FOUR YEARS LATER: HINDUSTAN TIMES REVIEW

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Four Years Later review: Shahana Goswami and Akshay Ajit Singh elevate this cross-continent relationship drama

“Finally, a modern relationship drama where adults behave like adults, which also means they are deeply flawed. It all works”

‘Mainstream movies and shows are so obsessed with the cutesy idea of first romance and love at first sight that rarely do we get a look at what happens after two people decide to spend their lives together. In the Indian set-up, the chaos is infinite and inexcusable. Four Years Later, the new Indo-Australian show streaming on Lionsgate Play, takes a mature and patient look at this very idea- where two people give their love a chance, and try to make their marriage work. Spread over eight episodes, Four Years Later is beautiful, resonant and occasionally exhausting- but that's exactly the point.

It starts off wonderfully. In Jaipur, Sridevi (Shahana Goswami) has given in to her mother's pestering for marriage for once, and meets Yash Agarwal (Akshay Ajit Singh) with both families in one room. After an awkward introduction, the two of them realise they are completely opposite from each other. She is free-spirited; he is more shy and reserved. But there is an undeniable mutual attraction, and the two get married in a few months.

But as Indian families go, it is never just about two people. There are family expectations, an overload of patriarchal standards seeping into trivial matters and on top of that, Yash gets the opportunity to move to Australia for his medical traineeship. He leaves Sridevi at home, who now has to deal with the achingly real-life problems of living with a conservative family. Four Years Later takes another narrative leap forward, as we see Sridevi taking matters into her own hand and heading to Australia on her own. Why did she do so, and how will that affect their relationship? What begins as a relationship drama then soaks in themes of migrant experience, cultural alienation.’

“Mithila Gupta and Shakthidharan co-wrote Four Years Later, which is nuanced and patient with these two deeply flawed individuals. Sridevi can be volatile, impulsive, and angry, and her grief pours over in the microaggressions. Choices are that Yash will never know these emotions, because he is so far away. But he is also hurting in ways he cannot express. These adults make mistakes, and thank god there's no moral compass etched in the writing that punishes these characters too much. One particular scene involving a confrontation where Sridevi finds out that Yash might have lied a little too far for them to stay together is excellently staged and shot. Special mention to the beautifully shot intimate scenes by cinematographer Emma Paine, which leave two adults sharing a level of physical proximity as it is: there is no voyeurism here.

The show expands when Shahana Goswami occupies the frame. The actor gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as a woman trying to make sense of her life and circumstances, navigating the emotional shifts with striking depth. She shares terrific chemistry with Akshay Ajit Singh; an actor whose presence grows as the show moves ahead. The fragility he imbues into this shy and resolute man, going through a turbulent time in his career and personal life, makes the character all the more memorable.

As mature and sensitive as this relationship drama is, my only gripe is that it moves ahead a little too hastily for its own good. The actors bring a lot of emotional depth to the scenes that feel rushed towards a certain resolution, but do all adult relationships wind up in the next chapter so quickly? The flashes of casual racism that come with the immigrant experience are somehow conveniently avoided, almost sidelined. These are but minor inconveniences that pile up in an otherwise heartfelt and quietly powerful drama that ultimately demands your attention. At the end of the day, you trust Sridevi and Yash to take care, of each other as well as themselves, a little more fiercely.”

 Read further: Hindustan Times, Santanu Das, 11-Jul

Further experpts and coverage below

Four Years Later Review: A piercing tale of marriage, migration, and the mess we carry | OTT Play, Shubham Kulkarni | Jul 10, 2025

Four Years Later review: An emotionally resonant show about love tested by distance | Scroll.in | Udita Jhunjhunwala |

Jul 11, 2025

Four Years Later Review: A layered drama that’s sincere | Times of India | Dhaval Roy | Jul 9, 2025