montage than a cohesive narrative. The emotion is there, buried beneath layers of gloss — but it never quite breaks free.
Watch it for a few solid performances and slick visuals — just don’t expect to be moved.