What Is the Story About?
Single Papa follows Gaurav Gehlot, a cheerful but immature young man from a well to do Gurugram family. He lives with his parents, Jatin and Poonam, and his sister Namrata. His marriage to Aparna, an independent and practical woman, falls apart because Gaurav desperately wants a child while she feels he is not ready for the responsibility. Their divorce sets the stage for what becomes the turning point of Gaurav’s life.
One night, as Gaurav returns from a party, he discovers a newborn baby left in the backseat of his car. He immediately informs the police but finds himself emotionally drawn to the child. He names him Amul and cares for him as though he were already his father. When the baby falls ill, the situation becomes complicated. Romilla Nehra, the strict head of the Child Protection Authority, accuses Gaurav of abandoning the child. A paternity test clears him, but the baby is moved to an orphanage.
Unable to let go, Gaurav decides he wants to adopt Amul. His family strongly opposes it, fearing it will affect Namrata’s upcoming marriage. Romilla is determined to block the adoption and sees Gaurav as irresponsible. Despite this, he visits the orphanage regularly and builds a stronger bond with Amul. Gaurav also finds unexpected support from Parbat Singh, a male nanny who enters the story with a bang.
Across six episodes, Gaurav faces legal hurdles, family pressure, and his own immature habits. Slowly, he begins to change. The story traces his journey from a man-child who wants a baby to a man learning what parenthood truly demands. It is a simple, warm narrative about responsibility, choice, and the many forms family can take.
Performances?
The performances in Single Papa carry much of the show’s charm, even when the writing wavers. Kunal Kemmu anchors the series with an easy, believable presence. He plays Gaurav as a man who is childish in many ways yet instinctively tender with the baby he wants to adopt. His comic timing and his quieter scenes with the child feel genuine. The only drawback is that the script does not fully explore why Gaurav longs for fatherhood so intensely, leaving Kemmu to bridge that emotional gap on his own. Still, he brings sincerity to a character who could easily have become a caricature.
Manoj Pahwa delivers his familiar blend of irritation and affection as Gaurav’s father. He is convincing, though the role feels less layered compared to some of his recent work. Ayesha Raza is warm and engaging as the mother but is held back by writing that leans too heavily on one-note emotional outbursts. Prajakta Koli brings energy to the role of Namrata, yet her performance sometimes feels pitched higher than the tone of the show, making her scenes slightly distracting.
Neha Dhupia fits well as Romilla, the stern adoption officer. She plays the role with restraint, though the script makes her character overly rigid until the very end. Suhail Nayyar, as Gaurav’s well-meaning friend, adds light humour. The standout in the supporting cast is Dayanand Shetty as Parbat Singh, the “manny.” His mix of physical presence and surprising gentleness gives the show some of its most touching moments.
The ensemble works well together, but many characters feel limited by shallow writing. Even so, the cast brings enough warmth and honesty to keep the story emotionally anchored.
Analysis
Single Papa sets out to tell a gentle, humorous story about a man who grows into fatherhood before he fully grows into adulthood. The idea is refreshing. Hindi streaming rarely focuses on single men trying to adopt or care for a child, and the show chooses a light, accessible tone to approach a topic that could have easily become heavy. That choice gives the series its charm, but it also creates several of its weaknesses.
At its best, the show works because it understands the emotional appeal of a flawed but well-meaning protagonist. Gaurav’s life runs on impulse. He is loved by his family, tolerated by some, doubted by many, and taken seriously by almost no one. The writing captures that dynamic well in the early scenes. His family’s reactions to the baby feel natural. There is panic, confusion, judgment, and affection, all layered together in the noisy way Delhi families often operate. These moments give the story a lived-in quality.
