February 6, 2025: Actor Jim Sarbh will soon star in a film titled Next, Please, which is set to take audiences on a unique journey exploring modern relationships through the lens of virtual reality. The film features Jim Sarbh as an eccentric bar owner and Shreya Dhanwanthary as Arpita, the central character. The story delves into how technology shapes romance, blurring the boundaries between what’s real and what’s an illusion.
In Next, Please, Arpita is a cynical woman who decides to take a chance on love through a virtual reality-powered dating experience. She chooses a speakeasy bar set in prohibition-era Mumbai and enters into a conversation with Vinay, a man who shares her skepticism about romance. However, things take an unexpected turn when Arpita breaks the cardinal rule of the VR experience—removing her headset—and is forced to confront an unsettling reality that challenges her belief in the connection she thought she had found.
Sarbh, speaking about his role, shared, “The idea of love through VR is not just fascinating, it’s a bit unsettling too. It speaks to how technology has started to shape our most intimate connections, often blurring the line between what’s real and what’s not.” He further added, “What drew me in was the concept of a VR dating bar—it’s like old-school romance in a new, unpredictable form. It’s raw, messy, and real in ways we don’t often expect from technology.”
The director of the film, Rishav Kapoor, explained the themes of Next, Please, saying, “Modern love has been corrupted by modern conveniences. With social media and virtual reality in the mix, it’s harder than ever to be real. This story explores the blurred lines between reality and virtual reality, as two people who pride themselves on being ‘real’ struggle to find love.”
Writer and producer Chaitanya Tamhane added, “In an era where virtual experiences blur the lines of human connection, Next, Please explores the evolution of modern romance. This story challenges us to rethink love, intimacy, and what it truly means to be present in reality.”
Shreya Dhanwanthary, who plays Arpita, also shared her thoughts on the film, reflecting on how the digital world is influencing real-life relationships. “Dating anyway right now is kinda hard. And the way it is going and the way technology is speeding up, it is surreal to see how we as a race are finding ourselves quite ill-equipped to match with the strides that technology is making,” she said.
Next, Please will surely offer a fresh, thought-provoking take on love and relationships in the age of virtual reality. The film is set to explore whether technology is truly bringing people closer or if it’s creating new, digital illusions that make us further away from genuine human connection.