3 reasons to watch Rajkumar Hirani's 'Pritam and Pedro' if you haven't yet, though an oversimplified cybercrime plot

Warsi is the standout. The same comic timing that made Circuit and the Golmaal gang so memorable is on full display here, and his irritated, tech-averse cop gives him plenty to work with.

NewsBharati    10-Jul-2026 12:12:34 PM   
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Rajkumar Hirani doesn't need an introduction. The man behind Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., 3 Idiots, and PK has spent two decades perfecting the art of the feel-good film. With Pritam and Pedro streaming on JioHotstar since July 3, he steps into the OTT space for the first time, not as director, but as creator, co-writer, and producer, handing the camera to Avinash Arun (of Killa and Paatal Lok fame) instead. It's an unusual pairing, and it shows, but that doesn't mean the show isn't worth queuing up this weekend, if you've not watched it yet.
 
Pritam and pedro 

The premise is classic odd-couple territory, dressed in a Goan police uniform. Pedro (Arshad Warsi) is a Crime Branch cop punished for someone else's mistake and exiled to the Cyber Crime Cell, a man who treats a password prompt like a personal insult. Pritam (Vir Hirani, in his acting debut) is a young "cyber genius" who, amusingly, makes his actual living selling vacuum cleaners. Circumstance throws them together, and what follows is a six-episode run of hacking, blackmail, kidnapping, and small-town skullduggery, all filtered through a generational culture clash that's clearly meant to be the show's comic engine.

Here are three crucial reasons why you shouldn't miss this crime comedy

1. To watch Arshad Warsi doing what he does best: If there's one reason that keeps coming up across reviews, it's Warsi. His comic timing, the same instinct that made Circuit and the Golmaal gang so beloved, is intact here, and Pedro's irritated, tech-averse cop gives him plenty to chew on. Watching a veteran actor thoroughly unimpressed by the modern world is a well-worn formula, but Warsi sells it. For longtime fans of his work, that alone is a reasonable draw.
 
 
 

2. Vir Hirani's debut holds genuine curiosity value: Whatever your expectations of nepotism-driven casting, Vir Hirani's first outing in front of the camera is the kind of thing Bollywood-watchers will want to see for themselves. While in some of the scenes his screen presence seems stiff, he doesn't fail to leave a lasting impression. Either way, this is a debut with a famous surname and a real character arc behind it, and that tension between promise and pressure is part of the show's appeal.
 

3. A feel-good, low-stakes binge: Not every crime show needs to be Jamtara-level granular about how the crime actually works, and Pritam and Pedro doesn't pretend to be. The show keeps things simple, warm, and easy to follow rather than heavy or technical, which, depending on what you're in the mood for, is either its biggest flaw or its biggest comfort. If you want prestige-TV rigor, look elsewhere. If you want a light, six-episode watch with a Goan backdrop, some gentle humour, and an "everything works out fine" Hirani-verse feeling, this delivers exactly that.
 
 

The reception honestly has been genuinely mixed. Because the show oversimplifies its cybercrime plot, treating technology more like a vague villain than something the story actually explores. Moreover, the humour felt broad and predictable and seemed to miss the sharper, more distinctive visual style director Avinash Arun is known for. On the flip side, Warsi–Hirani chemistry is to be praised and is a warm, easy watch.
 

Pritam and Pedro isn't going to redefine what an OTT crime show can be, and it won't win over anyone hoping for a tight, detail-driven procedural. But as a light, six-episode buddy comedy with a fun lead performance, a lovely Goa setting, and the novelty of watching Hirani's son find his feet on screen, it's a reasonable pick, especially if you like Hirani's usual feel-good style and just want more of it.

Watch it for Warsi, enjoy the Goa visuals, and don't expect too much from the cybercrime side of things. You'll probably have a good time.
Pritam and Pedro OTT review Jio Hotstar
Siddhi Somani

Siddhi Somani

Siddhi Somani is known for her satirical and factual hand in Economic, Social and Political writing. Having completed her post graduation in Journalism, she is currently engaged in completing her Masters in Politics. The author meanwhile is also exploring her hand in analytics and statistics.