The central relationship between Gaurav and the baby becomes the emotional spine of the show. Their bond feels sincere, and the series allows Gaurav’s tenderness to unfold slowly. Kunal Kemmu brings an innocence that makes these interactions believable. This is where the show finds its clearest voice. It wants to argue that fatherhood is not defined by gender or blood but by intent and effort. The writing gestures towards this idea in several scenes, especially when Gaurav faces criticism or is dismissed by Romilla, the adoption officer. In these moments, the show becomes a quiet commentary on how society tends to evaluate mothers and fathers differently.
However, the narrative struggles with balance. The humour is pleasant early on, but the show leans too heavily on misunderstandings, exaggerations, and repeated jokes. After a point, these patterns dull the emotional rhythm. Scenes that should deepen Gaurav’s journey often turn into detours involving side characters or running gags. This dilutes the weight of the story, making it feel stretched even within a short six-episode format.
The handling of subplots is also uneven. The introduction of a self-proclaimed baba, the sudden old-age home angle, and the elaborate distractions around Namrata’s upcoming marriage add noise rather than depth. Some of these ideas could have been meaningful if explored well, but the show frequently rushes through them, leaving important threads underdeveloped. Aparna’s arc, in particular, feels abruptly dropped. Her perspective could have added complexity and grounded Gaurav’s transformation more effectively.
The strongest addition to the story is Dayanand Shetty’s character of the male nanny. His presence brings a tenderness that the show would have benefitted from exploring further. His towering physical presence and emotional intelligence offer a counterpoint to Gaurav’s frantic energy. Their scenes together hint at a more layered version of the show where masculinity is questioned with subtlety rather than slogans. Unfortunately, this thread is treated almost as an afterthought, and it fades too quickly.
The series also wavers in how it portrays its women. They are positioned as voices of reason, frustration, suspicion, and humour, yet their roles often feel thin. Romilla, the adoption head, remains overly severe until the final moments. Namrata’s emotional spikes feel exaggerated rather than insightful. Even Poonam, played by the reliably warm Ayesha Raza, is limited to familiar maternal tropes. These choices make the world feel slightly hollow, as though the show is more invested in situations than in fully formed people.
Despite these flaws, Single Papa remains okayish because it has a good heart. It tries to highlight a less-discussed side of parenting with sincerity. It wants to say that men can nurture, that families can change, and that adulthood sometimes arrives in unexpected ways. The show does not always reach the emotional depth it aims for, but its intentions are clear, and its gentler moments leave an impression.
In the end, Single Papa is a light, pleasant series that works in stretches, stumbles in others, but ultimately carries genuine warmth. It may not be as strong as its premise, yet it offers a thoughtful look at modern fatherhood wrapped in approachable humour.
Music and Other Departments?
The music and technical elements in Single Papa support the story without ever drawing too much attention to themselves. The background score is light and pleasant, matching the show’s easy-going tone.
Visually, the show is clean and polished. At times, the production design feels a little too neat, especially in the Gehlot home, which can make the world look slightly artificial. Still, the bright palette suits the show’s upbeat energy. The cinematography keeps things simple, focusing more on performances than visual flair. Editing is crisp, and the short episodes benefit from this pace.
Overall, the technical choices are safe and steady. They don’t elevate the show dramatically, but they never distract from it either.
Other Artists?
Neha Dhupia fits well as Romilla, the stern adoption officer. She plays the role with restraint, though the script makes her character overly rigid until the very end. Suhail Nayyar, as Gaurav’s well-meaning friend, adds light humour. The standout in the supporting cast is Dayanand Shetty as Parbat Singh, the “manny.” His mix of physical presence and surprising gentleness gives the show some of its most touching moments.
The ensemble works well together, but many characters feel limited by shallow writing. Even so, the cast brings enough warmth and honesty to keep the story emotionally anchored.
Highlights?
Concept
Kunal Kemmu
Drawbacks?
Screenplay
Single-Dimension characters
Very predictable
Did I Enjoy It?
Not much
Will You Recommend It?
If you have nothing else to watch
Single Papa Series Review by Binged Bureau