Dukaan, helmed by director duo Siddharth Singh and Garima Wahal, delves into the ethical dilemmas surrounding commercial surrogacy and the emotional turmoil faced by surrogate mothers. Despite this layered context, the film drifts away from the central storyline and struggles to put forth a compelling perspective.

At the centre of Dukaan is Jasmine Patel (Monika Panwar), a 25-year-old carefree girl from Gujarat, toughened by the physical abuse she endured at the hands of her father. She falls in love with Sumer (Sikandar Kher), who dies in the 2001 Bhuj earthquake. Left to fend for herself, Jasmine opts to rent her womb for money.

Jasmine's decision has far-reaching consequences for everyone involved in the surrogacy after she begins to feel the stirrings of a mother’s love. She runs away with her new-born, refusing to hand it over to the biological parents Diya (Monali Thakur) and Armaan (Soham Majumdar), leading to a custody battle.

Watching Dukaan will certainly remind you of Mimi (2020) and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001), which also dealt with the ethical conflict around surrogacy. Having worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali as screenwriters on films like Ram-Leela (2013) and Bajirao Mastani (2015), the director duo try to infuse the narrative of Dukaan with a grandeur and stylistic flair reminiscent of Bhansali.

While Anirban Chatterjee's cinematography adds vibrancy to the visuals, subtlety takes a backseat in the storytelling. Instances like a doctor's exclamation of 'push kar' during childbirth transitioning to the town of Pushkar, or the mention of educating girls leading to a scene in Saraswati Vidya Mandir lack finesse. The film hurriedly strings together scenes with musical interludes, leaving viewers struggling to keep up.

That being said, it's the performances that keep you hooked. Monika Panwar, who’s already proved her mettle in the web series Jamtara, is the beating heart of Dukaan. With a blend of vulnerability and strength, Panwar breathes life into Jasmine, helping viewers to connect with her struggles and triumphs. Sikander Kher, Monali Thakur and Soham Majumdar deliver strong supporting performances.