There is no fixed formula for a romantic film. Sometimes it’s the music that lasts, sometimes the emotions run so deep that they transcend age and background. And sometimes, it’s just the chemistry, that intangible spark between two people, that does all the heavy lifting. Direction, writing, performances – everything has to come together to create that elusive magic. But what happens when none of this gets off the ground?

enter one dayDirected by Sunil Pandey, starring Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi. Set primarily in Japan, the film follows Dinesh, a self-destructive, almost reluctant hero who is silently in love with Meera. The two arrive in a foreign land, she gets heartbroken, and then comes the twist: Meera is diagnosed with Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). She loses memory of a specific period and, more importantly, is unable to retain new memories for more than a day. That tomorrow is a rescheduling of his life.

Dinesh, in a moment that’s meant to feel eccentric but borders on the convenient, prays to the Japanese gods that Meera will fall in love with him, even if it’s just for a day. The wish was fulfilled. Hunt? He won’t remember any of it the next morning, because, tga.

It’s a premise that sounds interesting on paper, even greasy in some parts. Two people, a fleeting day, a love story that exists in fragments. But one day Never rises above his thoughts. The setup feels dated, reminiscent of the early 2000s television dramas from the world of Ekta Kapoor, where fantastical circumstances forced romance to blossom in an artificial setting. In 2026, it feels less nostalgic, more retrograde.

To be fair, both actors try. Sai Pallavi brings out emotional honesty in Meera, especially in the silent moments. There’s a certain ease to her performance, and her vulnerability works. Junaid Khan also reiterates the theatricality seen in his earlier work. He plays Dinesh with restraint, as a man who is very unsure of himself. But without presence, restraint can quickly turn into absence, and this is where it falters. He doesn’t hold your attention for long.

However, the bigger problem lies in the writing. The film wants to present Dinesh as a “green flag” – sensitive, self-aware, non-toxic, but pairs her with a heroine who, despite being presented as independent, is written with surprising passivity. Meera does not come across as a person who is in control of her choices. The film that thinks it’s saying something new ends up falling into an all too familiar trap.

And then there’s the central relationship, or lack thereof. There is no spark between Junaid and Sai at all. There’s no tension, no strange electricity, no moment that makes you believe these two are falling in love, even temporarily. You’re not devoted to them, you don’t feel for them – sometimes, they barely feel like romantic leads. Remove the context, and they could easily come across as distant acquaintances or siblings. How little this film invests in building anything like intimacy.

At one point, you realize how bad it has become – even as a person who doesn’t care for samosas, you’re suddenly looking forward to the interval snack.

However, visually, one day It has its moments. Japan looks stunning, almost like a travel brochure brought to life. Snow-covered roads, postcard frames, soft winter light – the film captures it all. In fact, it might make you want to look at the flight tickets before you care about the characters. And this unknowingly becomes his greatest strength and biggest flaw.

Because this rich setting deserves a story that matches. Better writing. Strong character arcs. A romance that you want to keep, not one that goes away without a trace.

Even the release time seems less. This is a film that could have blended straight into a Christmas line-up or Valentine’s Day slate, somewhere where its mood could have worked in its favor. Dropped into the April release window, it feels even more unfair.

As far as Junaid Khan is concerned, there is still work to be done. The intention is visible, the effort is there, but no effect. She said, with a Some last names are supporting himThere will be no dearth of opportunities.

one dayMaybe he will really come!