Last Updated 18 October, 2026

Nayyi Navelli, also spelled Nayi Naveli or Nai Naveli, is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language fantasy family entertainer with a strong horror-comedy flavour. It is directed by Balaji Mohan and produced by Aanand L. Rai and Himanshu Sharma under the banners of Amazon MGM Studios and Colour Yellow Productions. Yami Gautam Dhar stars as Mohini, a picture-perfect new bride whose brother-in-law becomes convinced she is a daayan, or witch. The nayi naveli cast also includes Addinath M. Kothare, Anurag Thakur, Sunita Rajwar, Mita Vashisht, Sushmita Mukherjee, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Sonal Jha and Suneel Sinha.

The film released in theatres across India on 16 October 2026, timed for the Dussehra weekend. It is Tamil filmmaker Balaji Mohan’s first Hindi film and the first collaboration between Colour Yellow and Amazon MGM Studios. Nai Naveli opened modestly at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics. This guide covers the story, the cast, the music, the release details, the OTT status, the box office numbers and the reception so far.

Nayyi Navelli (Nayi Naveli) – Movie Details

Category	Details
Movie Name	Nayyi Navelli (also written as Nayi Naveli / Nai Naveli)
Release Date	16 October 2026
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Genre	Fantasy Family Entertainer, Horror-Comedy
Director	Balaji Mohan
Lead Cast	Yami Gautam Dhar, Addinath M. Kothare
Supporting Cast	Anurag Thakur, Sunita Rajwar, Mita Vashisht, Sushmita Mukherjee, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Sonal Jha, Suneel Sinha, Prateek Pachori, Akshat Singh, Babita Pandey, Ajay Pal, Neeraj Singh
Story	Himanshu Sharma
Screenplay	Himanshu Sharma, Divy Nidhi Sharma
Producers	Aanand L. Rai, Himanshu Sharma
Production Companies	Amazon MGM Studios, Colour Yellow Productions
Distributor (India)	PVR Inox Pictures
Music	G. V. Prakash Kumar
Cinematography	Rishi Punjabi
Editing	Sumeet Kotian
Runtime	About 135 minutes
Certification	UA 16+
Reported Budget	₹30–35 crore to ₹50 crore (reports differ)
Opening Day India Net	₹3.25 crore

Plot of Nayyi Navelli

The story of Nayi Naveli is set in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, inside the noisy home of the Awasthi family. It is the kind of big Indian household where everyone has an opinion, small problems turn into big discussions and family secrets refuse to stay hidden. Into this household steps Mohini, played by Yami Gautam Dhar, who has just married Raja Awasthi. She is warm, graceful and apparently flawless, and she turns the chaotic house into something that looks like paradise.

But the perfect picture is not what it seems. Strange incidents begin to disturb the family’s routine, and Raja’s brother Bantu starts to suspect that his ideal bhabhi is hiding something unnatural. He becomes convinced that the nai naveli dulhan of the family is really a daayan and sets out to expose her in front of everyone. Whether Mohini is a blessing or a threat is the central question of the film, and the makers have promoted it with the hashtag #BhabhiDaayanHai.

The teaser sets the tone. When her brother-in-law calls her a witch, Mohini replies with an eerie calm and hints that she deals with far scarier creatures, such as several witches, demons and ghosts, before breakfast. The first-look poster shows her in a red saree, hair dishevelled, strangling a monster with her own saree. Reviewers say the film also draws on the Ramayana to give its folklore angle another layer, in keeping with its Dussehra release.

The film blends family drama, comedy, fantasy and action. Producer Aanand L. Rai has described it as a story that surprises you at every turn, and he has also called it, in many ways, a thank-you to the strong women who hold families together.

Is Nayi Naveli a Series or a Film?

Because the title sounds like a television serial, many people search for “nayi naveli series”. To be clear, Nayyi Navelli is a theatrical feature film, not a web series or a TV show. It runs for roughly two hours and fifteen minutes and was released in cinemas on 16 October 2026. Amazon MGM Studios is its production and release partner, which is why people also connect it with Prime Video, but there is no episodic nayi naveli series for this project.

There is a small source of confusion. A separate, unrelated Hindi TV title called Nayi Naveli from 2021 also exists. That programme has nothing to do with Yami Gautam’s film. If you are looking for the 2026 movie, search for Nayyi Navelli with the director’s name, Balaji Mohan, or the lead actress.

