MELBOURNE, December 12, 2025: India’s adoption laws are among the strictest and most complex in the world. They are governed by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.
There are three sets of laws governing adoption in India — the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA) for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists; the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act), a secular law applicable to all Indian citizens regardless of religion; and the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 for Muslims, Christians and Parsis, whose personal laws do not recognise full adoption. In fact, an adoption in India is not legally complete without a court or District Magistrate’s order.
Many childless couples have found this process daunting — laden with lengthy procedures, extensive documentation, strict eligibility criteria, bureaucratic hurdles and long waiting lists. Against this backdrop comes Single Papa, a six-episode Netflix series releasing on December 12, 2025, that turns the complexities of adoption into a heartwarming light comedy.
Single Papa follows Gaurav Gehlot (Kunal Kemmu), a divorced young man navigating the maze of adoption laws, family expectations and societal norms after discovering an abandoned newborn, Amul, in his car. Determined to raise the baby as his own, Gaurav embarks on an emotional and humorous journey filled with family drama, legal tangles and social judgments about single fatherhood.
The series balances humour with heartfelt moments — from Gaurav’s overbearing parents and quirky relatives to his own carefree nature and the biases he faces as a single dad. The subject of male single parenthood is handled with warmth and wit across all six episodes.
Kunal Kemmu shines as Gaurav Gehlot, supported by Manoj Pahwa and Ayesha Raza Mishra as his traditional, business-minded parents. Neha Dhupia impresses as Romilla Nehra, the orphanage head, while Prajakta Koli (Namrata) and a strong supporting cast — including Dayanand Shetty as the burly but endearing male nanny Parvat Singh — add charm and texture.
The series’ Haryanvi-flavoured dialogues are earthy, witty and rooted in local humour. Quips like “Jaat ke sharir mein khoon nahi, doodh behta hai” and the coinage of Bapta as a male version of Mamta give the storytelling its edge.
Set in Gurugram, the show unfolds against a backdrop of luxury — Gaurav’s family lives in an opulent villa, evidently shot in a five-star ambience. Stylish costumes and an air of affluence reflect the upper-class world the story inhabits — unsurprising, given the family’s liquor business. Yet, beneath the gloss lies a relatable theme about love, responsibility and belonging.
The series concludes on an upbeat note, with a familiar Bollywood-style twist — a marriage — that ties together Gaurav’s journey toward becoming a devoted Single Papa.
Kunal Kemmu, who steps into the role of Gaurav Gahlot says, “Playing Gaurav has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. The character is flawed, funny, and fiercely loving… just like so many real-life single parents. I think audiences will see themselves and their families in this show. The warmth of every character is what makes this show so special and wholesome!”
Prajakta Koli, as Namrata, Gaurav’s sister and occasional voice of reason, says, “Single Papa highlights what a perfectly imperfect Indian family looks like. Noisy, loving, opinionated, dramatic but always there for each other. I am a single child so I never understood what bickering with siblings felt like before Single Papa. The banter with Kunal, the arguments, the affection, just flowed naturally. I think it’s a perfect show to binge watch with your family.”
Neha Dhupia who joins the ensemble as the assertive Romilla Nehra, adds, “As a parent myself, what touched me the most about Single Papa is how honestly it portrays the chaos, tenderness and imperfections that make families what they are. Parenting is never linear, never perfect, and the show captures that beautifully. It blends humour and heart in a way that feels deeply real. Being a part of this world was incredibly fulfilling, and I can’t wait for audiences to feel the warmth, madness and love we’ve created.”
Interestingly, a 2020 Hong Kong film of the same name starred Ronald Cheng as a widowed single father grappling with similar emotional challenges — though the Netflix adaptation offers its own Indian flavour and comedic rhythm.
In a nutshell, Single Papa is an easy, enjoyable watch that wraps humour around a serious theme — gender-neutral adoption and the evolving idea of fatherhood. I wonder, how will the ‘sanskaris’ (upmarket and political traditionalists) or people rooted in conservative values react to this issue.
Lead Cast: Kunal Kemmu (Gaurav Gehlot), Prajakta Koli (Namrata), Manoj Pahwa, Ayesha Raza Mishra, Neha Dhupia, Ankur Rathee, Isha Talwar, Dayanand Shetty, Suhail Nayyar, Hami Ali, Aisha Ahmed, Dhruv Rathee.
Key Crew: Creators – Ishita Moitra, Neeraj Udhwani; Directors – Shashank Khaitan, Hitesh Kewalya; Producers – Aditya Pittie, Samar Khan; Executive Producer – Samar Khan; Music – Aman Pant; Lyrics – Shubh Khillari.
Episodes: Dekho, Mujhe Kya Mila (43m), Love Nahin Lovest! (32m), Dikha Denge Apni Power (36m), Asli Single Papa (40m), Chattan Nahi, Parbat! (39m), Papa Bola! (45m).
Single Papa premieres December 12, exclusively on Netflix.
