Blending emotional drama with a socially urgent message, Hi Zindagi ignites a powerful conversation around the need to make India’s rape laws gender-neutral.
Directed by Ajay Ram and produced by lawyer-turned-filmmaker Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, the film boldly confronts a legal system that fails to recognize male victims of sexual violence—exposing the silence, stigma, and systemic gaps that surround their trauma.
Can men also be victims of sexual violence?
This is the haunting question Hi Zindagi raises through its unsettling narrative, inspired by real-life incidents. The film follows four affluent, carefree women—Megha, Palak, Jyoti, and Nandini—who live indulgently, pursuing pleasure without consequence. Their attention turns to Varun (Gaurav Sharma), a diligent and soft-spoken young man working in Palak’s father’s office. They lure him into driving them to a farmhouse for a weekend getaway.
What unfolds is deeply disturbing: Varun is drugged, assaulted, and presumed dead—his body dumped near a riverbank. Upon regaining consciousness, he seeks justice, only to be ridiculed by police and dismissed by legal counsel. The reason? Indian law does not criminalize the rape of a man by a woman.
Gaurav Sharma as Varun delivers a restrained yet compelling performance as Varun, capturing the vulnerability and quiet strength of a man betrayed by the system.
Ayushi Tiwari, Garima Singh, Somi Shree and Deepanshi Tyagi portray their morally complex characters with layered nuance, avoiding caricature. Rishabh Sharma and Sanjay Goyal provide grounded support, adding realism to the narrative.
Ajay Ram avoids courtroom melodrama, instead focusing on the emotional and moral fallout of a justice system built on gendered assumptions. The cinematography effectively contrasts the vibrancy of urban life with Varun’s emotional isolation, while the soundtrack adds depth to the film’s tension and melancholy.
The film falters in its pacing, especially in the second half where Varun’s retribution arc feels stretched. Production values dip in places, slightly weakening the impact of key moments. Yet, these flaws don’t overshadow the film’s intent.
It gives voice to male victims who often suffer in silence and urges reform in a legal system long overdue for introspection. Ajay Ram deserves credit for daring to tell a story that many shy away from.
Cast of Hi Zindagi:
Gaurav Singh- Varun
Ayushi Tiwari- Megha
GarimaSingh – Palak
Somi Shree- Jyoti
Deepanshi Tyagi- Nandini
Rishabh Sharma- Sanjay
Sanjay Goyal- Guptaji
Navin Kapila- Adv. Naveen
Sunil Akhria– Police Inspector
Credits of Hi Zindagi:
Banner: C. R. Films Productions, Sunil Aggarwal Films
Produced by: Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, Ajay Ram
Writer: Ajay Ram, Sangrila V. Kahar
Associate Producer: Neha Giri
Director: Ajay Ram
Cinematographer: Sunil Aher
Creative Director: Mukesh Pandit, Neha Giri
Editor: Ajay Singh
Music Director: Prateek Lal Ji, Aditya Raj Sharma, Danish Ali, Umar Shaikh.
Back Ground Music: Manoj Bhaskar
Lyrics: Jamil Ahmed, Aditya Raj Sharma, Raj Kumari Sharma,
Costumes: Anamika
Line Producer: Ibrahim Khan
Executive Producer: Vijay Yadav
Play Back Singer: Harman Nazim, Prateek Lal Ji, Raj Nandini Sharma, Adity Raj Sharma.
Publicity PR: Santosh Raj- Right Choice Media
