Life Hill Gayi is a brand-new comedy drama on Disney+ that is all about exploring the family dynamics of people who do not want to help each other out. We are talking about a wealthy family that has not been kind to each other. Dysfunctional family dynamics are at the core of the show, and the characters slowly grow to understand why their support of the family is a must.
Spoilers Ahead
Dev
Divyendu Sharma, one of the most versatile actors of Hindi cinema right now, stars in the show as the rich brat Dev, who has been asked by his grandfather to head to his old hotel. Dev comes across as a man who is arrogant about his wealth even though he’s not the one who earned it. Everything was inherited from his grandfather and father. Dev lacks decency when it comes to talking to his family members and strangers. He is a young man who was raised on a lot of money, which have clearly failed. He chose to keep all the bad news to himself and remains rude to his sister and father, especially. His snooty behavior begins to fade away after he meets a local businesswoman, Hima, who does not pay any heed to him or the money he has. Even though his family are almost paupers now, there is a lot of self-importance because of the rich legacy of his ancestors.
Dev, along with his sister, is given the task of refurbishing their grandfather Prithivi’s old run-down hotel into a profit-making business. Since this was a tough task, the result will see Prithvi writing off the property to whichever of his grandchildren does the better job. This was a demanding task, and it involved getting along with the locals, including Hima, who knows the pulse of the people living in the town. Dev may or may not go through a transformation from being an unbearable prick to a nice person.
Kalki
Instagram influencer turned actress Kusha Kapila is the sister of Dev, another brat who has been raised on a lot of wealth and currently is struggling as an animal psychologist. Dev and Kalki never get along because of their privileged upbringing, which only makes their relationship with each other difficult. Just like Dev, Kalki is given the task of helping her brother renovate her grandfather’s hotel, with prize money to be given at the end of the six months. Once the work on the hotel is done and it’s open to guests, she is given the charge of administration and hospitality. This includes having to deal with the locals and hiring them and offering a good salary, along with dealing with all kinds of guests who would arrive at their hotel.
Kalki is a high maintenance person who has zero people skills, and running the hotel would help her develop them, maybe leaving her a better rounded person. Just like Dev, who had no idea how to run a business and was known to have lavishly spent their grandfather’s wealth all their lives, this hotel would give her some lessons on how to be a human being and not take anyone for granted.
Himalay
The versatile Vinay Pathak is the father of Dev and Kali, Himalay, who has spent all of his life being a brat himself with no interest in taking over his father Prithvi’s business. The man feels unwanted, as his father ends up choosing Dev and Kalki over him to get the hotel running and profitable again. He feels left out and begins his own cathartic journey, having come back to his hometown after many years. Even though he enjoys the attention the locals give him because of his familial legacy, his children know their father is good for nothing, and just like Prithvi, they never ask him for any help. The man wants to feel needed, and he spends most of his time with his childhood friend Kripal, as he is the one person who gets his state of mind. He will have to prove himself to be of use as the story moves forward so that he can earn the respect of his family.
Hima
Dancer turned actress Mukti Mohan, as Hima, is a young businesswoman from the Panchmouli village where Dev and Kalki’s grandfather’s hotel is situated. She is an established businesswoman who sells organic, hill-based fruits, but at heart she is a simple woman who wants to have a simple love life. Hima confesses to being in love with her senior from school, but it is one-sided. She begins to spend time with Dev and helps him with many chores required to run the hotel.
Hima and Dev begin to like each other, but their core values and plans are very different. Yet they find themselves attracted to each other and spending a lot of time helping each other out. Hima plans were intact, and it will be a difficult decision for her if Dev plans to leave his hometown and move back to America.
Prithvi
After a long gap, we got to see veteran actor Kabir Bedi as Prithvi, the rich patriarch who uses his power and money to get his grandchildren to restore the legacy of the hotel. As per the history of the institution, the hotel was purchased by him from a British couple who were leaving the nation post-independence. Ever since, the hotel has been his pride and joy, and helped him make a lot of money.
Prithvi is also a selfish person who uses emotional blackmail to get the hotel running instead of being logical with Dev and Kalki. Instead of selling the property, he is asking his inexperienced grandchildren to take over and turn it into a profit earning venture. Prithvi is a typical man from a patriarchal system who throws the people in the deep end and expects them to float on their own.
Kripal
Atul Srivastava is Kripal, Himalay’s best friend from childhood, and the hotel’s manager who had been by Prithvi’s side when the property was in its glory. Kripal is back on the scene this time only to help Dev and Kalki get the hotel running once again after many years. He favors Kalki more and encourages her to be the boss instead of giving up.
Kripal is also a good helping hand to Himalay, who is struggling with an emotional crisis. Himalay feels useless, and it is Kripal that helps him come out of his state of existential anxiety and is honest with him about the life his friend had led from childhood. Kripal is a boon to the hotel, as Kalki realizes he is a good influence on her, which helps her run the administration smoothly eventually.
