Baai is the second episode of Modern Love: Mumbai, directed by Hansal Mehta and streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Pratik Gandhi plays Manzu, a gay Muslim man from a conservative Mumbai family who returns home to see his ailing grandmother, Baai, played by Tanuja. Chef Ranveer Brar plays his partner, Rajveer, in his acting debut.
The episode runs about 40 minutes and mixes a love story with family conflict, memory and the shadow of communal riots. Below is a recap with light spoilers, a look at the performances, and where the series stands now.
Episode at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | Modern Love: Mumbai (Season 1, Episode 2) |
| Episode title | Baai |
| Director | Hansal Mehta |
| Main cast | Pratik Gandhi, Tanuja, Ranveer Brar, Talat Aziz |
| Released | 13 May 2022 |
| Platform | Amazon Prime Video |
| Running time | About 40 minutes |
About Modern Love: Mumbai
Modern Love: Mumbai is a six-episode Hindi anthology based on the New York Times column Modern Love, which had already been adapted into an English-language series for Prime Video. Each episode is a standalone story by a different director.
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The other directors are Shonali Bose, Vishal Bhardwaj, Alankrita Shrivastava, Dhruv Sehgal and Nupur Asthana. The cast across episodes includes Fatima Sana Shaikh, Arshad Warsi, Chitrangda Singh, Masaba Gupta, Sarika and Wamiqa Gabbi.
Baai recap
Coming home
Manzu, a musician, has built a life away from his family. When he learns that his grandmother Baai is unwell, he returns to the family home in Mumbai. Baai has always doted on him, and his biggest unspoken wish is to tell her who he really is.
His family does not want him to. They fear the truth will hurt the frail old woman, and his father, played by Talat Aziz, reacts with open hostility to Manzu’s sexuality.
Memories of the past
Much of the story unfolds in flashbacks. One memory is from his sister Rehana’s wedding, which shows how the family expected its children to follow a set path, and how Manzu’s first awkward attempt at intimacy with another young man ends in humiliation.
Another strand returns to the communal riots of the early 1990s in Bombay. In these scenes, Baai faces down a violent mob. The episode uses this memory to show where her strength comes from, and to draw a link between the fear of religious violence and the fear of being openly gay.
Finding Rajveer
Unable to bear the pressure at home, Manzu moves to Goa. There he meets Rajveer, a chef, at a restaurant. Both men express themselves through their work, Manzu through music and Rajveer through food. Their romance gives the episode its warmest scenes.
As the relationship becomes serious, Manzu has to decide how much of it to share with his parents. His mother’s journey from silence to acceptance becomes one of the quieter, more affecting parts of the story.
The question of Baai
The episode builds towards one question: whether Manzu will find the courage to tell his grandmother the truth before it is too late. We will leave the ending for viewers to watch.
Performances
Pratik Gandhi carries the episode. Film Companion’s review praised the way he conveys emotion through small gestures, whether blushing, pleading with his father or brooding, while noting a few clumsy lines in the script.
Tanuja has limited screen time but brings warmth and authority to Baai, and her presence anchors the family scenes.
Ranveer Brar, best known as a celebrity chef, made his acting debut here. Reviewers were divided: some found him charming, while others felt his inexperience showed and that the leads lacked chemistry.
What works and what does not
- Works: The episode addresses a gay Muslim character and family prejudice, which mainstream Hindi screen stories rarely do with this much sympathy.
- Works: The link between communal fear and the fear of coming out gives the story weight.
- Does not fully work: Several critics, including Gaysi, felt the episode leans too heavily on songs to explain emotions and tries to cover too much in 40 minutes.
- Debated: Some reviewers questioned how the riot scenes were used and who was telling this story.
Should you watch it
Baai is worth a watch if you like quiet family dramas and character-driven stories. It is not a light romance, and the riot flashbacks can be uncomfortable. Viewers who prefer tighter storytelling may find the songs and the many flashbacks slow it down.
Because each episode of the anthology stands alone, you can watch Baai without seeing the first episode. Many viewers pair it with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Mumbai Dragon, which is also often listed among the stronger episodes of the series.
Current status of the series
As of October 2026, Modern Love: Mumbai has one season of six episodes, and all of them are available on Amazon Prime Video. The Indian franchise continued with Modern Love Hyderabad (2022), a Telugu anthology, and Modern Love Chennai (2023), a Tamil anthology, both on Prime Video. No second season of the Mumbai edition has been announced.
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Further reading: TheBuzzpedia.
Frequently asked questions
Who directed Baai in Modern Love: Mumbai?
Baai was directed by Hansal Mehta, known for Scam 1992 and Shahid.
Who plays Baai?
Veteran actor Tanuja plays Baai, the grandmother of Pratik Gandhi’s character Manzu.
Where can I watch Modern Love: Mumbai?
All six episodes stream on Amazon Prime Video. The series premiered on 13 May 2022.
Is Ranveer Brar an actor?
Ranveer Brar is a celebrity chef. Baai marked his acting debut, in the role of Manzu’s partner Rajveer.
Sources: Wikipedia: Modern Love Mumbai, Film Companion review, High On Films review.
