Dil Dosti Dilemma: A Sweet Escape into Teenage Fantasy That Misses the Mark on Real Emotion

The teenage phase typically unleashes a torrent of complicated feelings, fresh ambitions, challenges, insecurity, and much more. This is precisely what Prime Video’s recent original series Dil Dosti Dilemma aims to explore. The story centers around a young girl named Asmara (Anushka Sen), a typical affluent teenager whose life revolves around seeking approval from her close friends.

Asmara is all about trendy fashion, speaks the latest lingo, enjoys shopping and partying, and feels shame for anything in her life that doesn’t match the polished image of a sophisticated young woman she has crafted. She cringes at gifts from her grandparents that might be seen as unhip and struggles to express her true feelings in front of her equally superficial peer group.

When her mother realizes that Asmara may have grown into a self-absorbed, ungrateful young woman who has lost respect for her origins, she opts to cancel Asmara’s two-month trip to Canada, instead sending her to stay with her grandmother in a quaint town as a form of punishment.

Revathi Pillai portrays a character in the series who is quite naive and grapples with self-esteem issues.

What ensues is a familiar narrative in which the pampered girl struggles to adapt to rural life, only to ultimately embrace it. The series evokes tales that feel all too familiar. Don’t be surprised if it brings to mind the moral lessons of your childhood; it’s just as sugary, if not more. The sporadic appearances of Shruti Seth, who plays Asmara’s mother, with her acting style reminiscent of a bygone era, may remind you of the beloved 90s series Shararat, particularly if you were a fan like me.

Although the show tries to superficially represent the profound emotions faced by teenagers, it fails to capture an authentic sense of reality. Everyone appears excessively loving, supportive, and forgiving — the series often resembles a more sanitized, idealized version of a coming-of-age story. It’s a universe where harsh realities akin to those depicted in HBO’s Euphoria don’t exist. In this whimsical world, a teenager can easily assume the role of a moral leader, while adults not only follow suit but also engage in fervent celebrations of her actions. It feels as though the narrative has been penned by a teenager intent on advocating goodness in a perfect world.

Tanvi Azmi takes on the role of Anushka Sen’s grandmother in Dil Dosti Dilemma.

The series does make an attempt to address teenage connections, depicting a boy who tries to manipulate Asmara’s best friend Naina into believing he has genuine feelings for her, only to exploit her to gain access to her father, a famous tennis coach. Despite his deceptive and gaslighting behavior, he is portrayed in an overly gentle light.

One notable aspect of the series is its earnest portrayal of the self-doubt that lingers deep within adolescents. It captures that delicate moment in youth where innocence and mischief coexist harmoniously.

Anushka Sen’s character continues to deceive her friends about being in Canada while actually being in Tibbri Road.

However, the show falters when it comes to developing its supporting characters, often depicting Hindi speakers as uncool and downright foolish. For example, Vishakha Pandey’s character is portrayed as a loud, foolish person with no common sense simply because she hails from a small town and makes errors in her English. Similarly, Arjun Berry’s character faces disdain merely because he possesses an extensive vocabulary in Hindi. He and his eloquent language are ridiculed for a few laughs that never seem justified.

If you seek a show that treats its themes with the depth and respect they warrant, I’d suggest you steer clear of this one. Yet, if you’re looking for something to keep you entertained while you tackle unfinished tasks or chores, you might consider this light series — or perhaps if you’re intrigued by a somewhat unrealistic depiction of teenage paradise where a happily ever after is a given.