Jai Kanhaiyalall Ki

Jai Kanhaiyalall Ki (Gujarati: જય કનૈયાલાલ કી) is a 2026 Indian Gujarati family drama, crime and comedy film directed by Dharmesh S. Mehta. It is produced by Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni from SVF Entertainment, in partnership with Namanraj Productions and Siddharth Randeria Production, marking SVF's entry into the Gujarati film market^[2]

The film features Siddharth Randeria in the lead role, alongside Vaishalee Thakkar, Aneri Vajani and Hitu Kanodia. Its theatrical release was on 9 January 2026.^[3]

Kanhaiyalall, an honest and recently retired engineer, lives a modest middle-class life with his family. As preparations begin for his daughter’s wedding, his life takes a sudden turn when he loses all his life savings in a bank scam. With the wedding approaching and his family’s dignity at stake, Kanhaiyalall finds himself under immense emotional and financial pressure.As conventional solutions fail and time runs out, Kanhaiyalall is forced into a moral dilemma that challenges his lifelong values of honesty and faith. In a desperate attempt to protect his family from humiliation and social fallout, he makes a decision he never imagined he would take, setting off a chain of tense and emotionally charged events.

Meanwhile, Inspector Govardhan Rathod, a sharp and determined police officer, begins to sense irregularities surrounding the case. As the investigation progresses, the film unfolds as a race against time, intercutting between wedding preparations, family emotions, and the tightening grip of the law. The narrative explores the emotional cost of survival, the weight of responsibility, and the conflict between belief and logic. As secrets begin to unravel, Kanhaiyalall must confront the consequences of his actions and decide whether faith, courage, and compassion can help him reclaim his family’s future. ^[3]

• Siddharth Randeria as Kanhaiyalal
• Vaishalee Thakkar as Pushpa
• Hitu Kanodia
• Aneri Vajani^[4]
• Shrey Maradiya
• Chilka Prit

Directed by Dharmesh S. Mehta, known for his work on the show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and the film Mom Tane Nai Samjay.^[5] The story is written by Amit Aryan, with dialogues by Bhargav Trivedi.

Jai Kanhaiyalall Ki is part of SVF's expansion into Western India as they celebrate 30 years in the industry.^[6] Abhishek Daga from SVF mentioned that the goal is to connect with audiences through family-focused stories.^[2]

The film stars Siddharth Randeria, a prominent figure in Gujarati theatre and cinema, widely recognised for his work in the stage play Bluffmaster Gujjubhai. It also features Hitu Kanodia, known for his performance in the National Award-winning Gujarati film Vash (2023).^[6]

The film marks the Gujarati cinema debut of television actress Aneri Vajani.^[4] Vajani is known for her roles in Hindi television series such as Nisha Aur Uske Cousins, Beyhadh and Anupamaa.^[7]In interviews, Vajani stated that working in a Gujarati film had long been a personal aspiration influenced by her family, particularly her parents. She described Gujarati cinema as an increasingly vibrant space with emotionally driven and relatable storytelling, and noted that she had been waiting for the right story and timing to make her debut. Vajani also expressed her continued attachment to television, calling it a medium close to her heart and stating that she remains open to returning to daily soaps in the future.^[8]

The music for the film is by Dr. Kedar Upadhyay and Bhargav Purohit, featuring songs performed by singers Shaan, Amit Trivedi, Aditya Gadhvi and Parthiv Gohil.^[5]

A motion poster for the film was released on social media during the festival of Dussehra.^[5] Director Dharmesh S. Mehta and actor Siddharth Randeria unveiled the film’s first official poster in December 2025. The poster presents Randeria as a simple, middle-class man standing at a doorway with a warm smile, accompanied by a family photograph and festive elements, reflecting the film’s light-hearted and emotional tone.^[9]

In an interview with ETimes, Randeria described the film as a reflection of the life and belief system of a common man, calling it a slice-of-life story filled with warmth and quirks. Mehta stated that the film was his attempt to narrate a story where belief, courage, and compassion coexist, and expressed his intention for the film to resonate with audiences beyond the screen.^[9]