Nayi Naveli Cast and Characters

The nayi naveli cast pairs a well-known lead actress with a large ensemble of experienced character actors. The makers have not announced roles for every actor, so the descriptions below stay with what has been reported.

Yami Gautam Dhar as Mohini: Mohini is the new bahu of the Awasthi family and the heart of the film. Yami has said that what drew her to the role is that Mohini is never quite what you expect, and that the part let her move between family, humour, emotion, fantasy and action while staying rooted. Aanand L. Rai called her an instinctive choice who brings exactly the warmth and mischief the character needs. Yami was last seen in a cameo in Dhurandhar: The Revenge and earlier led Haq and Article 370.

Addinath M. Kothare as Raja Awasthi: The Marathi actor and filmmaker plays Mohini’s husband. One reviewer called his performance a pleasant surprise, saying the role has more layers than the trailer suggested.

Anurag Thakur as Bantu: Bantu is Raja’s brother, the sceptical brother-in-law who believes Mohini is a witch. The same reviewer called him the real scene-stealer, praising his energy and comic timing.

Supporting Cast and Characters

Sunita Rajwar, Mita Vashisht and Sushmita Mukherjee: These veterans of Hindi cinema and television play members of the extended family and add warmth, humour and drama to the household scenes.

Aaditya Kulshreshth (popularly known as Kullu), Sonal Jha and Suneel Sinha: They round out the Awasthi family and contribute to the lighter moments.

Prateek Pachori, Akshat Singh, Babita Pandey, Ajay Pal and Neeraj Singh: Other names in the official cast list. Their exact roles have not been widely published.

Kriti Sanon was earlier linked to the film as the female lead, but reports in October 2025 said she could not be finalised because of her commitments to Tere Ishk Mein and Cocktail 2. Yami Gautam Dhar was confirmed for the role in January 2026.

Nai Naveli Dulhan: Who Is Mohini?

The phrase nai naveli dulhan sits at the core of the film’s identity. The first poster even played with the title by striking out the word “Dulhan” and replacing it with “Daayan”, signalling the double identity of the bride. Mohini is introduced to the family through the song “Bhabhi Tabaahi”, which turns the muh dikhayi ritual into a wedding celebration.

The idea of a nai naveli dulhan who is either an angel or a witch gives the film its comic engine. Indian audiences know the pressure on a new bride to be perfect, to please every relative and to quietly fix every family problem. Nayyi Navelli turns that expectation into a fantasy joke: what if the bride who fixes everything is not entirely human? Even so, the makers insist the story stays a family drama at heart, where the real strength of the bahu lies in holding a household together.

Production, Creative and Technical Aspects

Development and Story

Nayyi Navelli was developed by Himanshu Sharma, who wrote the story, with Divy Nidhi Sharma co-writing the screenplay. Early reports in late 2024 described the project as a horror-comedy backed by Aanand L. Rai, while the official announcement called it India’s very own fantasy family-entertainer. The studio and promotional material place it in the fantasy, family and horror-comedy space, although some listings simply call it a drama. Balaji Mohan, known for the Tamil film Maari, makes his Bollywood directorial debut with this project.

Casting and Characters

After Kriti Sanon’s exit from the project, Yami Gautam Dhar was finalised in January 2026, and Addinath M. Kothare joined as the male lead. The casting balances a recognisable lead with performers known for comic timing and a small-town Hindi-heartland feel, which suits the Meerut setting.

Filming and Schedule

Yami Gautam Dhar began filming on 7 April 2026, according to reports. The story is set in Meerut, but detailed shooting locations have not been formally announced in the sources reviewed. Principal photography was completed in time for a mid-October release, a fairly short window between the start of filming and theatres.

Production Companies

The film is made by Amazon MGM Studios and Colour Yellow Productions, Aanand L. Rai’s banner, and it is the first collaboration between the two companies. In India it is distributed theatrically by PVR Inox Pictures. Nikhil Madhok, director and head of SVOD Originals at Prime Video India and Amazon MGM Studios, described the film as “the Dussehra film” and said the team was confident it would be a first choice for family audiences during the festival.

Cinematography and Editing

Rishi Punjabi handled cinematography and Sumeet Kotian edited the film. A film that moves between a warm family home and spooky fantasy set pieces needs flexible camerawork and sharp cutting. The long dance takes in the first song also rely on smooth movement and careful editing.

Music and Soundtrack Details

The music of Nayyi Navelli is composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, the well-known South Indian composer, and this is his Hindi film debut. He has said that with Yami Gautam in the lead, his songs are in safe hands.

