Qarib Qarib Singlle Full Story Explained (2017)
Imagine a 35-year-old widow who has forgotten how to smile. Now imagine a loud, messy poet who never stops talking. That is Jaya and Yogi. Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017) is a Hindi romantic comedy directed by Tanuja Chandra. It stars Irrfan Khan as Yogi and Parvathy Thiruvothu as Jaya. The film released on 10 November 2017. It is a road trip that changes two lonely people forever. No big drama. No loud fights. Just two opposites finding love in the most unexpected way. This film will make you laugh, cry, and believe in second chances.
A Widow Joins a Dating Site
Jaya Shashidharan is 35 years old. She lost her husband Manav years ago. Her life is dull and lonely. Her friends and family keep pushing her to move on. So she creates a profile on a dating website. She is nervous and unsure. Then she gets a message from a man named Yogendra Kumar Devendra Nath Prajapati. Everyone calls him Yogi.
Full Plot
Jaya Shashidharan is a 35-year-old widow living in Delhi. She works at an insurance company. Her life is quiet and lonely. Her friends and family keep telling her to move on. So she creates a profile on a dating website. She gets many weird messages. Then she finds a decent profile from Yogendra 'Yogi' Kumar Devendra Nath Prajapati. Yogi is a poet. He is happy-go-lucky and full of life. He helps Jaya block the creepy men. They meet for coffee. Jaya finds him annoying but interesting.
During their conversation, Yogi tells Jaya about his three ex-girlfriends. He claims they still yearn for him. Jaya does not believe him. She challenges him to meet them. Yogi asks Jaya to come along as his 'cousin'. She agrees. They start a road trip to meet his exes. First stop is Dehradun. Yogi misses the flight. Jaya is furious. He finally meets her at the airport. They stay at an ashram. Yogi falls asleep instantly. Jaya cannot sleep.
The next day they meet Radha, his first girlfriend. Radha is happily married with kids. She calls Yogi 'mama' (maternal uncle). Jaya is surprised. Then they take the Fairy Queen train to Jaipur. Yogi misses the train because he wants pakoras. Jaya wants to quit. Yogi explains they just see life differently. She agrees to continue. On the way to meet Anjali, his second girlfriend, Jaya buys sleeping pills. She takes three or four pills to avoid Yogi's questions. The pills make her drunk and silly.
Anjali meets them. She leaves her anniversary party to see Yogi. She hugs him and gives him a peck. Jaya, still drugged, sees this and rants at Yogi. She calls him a cheat. Her jealousy shows she has feelings for him. She falls asleep on him under the stars. Next morning they go to Gangtok. Jaya reveals she also wants to meet her ex-boyfriend from college. He is now a famous industrialist. Yogi feels hurt. He books a return ticket.
Jaya meets her ex. They spend time at his home. But she feels nothing. Yogi goes to see his third girlfriend Gauri. She is a dance teacher. He watches her from the window. He leaves a note saluting her. Then he packs to leave. But he finds Jaya's laptop. She has created a webpage for his poems. He realizes she cares. He runs to find her. They meet on a ropeway. He jumps into her cable car. They smile. He asks for water from her bottle. She shares it. They are together.
Act Breakdown
Two Lonely Hearts Meet
Jaya is a widow stuck in a boring life. She joins a dating site. She meets Yogi, a carefree poet. They meet for coffee. Yogi tells her about his three ex-girlfriends. Jaya challenges him to meet them. They start a road trip together.
The Trip Begins
Jaya and Yogi travel to Dehradun and Jaipur. Yogi misses flights and trains. Jaya gets frustrated. She takes sleeping pills and gets drunk. They meet Radha and Anjali. Jaya starts to feel jealous. Her feelings for Yogi begin to show.
Secrets and Jealousy
They go to Gangtok. Jaya reveals she wants to meet her own ex-boyfriend. Yogi feels hurt. He decides to leave. Jaya meets her ex but feels nothing. Yogi watches his ex Gauri from a window. He leaves a note and prepares to go.
The Ropeway Confession
Yogi finds Jaya's laptop. She has created a webpage for his poems. He realizes she loves him. He runs to find her. They meet on a ropeway. He jumps into her car. They smile. He asks for her water. She shares it. They are together.
Characters
Jaya Shashidharan
Played by Parvathy Thiruvothu
Jaya is a 35-year-old widow. She lost her husband Manav years ago. She works in an insurance company. Her life is dull and lonely. She is cautious and organized. She joins a dating site to escape her loneliness. She challenges Yogi to meet his exes. On the trip, she slowly opens up. She falls in love with Yogi. In the end, she shares her water bottle with him. She chooses love again.
Yogendra 'Yogi' Kumar Devendra Nath Prajapati
Played by Irrfan Khan
Yogi is a poet. He is happy-go-lucky and carefree. He talks too much and misses flights. He has three ex-girlfriends who still love him. He takes Jaya on a road trip to meet them. He is messy but kind. He helps Jaya laugh again. He falls in love with her. In the end, he jumps into her cable car. He asks for her water. She shares it.
Anjali
Played by Neha Dhupia
Anjali is Yogi's second girlfriend. She is married. She leaves her anniversary party to meet Yogi. She hugs him and gives him a peck. This makes Jaya jealous. Anjali shows that Yogi's exes still care for him.
Radha
Played by Pushtiie Shakti
Radha is Yogi's first girlfriend. She is happily married with kids. She calls Yogi 'mama' (maternal uncle). Jaya is surprised by their friendly relationship. Radha shows that Yogi's past is not dramatic.
