Mannat Seth

Paanch padosi, dus dost aur anginat hungame (Five neighbours, ten friends and endless fun). Netflix has unveiled the trailer of Chumbak, a multi-generational, feel-good family comedy about one lively neighbourhood and the everyday chaos that comes when everyone knows everyone. From Hats Off Production — the creators of beloved cult comedies Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Khichdi — Chumbak is written and directed by Aatish Kapadia and produced by Jamnadas (JD) Majethia and Aatish Kapadia.

Set in a contemporary urban Indian neighbourhood, the series follows five families whose lives are so intertwined that neighbours become less like people next door and more like permanent parivaar (family) — and a small problem in one home can quickly become a full-blown colony matter. Here, nobody really lives alone: there is always someone ready with an opinion, unsolicited advice, a helping hand or simply a reason to drop by.

The trailer offers a glimpse into this wonderfully chaotic world, introducing a colourful bunch of eccentric yet instantly familiar characters and the relationships that hold the colony together. At the heart of it are families who couldn’t be more different, yet somehow feel incredibly familiar. There’s Mickey and Twinkle Oberoi (Arjun Bijlani and Helly Shah), the hopelessly romantic lovebirds living in their own little La La Land; Aditya and Priyanka Khanna (Sumeet Vyaas and Manasi Parekh), a seemingly zen couple whose peaceful equation is anything but quiet; Mumma Gulshan, Freddy and Hutoxi Taraporewala (Delnaaz Irani, Anant V. Joshi and Amyra Dastur), the Parsi Bermuda Triangle where family dynamics are as unpredictable as they are entertaining; Rajni and Kuku Merchant (Neena Gupta and Deven Bhojani), perpetually at loggerheads even as they remain head-over-heels in love; and Dharmendra and Kiran Kejriwal (Sumeet Raghvan and Sandeepa Dhar), whose relationship takes “pati, patni aur patipatni” to an entirely new level. From family squabbles and marital quirks to parenting dilemmas, celebrations and inevitable neighbourhood gossip, Chumbak finds its humour in the everyday situations we have all seen, lived through or, very likely, been dragged into.

Netflix India Series Head, Tanya Bami shares, “Comedy has always been a great way for families to come together, and we’ve seen how much audiences enjoy watching these shows together on Netflix. From The Great Indian Kapil Show to Maamla Legal Hai and Single Papa, each has brought a very different flavour of comedy to our slate. With Chumbak, we are excited to take this further. There is something instantly familiar about a great neighbourhood comedy — you know these characters, you recognise these situations, and the humour comes from how real it all feels. Chumbak captures that beautifully. It is set in a world where family extends far beyond the four walls of a home, and where the everyday chaos of neighbours, relatives and relationships becomes the comedy. What makes the show especially exciting for us is the opportunity to work with JD Majethia and Aatish Kapadia. They have a truly distinctive comic voice, an extraordinary instinct for finding humour in everyday life, and a much-loved body of work that has built a loyal audience over the years. Their unique flavour gives us an opportunity to broaden the world of comedy on Netflix and connect with audiences in a fresh way.”

At the heart of Chumbak is a world many of us remember, and perhaps even miss. A time when neighbours knew each other’s routines, families grew up together and the people living next door were often part of life’s biggest moments. Bringing that spirit into a contemporary setting, the series celebrates the little interactions, quirky characters and everyday moments that make a neighbourhood feel like home.

Jamnadas (JD) Majethia and Aatish Kapadia in a joint statement said, “With Chumbak, we wanted to capture something familiar to all of us – the neighbourhood where nothing is ever truly ‘personal.’ There’s always someone next door with advice, chai, gossip, or all three. Neighbourhoods are like the families you don’t choose, and somewhere in the chaos, these people become family too. We’ve always loved telling stories and finding humour in everyday relationships, and with Chumbak, we wanted characters who feel familiar yet surprise you. Bringing this world to Netflix lets us take this family comedy to audiences across India and the world. The cast has brought so much warmth and madness to these characters – they have breathed life into these really quirky characters that’ll for sure stick with the audiences. We hope families everywhere connect with them, revel in the nostalgia of old neighbourhoods and most importantly, laugh out loud!”

The series brings together a powerhouse ensemble featuring Neena Gupta, Deven Bhojani, Sumeet Raghvan, Sandeepa Dhar, Arjun Bijlani, Helly Shah, Sumeet Vyas, Manasi Parekh, Delnaaz Irani, Anant V. Joshi, Amyra Dastur and Atul Kumar , each bringing a distinct personality to the bustling Chumbak Colony. With its ensemble of characters and easy-going humour, Chumbak is made for families to watch together on Netflix. A comedy where everyone can spot someone they know, laugh at a situation that feels suspiciously familiar and perhaps recognise a little bit of their own neighbourhood in the chaos.

Because when padosis becomes parivaar, every day comes with its own hungama. Chumbak premieres September 10, only on Netflix!