Courtroom dramas are not new, but every once in a while, a film comes along that makes people stop and think. Pooja Meri Jaan is one such movie. Starring Mrunal Thakur, Vijay Raaz, Huma Qureshi and Vikram Singh Chauhan, the film looks at rejection, obsession and the way society is often quick to blame women. Directed by Navjot Gulati and co-directed by Vipasha Arvind, it asks one uncomfortable question: what happens when a man simply cannot accept a woman saying no?
Plot
Pooja Meri Jaan follows Pooja Dogra, played by Mrunal Thakur, a free-spirited woman who knows what she wants. Her life changes when her close friend Aniket Srivastava, played by Vikram Singh Chauhan, becomes romantically obsessed with her and suddenly proposes marriage. Pooja rejects him. And honestly, that should have been the end of it. But Aniket does not take the rejection well. He dies by suicide and leaves behind an email blaming Pooja for his death.
Suddenly, Pooja is the one being questioned. She faces an abatement to s*icide case, public anger, media scrutiny and endless judgement. The same society that is quick to sympathise with a man who cannot handle rejection is suddenly ready to tear a woman apart for saying no.
Her lawyer friend Sana Mehfooz, played by Huma Qureshi, helps her fight the case and look for the truth. As the story moves forward, Pooja is forced to deal with suspicion and a system that seems to have already made up its mind about her.
This is where the film becomes interesting. Pooja Meri Jaan shows how easily a woman’s character can be questioned when she rejects a man. Her decision becomes a topic for everyone to discuss, while the simple fact that she had every right to say no gets pushed aside.
Performances
Mrunal Thakur does a good job as Pooja. She brings out her anger, fear, confusion and courage naturally. Her emotions feel real, especially when Pooja finds herself trapped in a situation she never asked for.
Huma Qureshi is also as good as Sana. She brings confidence to the character and handles the courtroom scenes well. However, her character could have been given more depth.
Vijay Raaz is frustrating in the best possible way. As Inspector V.K. Singh, he plays a man who seems determined to look at Pooja through a very judgemental lens. His behaviour can seriously test the audience’s patience, which shows how well he has played the part. He represents the kind of thinking that often puts the blame on women first.
Vikram Singh Chauhan also does well as Aniket. His character is uncomfortable to watch, but that is exactly what makes his performance work.
Verdict
The film has a strong idea and talks about an issue that deserves more conversations. However, it does not always go as deep as it could have. Some characters and their reactions also do not feel completely realistic. Still, the movie left me with something to think about. Why is a woman’s no so difficult for some men to accept? Why does a woman have to defend herself when she simply rejects someone? And why is her character attacked so quickly?
The film may not be perfect, but it is relevant. It shows how easily women can be judged, blamed and dragged through public scrutiny because of a man’s actions.
Pooja Meri Jaan is a one-time watch, especially for the conversation it tries to start. Because at the end of the day, rejection is not an insult, and a woman’s no does not need a courtroom to make it valid.
For those unaware, Pooja Meri Jaan will release on ZEE5 on October 2, 2026.