Ishqa Ishqa Review: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Ishqa Ishqa follows a writer caught between a calm, trusting love and a consuming, possessive one. Early details point to a moody romantic thriller about where love ends and control begins, with short weekly episodes built for cliffhangers.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Platform: Prime Video and MX Player
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Language: Hindi
Director: Amit Kumar Jha
Cast: Helly Shah, Satyajeet Dubey, Anushka Kaushik
Most romantic series sell you a sweet love story. Ishqa Ishqa seems to be doing something different. The new MX Original, which started streaming on October 7 on Prime Video and the MX Player app, wants to explore the thin line between being deeply loved and being possessed.
The story follows Kabir, played by Satyajeet Dubey, a rising author whose life is split between two very different women. Suhani, played by Anushka Kaushik, brings calm, trust, and emotional clarity. She respects his space and gives him room to breathe.
Arohi, played by Helly Shah, is the opposite. Her love is intense, consuming, and tied up with jealousy. According to the promotional material, a one year dare between Kabir and Arohi changes the way their relationship works, and her return keeps pulling him back into something he is trying to leave.
The idea is simple, but it touches a topic many people know from real life. Helly Shah has described her character in a way that sums up the whole show. She says Arohi loves Kabir with absolute intensity, but for her, love and possession are almost the same thing.
Satyajeet Dubey calls Kabir a sensitive person trapped in a situation that becomes harder to escape with time. Amogh Dusad of Prime Video India has said the series looks at what happens when love becomes mixed with obsession, control, and the fear of letting go.
The cast also includes Yudhvir Ahlawat and Aditi Rawat as Paakhi, along with other supporting actors. The series is directed by Amit Kumar Jha and written by Rajesh Bachchani, with sharp dialogue credited to Prakriti Mukherjee. It is produced by Moving Images Studios.
One thing that stands out is the format. The show is reportedly made up of around 30 short episodes, each running about 20 to 25 minutes, with new episodes arriving weekly.
That structure suits a story built on tension, since short episodes can end on a cliffhanger every time. It also means the show can go deep into the push and pull between its three leads, as long as it does not stretch its central conflict too thin.
There are a few things worth watching for as episodes roll out. First, a love triangle with an obsessive partner is a familiar setup, so the writing will need real surprises to feel fresh. Second, Helly Shah’s character is described as unpredictable, shifting between vulnerability and danger.
That is a tricky balance, and it will decide whether Arohi feels like a real person or just a thriller villain. Third, Suhani needs to be more than the calm, safe choice. If Anushka Kaushik gets enough to do, the show could say something meaningful about what healthy love actually looks like.
Since the series is free to stream, there is little risk in giving the first few episodes a try, especially if you enjoy moody, high-intensity relationship dramas. We will share a proper critical verdict once more episodes have been out and viewers have had time to react.
If you want other tense watches while you decide, our review of Inside the Circle covers a gripping Mexican conspiracy thriller on Netflix, and our review of Carrie looks at Prime Video’s dark new take on the Stephen King classic. Ishqa Ishqa is now streaming for free on Prime Video and MX Player.