1. Bhabhi Tabaahi

“Bhabhi Tabaahi” is the first single, released on 25 September 2026. It is sung by Neeti Mohan, with lyrics by Vayu, and runs for about four minutes. The song introduces Mohini to the Awasthi family through a wedding celebration and gives Yami a hook step. It was shot with long takes, which required spontaneity and stamina from the lead actress. Together with the teaser, it gave audiences their first real look at Mohini as a charming and playful bhabhi before the supernatural twist.

2. Phata Patakha

A second song, “Phata Patakha”, is listed on film portals with vocals by Madhubanti Bagchi and the same composer and lyricist team. Complete album details, including any further tracks and the background score credits, were not available in the sources reviewed, so this section should be updated when a full track list is published.

Release Date and Theatrical Distribution

Nayyi Navelli Release Details

Detail	Information
Film Title	Nayyi Navelli (Nayi Naveli)
Release Date Announced	19 August 2026
Release Date in India	16 October 2026
Teaser Release Date	10 September 2026
First Single	“Bhabhi Tabaahi”, 25 September 2026
Certification	UA 16+
Runtime	About 135 minutes
Production Companies	Amazon MGM Studios, Colour Yellow Productions
Theatrical Distribution (India)	PVR Inox Pictures
Music Label	Not confirmed in sources reviewed
OTT Release Date	Not officially announced
OTT Platform	Amazon Prime Video expected; date not announced

Official Release Date

Amazon MGM Studios and Colour Yellow announced on 19 August 2026 that Nayyi Navelli would reach cinemas nationwide on 16 October 2026, in time for Dussehra. The makers positioned it as a big-screen family experience combining humour, fantasy and what they called familial mayhem.

A Crowded Release Weekend

The film arrived in a crowded market. Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 released a day earlier, on 15 October, while Rajkummar Rao’s Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story and Vijay Deverakonda’s Ranabaali opened on the same Friday as Nayi Naveli. Trade analysts said the clash cut into screens, showtimes and opening-day occupancy.

Promotion

The marketing built up in stages. The first-look poster arrived with the release date in August, the teaser followed on 10 September, “Bhabhi Tabaahi” arrived on 25 September, and a trailer introducing Mohini and the Awasthi family followed before release. Hashtags such as #NayyiNavelli and #BhabhiDaayanHai were used on social media. The campaign leaned on the nayi naveli idea of a bride who is more than she appears.

OTT Release and Streaming Availability

As of 18 October 2026, no official OTT release date has been announced for Nayyi Navelli. Several entertainment websites report that the film’s posters and promotional material name Amazon Prime Video as the digital partner, which is consistent with Amazon MGM Studios producing the film, but the streaming date itself is still to be announced.

Hindi films usually reach streaming four to eight weeks after theatrical release. Based on that pattern, one estimate places a Prime Video arrival between 13 November and 11 December 2026. This is an estimate and not a confirmed schedule. Viewers should wait for an official announcement from Prime Video or the producers. Until then, the film is available only in cinemas.

Budget and Box Office Collection

Nayyi Navelli Budget and Box Office

Box Office Detail	Reported Figures
Reported Budget	Around ₹30–50 crore (estimates differ)
Release Date	16 October 2026
Day 1 India Net	About ₹3.25 crore (estimates range from ₹3 crore to ₹3.36 crore)
Day 1 India Gross	About ₹3.83 crore
Day 1 Occupancy	About 11%
Day 2 India Net	About ₹4 crore (some reports say ₹4.25 crore)
Two-Day India Net	About ₹7.25 crore
Two-Day India Gross	About ₹8.63 crore
Overseas Gross (Two Days)	About ₹1.50 crore
Worldwide Gross (Two Days)	About ₹10.13 crore

Figures differ slightly between trackers, and Day 3 (Sunday, 18 October) numbers were not yet final at the time of writing.

Production Budget

Reports on the budget of Nayyi Navelli are not consistent. Estimates range from around ₹30–35 crore to ₹50 crore. These are industry estimates and not audited numbers. Whichever figure is used, the opening weekend numbers are on the low side, and the film will need a strong holiday run and good word of mouth to improve its position.

Opening Day Box Office Collection

On 16 October 2026, Nayyi Navelli opened at about ₹3.25 crore net in India, with an India gross of about ₹3.83 crore. Other estimates ranged from roughly ₹3 crore to ₹3.36 crore, on about 6,280 shows with overall occupancy near 11 percent. The film beat its direct rival Prahaar, which collected about ₹2.35 crore on Friday.

