Single Salma aspires to be a bold rom-com about modern womanhood, freedom, and choice — but ends up lost between intention and execution. Despite Huma Qureshi’s solid performance, the film’s confused writing, uneven tone, and misplaced “girl power” moments make it more exhausting than empowering. What should’ve been a sharp social satire turns into a clumsy commentary on independence that never quite finds its rhythm.
Story: A Love Triangle Without Direction
Salma Rizvi (Huma Qureshi) is a 30-something government employee in Lucknow, constantly hounded by her family about marriage. Her peaceful single life is disrupted when two contrasting men enter the picture — Sikandar (Shreyas Talpade), a kind-hearted local shop owner, and Meet (Sunny Singh), a suave London-based urban planner who doubles as a DJ.
What could’ve been an engaging exploration of love and individuality spirals into chaos, with random subplots, inconsistent pacing, and scenes that drag on without purpose. From an unnecessary go-karting track to a bizarre “bikini scandal” subplot, the film struggles to find coherence in its own storytelling.
Performances: Huma Qureshi Holds It All Together
If Single Salma remains even remotely watchable, it’s because of Huma Qureshi’s grounded performance. She brings charm, warmth, and conviction to an otherwise erratically written character. Huma manages to rise above clumsy dialogue and confused direction, embodying Salma’s self-assurance even when the screenplay doesn’t support her.
Shreyas Talpade delivers one of the film’s most likable performances as Sikandar — supportive, progressive, and emotionally mature — before the writing turns him into comic relief. Sunny Singh, sincere but underutilized, gets little space to leave a mark.
Direction and Writing: A Case of Missed Opportunities
Director Nachiket Samant sets up a vibrant Lucknow backdrop and gives the film a polished visual appeal. However, the screenplay lacks focus and emotional depth. Instead of letting its characters evolve naturally, the film resorts to loud monologues and social-media-style slogans about empowerment.
The dialogues often sound borrowed from “Instagram feminism” posts — hollow and self-aware, instead of authentic. Even the climactic “I don’t need any man” speech, meant to be liberating, feels forced and out of sync with the narrative’s tone.
Jay-Ho Verdict
At its heart, Single Salma wants to celebrate self-love and independence, but the execution undercuts its message. What we get is a film that mistakes noise for nuance and chaos for comedy. Huma Qureshi gives her all, but even her brilliance can’t save a story that refuses to grow beyond clichés.
