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The film received widespread critical acclaim. Critics praised Gauri Shinde for her sensitive direction and the screenplay for avoiding melodrama.

The film follows Kaira, a talented but disillusioned cinematographer in Mumbai who struggles with insomnia and a series of messy relationships. Her journey toward healing highlights several key themes: dear+zindagi+film

The film follows (played by Alia Bhatt ), a talented and ambitious cinematographer who, on the surface, seems to have it all. However, underneath the professional success lies a storm of insomnia, anxiety, and a deep-seated fear of abandonment. The film received widespread critical acclaim

Jug doesn't use clinical jargon; instead, he uses simple metaphors—like comparing finding a life partner to trying out different chairs—to help Kaira navigate her complex emotions. This approachable depiction of a therapist-client relationship encouraged many viewers to reconsider their own views on mental well-being. Her journey toward healing highlights several key themes:

Using psychoanalytic theory, the film traces Kaira’s present anxiety to her past. Flashbacks reveal parents who prioritize their failing marriage over their daughter’s emotional needs. When young Kaira is sent away to boarding school, she internalizes the belief that she is unworthy of consistent love. Her adult behavior—pushing people away before they can leave her, and sabotaging stable relationships—exhibits classic abandonment schema. Dr. Khan’s breakthrough exercise, the “Empty Chair” technique (gestalt therapy), allows Kaira to confront her absent mother and express suppressed anger. This sequence is the film’s emotional core, demonstrating that healing requires revisiting, not repressing, past pain.