The opening was around 92 percent higher than Yami Gautam’s previous release Haq, which opened at ₹1.75 crore, but it was lower than her 2024 film Article 370, which opened at ₹5.90 crore. It also missed a place among the actress’s top ten openers, since the tenth spot is held by Sanam Re at ₹4.5 crore.

Day 2 Box Office Collection

On Saturday, 17 October, the film showed a modest jump. It earned about ₹4 crore net from 5,945 shows, up about 23 percent from Friday, taking the two-day India net total to roughly ₹7.25 crore and the India gross to ₹8.63 crore. Overall occupancy rose from 11 percent to about 14 percent, and the Hindi 2D version recorded around 22 percent occupancy. Overseas contributed about ₹75 lakh on Saturday, bringing the total overseas gross to ₹1.50 crore and the worldwide gross to about ₹10.13 crore. Some trackers reported a slightly higher Day 2 figure of ₹4.25 crore and called the jump muted.

India Net, Gross and Worldwide Collection

India net is ticket revenue after taxes, and India gross is the revenue before those deductions, so the two should not be treated as the same. Worldwide gross combines domestic and overseas earnings and is not the same as the share that producers and distributors receive. Overseas business has been small so far. Trade analysts had expected an opening weekend near ₹10 crore net, and the film’s progress on Sunday and through the weekdays will show whether it can build on its festival-season start.

Ratings, Reviews and Audience Reception

Rating	Score
Audience Rating (ticketing platform)	About 7.1/10 from roughly 300 votes (first evening)
Aggregate Critics Score	45/100 from 8 reviews (“mostly negative”)
Critics’ Star Ratings	2/5 to 2.5/5

Ratings change as more people vote, so treat these numbers as a snapshot.

Critics’ Reviews

Critics have been largely lukewarm. Several reviewers gave the film 2 out of 5, saying it has an interesting premise but suffers from weak writing and poor execution. Others gave 2.5 out of 5 and felt the film wasted its potential. One review called it a below-average watch, saying the story was fresh but the screenplay and narration were weak. Another noted that the film has enough going for it but never quite makes it work, and that the family drama, which is the most entertaining part, takes a back seat once the supernatural conflict takes over.

One reviewer who gave 2.5 out of 5 called the film strictly average. He liked the first half, especially the family interactions and an effective twist at the interval, but found the second half unfocused and the final mystery underwhelming.

Audience Response

Audience response looks somewhat kinder than critics’ scores. Viewers had rated the film around 7.1 out of 10 on the first evening. Reviewers singled out Anurag Thakur’s comic timing and Addinath M. Kothare’s layered performance, and praised Yami Gautam Dhar’s screen presence while noting a few moments where her delivery felt stiff. Viewers who enjoy light family entertainers with a fantasy twist may find the nayi naveli concept more appealing than critics did. Those expecting a sharp horror film or a tightly written comedy may be less satisfied.

Where to Watch Nayyi Navelli

Nayyi Navelli is playing in theatres across India, and availability depends on the city, cinema and showtime. You can check these platforms for shows and tickets:

• BookMyShow: Search for Nayyi Navelli to see nearby cinemas, showtimes and ticket prices.
• District: Browse local listings and book tickets.
• PVR INOX: Check screenings at participating PVR and INOX cinemas.
• Cinépolis India: Look for shows at participating Cinépolis locations.

The film is not yet streaming anywhere. Prime Video is the expected OTT home, but there is no official date.

Is Nayyi Navelli (Nayi Naveli) Worth Watching?

Nayyi Navelli is worth considering for viewers who enjoy light fantasy comedies, family entertainers and festival-season outings. Its biggest strengths are the central idea of a nai naveli dulhan who might be a daayan, the lead performance by Yami Gautam Dhar, the comic energy of Anurag Thakur and an ensemble of experienced character actors. The Meerut setting and the family humour give it a distinct flavour, and the first half is where most reviewers found the film at its best.

On the other side, critics point to a weak screenplay and an unfocused second half, especially once the supernatural plot takes over from the family comedy. Viewers who want a sharp horror film or a tightly written comedy may feel let down. Overall, it is a reasonable choice for a family outing during the holiday period if expectations are kept moderate, and it may also work well as an OTT watch once Prime Video announces the streaming date.

Frequently Asked Questions