Single Papa

Reception

Single Papa is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama television series on Netflix, created by Neeraj Udhwani and Ishita Moitra. The show stars Kunal Khemu as Gaurav Gehlot, a lovable but confused man-child who unexpectedly adopts a baby shortly after his divorce, forcing him to learn fatherhood on the fly. The cast also includes Manoj Pahwa, Ayesha Raza Mishra, and Prajakta Koli.

Premise

The story follows Gaurav "GG" Gehlot, whose life is upended when he adopts a baby right after his divorce. This decision throws the Gehlot family into chaos, sparking conflicts, adjustments, and emotional growth as everyone grapples with the sudden demands of parenthood.

Release

The series premiered on Netflix on 12 December 2025, following a trailer release on 2 December 2025.

Critics offered mixed but largely positive reviews. Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling it an enjoyable ride with some loose ends, noting that while it sometimes gets loud depicting lavish Gurugram culture, it remains thoughtful entertainment. Shreyas Pande of The Hindu described a fun, feel-good, festive vibe, despite a sense of plasticity in the sets and production design, attributing the grandness to it being a Netflix production.

Sana Farzeen of India Today rated it 3 out of 5 stars, acknowledging it as messy, stretched, and clumsy, but with its heart in the right place, praising its spotlight on men nurturing, crying, and softening while still being strong. Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave it 2.5 out of 5 stars, finding the premise interesting and the setting ripe for exploring societal hypocrisies around parenthood, adoption, women's rights, and patriarchy. Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India observed that despite a fun cast, the six-episode comedy is content to be a rehashed portrait of single parenthood. A critic from Bollywood Hungama rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling it a rare, clean, family-friendly web show that impresses with its subject, performances, comic dialogues, and emotional moments.

Deepa Gahlot of Rediff.com gave it 3 out of 5 stars, noting it comes as a relief amidst the abundance of crime and cop shows. Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in said the sitcom-like humour is haphazard both by design and unintentionally, but sharp casting, committed actors with great lines, and an excellent lead keep the show on track. Troy Ribeiro of Free Press Journal rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as not groundbreaking but undoubtedly heartwarming, offering a fresh Indian twist on single-parenting stories that blends melodrama, humour, and emotion.

Did You Know?

• The show is set in Gurugram and has been noted for its portrayal of lavish Gurugram culture.
• The cast includes Neha Dhupia as Romilla Nehra and Isha Talwar as Aparna Gehlot, Gaurav's ex-wife.