An official teaser was later released on YouTube. This introduces the storyline where Siddharth Randeria's character faces an unexpected problem and goes through a journey filled with rituals and superstitions. The teaser highlights the conflict between logic and faith within a family.^[3][2]The official trailer was released on Social Media on 24 December 2025, further expanding on the film’s storyline and principal characters.^[10]

Ahead of its theatrical release, the makers of Jai Kanhaiyalall Ki hosted a grand afternoon cruise celebration in Ahmedabad as part of the film’s promotional activities. The event was attended by the cast and crew and marked a key pre-release milestone, reflecting the growing anticipation surrounding the film. Ahmedabad was chosen due to its strong cultural association with Gujarati theatre, family-oriented storytelling, and its importance as a promotional hub for Gujarati cinema.^[11] The cruise celebration took place in a relaxed and celebratory atmosphere, with the team engaging in informal interactions and reflecting on the film’s journey. Such pre-release gatherings are commonly organised in the Indian film industry to foster team spirit and mark the completion of production ahead of a film’s release.^[11]

Director Dharmesh S. Mehta stated that the celebration reflected the film’s core values of family, warmth, and tradition, while lead actor Siddharth Randeria described the film as being emotionally close to him and expressed appreciation for the audience response ahead of release. The film was scheduled for theatrical release on 9 January 2026.^[11]

Sampark Gujarati reviewed the film and described Jai Kanhaiyalall Ki as a clean, family-oriented Gujarati entertainer that blends emotion, humour, culture, and traditional values. The reviewer noted that the film focuses strongly on family bonds, faith, and moral conflicts rooted in Gujarati culture, making it suitable for audiences across all age groups. The narrative was praised for being simple, emotionally engaging, and easy to follow, avoiding unnecessary complications and remaining grounded in everyday life. Siddharth Randeria’s performance was highlighted as one of the film’s strongest aspects, with the critic praising his screen presence, dialogue delivery, and emotional depth. The supporting cast was appreciated for adding warmth and natural humour, while the female leads were commended for their graceful performances that supported the emotional flow of the story. The direction was described as clean and message-driven, maintaining a balance between entertainment and sentiment. The review also praised the background score, situational songs, and cinematography for capturing Gujarati traditions effectively. Criticism was directed at the predictable storyline at certain points and the slower pacing in the second half. *Sampark Gujarati* rated the film 3.5 out of 5.^[12]

Newz Daddy reviewed the film as an emotionally driven family drama with elements of suspense, centring on an honest, recently retired man whose life is upended after losing his savings in a bank scam just days before his daughter’s wedding. The review highlighted the wedding deadline as an effective narrative device that adds urgency and tension, turning the story into a race between desperation and law enforcement. Siddharth Randeria’s portrayal of Kanhaiyalall was praised for its restraint and emotional authenticity, with the reviewer noting his ability to convey fear, guilt, and determination without exaggerated dialogue. Hitu Kanodia’s performance as Inspector Govardhan Rathod was also appreciated for adding intensity and momentum to the second half of the film. The chemistry between Randeria and Vaishalee Thakkar was positively mentioned, while Aneri Vajani and Shrey Maradiya were commended for their confident performances and fluent Gujarati dialogue despite their backgrounds in Hindi television. The direction by Dharmesh S. Mehta was described as grounded and focused, avoiding unnecessary drama while maintaining emotional weight and suspense. The review noted the film’s limited locations and observed that while the second half is gripping, the first half progresses at a slower pace and contains fewer comedic moments than expected given Randeria’s reputation. *Newz Daddy* rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and recommended it as a sincere and engaging family drama with a strong social message.^[13]

• List of Gujarati films of 2026
• List of Gujarati films
• Shree Venkatesh Films
• List of Shree Venkatesh Films productions

• Jai Kanhaiyalall Ki at IMDb