Gauri
Played by Isha Sharvani
Gauri is Yogi's third girlfriend. She is a dance teacher in Gangtok. Yogi watches her from the window. He leaves a note saluting her victories. He does not meet her face to face. This shows he has moved on.
Scene Highlights
The Sleeping Pill Scene
Jaya is tired of Yogi's endless questions. She buys sleeping pills. She swallows three or four pills to shut him up. The pills make her drunk and silly. She starts ranting at Yogi. She calls him a cheat. This is the first time her jealousy shows. Yogi has to take care of her. It is a funny and tender moment.
The Ropeway Jump
Yogi realizes Jaya loves him. He runs to find her. He gets into a ropeway car. He sees Jaya in the opposite car. Without hesitation, he jumps into her car. It is a risky move. But he lands safely. They look at each other and smile. It is the most romantic moment in the film.
The Water Bottle Sharing
Earlier in the film, Jaya refuses to share her water bottle with Yogi. She says she does not share. In the final scene, Yogi asks for water. She hands him the bottle. She takes a sip too. This small gesture shows everything has changed. They are now a couple.
Jaya Meets Her Ex
In Gangtok, Jaya meets her ex-boyfriend from college. He is now a rich industrialist. They spend time at his home. But Jaya feels nothing. She realizes she has moved on. Her heart belongs to Yogi. This scene shows her growth.
Cast & Context
Qarib Qarib Singlle marks Parvathy Thiruvothu's Hindi film debut. She was already a respected actress in Malayalam cinema, known for films like 'Take Off'. Irrfan Khan, a legendary actor, was at the peak of his career after films like 'Piku' and 'Hindi Medium'. Their pairing was unusual but exciting. Audiences loved seeing Irrfan in a romantic role again. Parvathy's natural acting matched Irrfan's effortless charm. The chemistry between them made the film special.
Themes
Opposites Attract
Jaya is quiet and organized. Yogi is loud and messy. They are complete opposites. But their differences make them interesting. Jaya learns to be carefree. Yogi learns to be responsible. Their love grows because they balance each other.
Moving On from Loss
Jaya is a widow. She has not moved on from her husband's death. She is stuck in grief. The trip helps her heal. She learns it is okay to love again. The film shows that moving on is not betrayal. It is survival.
The Beauty of Imperfection
Yogi is not perfect. He misses flights and forgets plans. Jaya is not perfect either. She is stubborn and guarded. But they accept each other's flaws. The film says love is not about finding a perfect person. It is about finding someone who fits your imperfections.
Second Chances at Love
Both Jaya and Yogi have past relationships. Jaya lost her husband. Yogi has three exes. But they give love another chance. The film shows that age does not matter. Love can find you anytime.
Music & Soundtrack
ComposerAnu Malik, Rochak Kohli, Vishal Mishra
The song 'Jaane De' sung by Atif Aslam became a hit. It plays during emotional moments. 'Tu Chale Toh' sung by Papon captures the journey's mood. 'Khatam Kahani' sung by Nooran Sisters is a playful track. The music adds warmth to the film.
Similar Films
Both films feature Irrfan Khan in a light-hearted role. Both are road trip stories about family and love.
Both are Hindi road trip comedies. Both explore friendship and self-discovery on a journey.
Both films are slow-burn romances. Both focus on lonely people finding connection in unexpected ways.
Both films are about opposites attracting. Both have a carefree male lead and a serious female lead.
Ending Explained
In the final scene, Yogi is in Gangtok. He has packed his bags to leave. He thinks Jaya does not care. But he finds her laptop. She has created a webpage for his poems. She has collected all his work. This shows she truly cares. Yogi runs out to find her. He gets into a ropeway car. He sees Jaya in the opposite car. He jumps into her car without hesitation. He lands safely. They look at each other and smile. No big speech. No dramatic confession. Yogi simply asks, 'Will you share your water bottle with me?' Earlier in the film, Jaya refused to share her bottle. Now she hands it to him willingly. She takes a sip too. This small gesture means everything. It shows they are together now. The film ends with them smiling at each other. The message is clear: love is in the little things. It is in sharing a bottle, in accepting flaws, in jumping into a cable car. Jaya has moved on. Yogi has found his match. They are no longer 'almost single'.
Qarib Qarib Singlle is a gem. It is a simple, honest love story. Irrfan Khan and Parvathy Thiruvothu have amazing chemistry. The film is funny, emotional, and real. It does not have big drama or loud songs. It relies on small moments. Some viewers may find the pace slow. But if you love character-driven stories, this is for you. It is a perfect weekend watch. It will leave you smiling. Highly recommended for fans of Irrfan Khan and sweet romances.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not based on a true story. The film is based on a radio play written by Kamna Chandra. She is the mother of director Tanuja Chandra. The story is fictional. But it feels real because of the honest characters.
It means 'Almost Single' in Hindi. The title refers to the two main characters. Jaya is a widow. Yogi is a bachelor. They are both single. But they are 'almost' single because they find each other.
The film was shot across many locations in India. These include Dehradun, Delhi, Alwar, Bikaner, Rishikesh, Roorkee, and Gangtok. The beautiful scenery adds to the road trip feel.
The music was composed by three people: Anu Malik, Rochak Kohli, and Vishal Mishra. The songs include 'Jaane De' sung by Atif Aslam and 'Tu Chale Toh' sung by Papon. The music adds emotion to the journey.
Yes, it is a heartwarming film. It has strong performances by Irrfan Khan and Parvathy Thiruvothu. The story is simple but emotional. It is perfect for anyone who loves slow-burn romances. The film has a rating of 7.2 on IMDb and 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.