Guns & Gulaabs Release Date 2023, Reviews, Cast, Episodes, Storyline & Production
Guns & Gulaabs – If you are looking for a web series that combines humor, action, romance, and nostalgia, then you should check out Guns & Gulaabs, the latest Indian original series on Netflix. The series is a black comedy crime thriller created and directed by Raj & DK, the makers of The Family Man and Farzi. The series stars Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan, Adarsh Gourav, and Gulshan Devaiah in the main roles. The series is set in the 90s and draws inspiration from the “Misfits of the World”. The title is a reference to the American hard rock band Guns N’ Roses.
Guns & Gulaabs Story
The series revolves around an opium deal that goes wrong in a small town called Gulaabgunj, where two rival gangs compete for power and money. The town is ruled by Ganchi (Satish Kaushik), a crime lord who is in a coma, and his son Chhota Ganchi (Adarsh Gourav), who is unhappy with his father’s legacy and wants to find his own identity. The other gang is led by Sambi (Ashmith Kunder), a cruel drug lord who wants to take over Gulaabgunj.
The opium deal involves a mysterious buyer from Calcutta, who has ordered a huge amount of opium from Ganchi’s gang. The deal has to be done within a month, or else there will be severe consequences. However, things get complicated when Arjun (Dulquer Salmaan), an honest anti-narcotics officer from Delhi, comes to Gulaabgunj to crack down on the drug racket. Arjun has a dark past that haunts him in the town.
Meanwhile, Tipu (Rajkummar Rao), a timid mechanic who works at his uncle’s garage, has a crush on his English teacher Chandralekha (TJ Bhanu), who is also the object of affection of Chhota Ganchi. Tipu also has a troubled relationship with his father Babu Tiger (Rajatabha Dutta), a gangster who works for Ganchi. Tipu accidentally kills two men with his spanner and joins Ganchi’s gang to escape from his problems. The series follows the adventures of these quirky characters as they get involved in the opium deal, love triangles, gang wars, and personal issues.
The Cast of Guns & Gulaabs
The series features an amazing cast of talented actors who deliver brilliant performances. Rajkummar Rao plays Tipu with his signature charm and innocence. He shows the character’s dilemma and transformation with ease and conviction. Dulquer Salmaan makes his Hindi web debut as Arjun, the cop with a dark secret. He brings subtle intensity and charisma to his role. Adarsh Gourav impresses as Chhota Ganchi, the conflicted son of a crime boss. He displays a range of emotions from vulnerability to anger to humour. Gulshan Devaiah steals the show as 4-Cut Atmaram, the eccentric and hilarious killer. He injects life and energy into every scene he appears in.
The supporting cast also does a commendable job. TJ Bhanu as Chandralekha, the beautiful and smart teacher who is caught between two men, is graceful and charming. Pooja Gor as Arjun’s wife, who has her own secrets, is convincing and expressive. Satish Kaushik as Ganchi, the comatose don who communicates through an electronic device, is funny and menacing. Ashmith Kunder as Sambi, the ruthless rival of Ganchi, is menacing and cold-blooded. Shreya Dhanwanthary as Arjun’s colleague and friend, who helps him in his mission, is smart and supportive.
The Episodes
The series consists of seven episodes, each with a run time of 45 to 80 minutes. The episodes are titled as follows:
- Chapter 1: Har Insaan Mein Hai Shaitaan
- Chapter 2: Everything I Do … I Do It For You
- Chapter 3: Kasam Paida Karnewale Ki
- Chapter 4: Deal Ya No Deal
- Chapter 5: Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain
- Chapter 6: Pyaar Chutiyapa Hai
- Chapter 7+8: Raat Baaki…
The episodes are fast-paced and engaging, with twists and turns that keep the viewers hooked. The series balances the elements of comedy, romance, action, and drama well. The series also pays homage to the 90s era, with references to Bollywood songs, movies, actors, and dialogues. The series also has a retro vibe, with the use of vintage cars, bikes, phones, and costumes.
Watch Trailer
Reviews of Guns & Gulaabs
The series has received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The series has been praised for its witty writing, slick direction, superb acting, and nostalgic appeal. The series has also been appreciated for its originality, humor, and entertainment value.
Some of the reviews are as follows:
- “Guns & Gulaabs is a splendidly quirky crime drama that takes you back to the 90s and shows the darkly humorous side of men (and a few women) who enjoy murder, chaos, and cruelty.” – Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV
- “Raj & DK’s show starring Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan and Adarsh Gourav is full of 90s nostalgia and weirdness, but can feel a bit random and aimless in the final stretch.” – Shilajit Mitra, The Hindu
- “Guns & Gulaabs is complex, long, and worth the wait. Yes, there are some issues, but the good outweighs the bad.” – Anvita Singh, India Today
The Production
The series was officially announced in January 2022 by Netflix media press release. The first look poster of the lead cast of Rajkummar Rao and Dulquer Salmaan was revealed in March 2022.
The series was created and directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., who are known for their quirky and innovative style of filmmaking. They have previously helmed successful web shows like The Family Man and Farzi, as well as films like Go Goa Gone, Shor in the City, and Stree.
Suman Kumar, Raj & DK, and Sumit Arora wrote the series. The screenplay was by Kunal Mehta and the story was by Sita Menon. The dialogues were by Sumit Arora.
The series was produced by Raj & DK under their banner D2R Films in collaboration with Netflix. The executive producers were Sankalp Acharekar, Dimpy Agrawal, Amit Mehta, and Rajat Kanti Sarkar.
Guns & Gulaabs Release Date
The series was shot in various locations in India, including Dehradun, Mussoorie, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The cinematography was by Pankaj Kumar and the editing was by Sumeet Kotian. The music was by Aman Pant.
Guns & Gulaabs release date is August 18, 2023, in Hindi and dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada on Netflix.
