{{Short description|Comedy-drama web series}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}} {{For|the Invincible episode|It's Not That Simple (Invincible)}} {{Infobox television | image = It's Not That Simple.jpg | image_size = 200 | caption = | genre = [[Comedy]]<br />[[Drama]] | creator = | based_on = | inspired_by = | writer = Danish Aslam<br>Charudutt Acharya | screenplay = | director = Danish Aslam | starring = {{plainlist| *[[Akshay Oberoi]] *[[Vivan Bhatena]] *[[Karan Veer Mehra]] *[[Swara Bhasker|Swara Bhaskar]] *[[Sumeet Vyas]] *[[Purab Kohli]] *[[Manasi Rachh]] *[[Neha Chauhan]] *[[Rohan Shah]] *Devika Vatsa }} | music = | composer = | country = India | language = Hindi | num_seasons = 2 | producer = Vaibhav Modi<br>Tabassum Modi | location = | cinematography = | editor = | runtime = | company = Victor Tango Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. | budget = | first_aired = {{Start date|2016|10|21|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|2018|12|14|df=y}} }} '''''It's Not That Simple''''' is a 2016 Indian [[Comedy drama|comedy-drama]] web series starring [[Akshay Oberoi]], [[Vivan Bhatena]], [[Karan Veer Mehra]], [[Swara Bhasker|Swara Bhaskar]], [[Sumeet Vyas]], [[Purab Kohli]], [[Manasi Rachh]], [[Neha Chauhan]], [[Rohan Shah]] and Devika Vatsa in the lead roles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-06 |title=Swara Bhasker Is Excited About It's Not That Simple Season 2! |url=https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-news/swara-bhasker-is-excited-about-its-not-that-simple-season-2/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=Koimoi |language=en-US}}</ref> It was written by Charudutt Acharya and directed by Danish Aslam. It originally premiered on [[Voot]] on 21 October 2016.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Unhappy marriage or perfect affair? It's not that simple - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/unhappy-marriage-or-perfect-affair-its-not-that-simple/articleshow/54696027.cms |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=The Times of India |date=6 October 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Swara marked her web series debut with this and received praise for her performance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swara Bhaskar's web series 'It's Not That Simple' to have a second season |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-swara-bhaskar-s-web-series-it-s-not-that-simple-to-have-a-second-season-2406714 |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref>
== Cast ==
=== Main ===
* [[Akshay Oberoi]] as Sameer * [[Vivan Bhatena]] as Rajiv * [[Karan Veer Mehra]] as Jayesh * [[Swara Bhasker|Swara Bhaskar]] as Meera * [[Sumeet Vyas]] as Dev * [[Purab Kohli]] as Angad * [[Manasi Rachh]] as Natasha * [[Neha Chauhan]] as Anika * [[Rohan Shah]] as Jassi * Devika Vatsa as Tani * Errol Peter Marks as Ronjoy * Ishan Mishra as Mohit * Jia Vaidya as Jhilmil * [[Shobha Khote]] as Ajji * [[Rumana Molla]] as Reha
== Episodes ==
=== Season 1 === {{Series overview|color1=#005F6C|link1=#Season_1|episodes1=7|released1={{Start date|df=yes|2016|10|21}}|color2=#8C224A|episodes2=7|released2={{Start date|df=yes|2018|12|14}}}}{{Episode table|background=#005F6C|overall=|season=|title=|director=|airdate=|episodes={{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 1 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Machhli Ki Aankh | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2016|10|21|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 2 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = War Cry #Trolls | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2016|10|21|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 3 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = Risky Chemistry | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2016|10|21|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 4 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Clash Of The Ego | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2016|10|21|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 5 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = Boardroom Vs Bedroom | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2016|10|21|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 6 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = Hell Hath No Furry | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2016|10|21|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 7 | EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | Title = Rise Of The Phoenix | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2016|10|21|df=y}} }}}}
=== Season 2 === {{Episode table|background=#8C224A|overall=|season=|title=|director=|airdate=|episodes={{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 1 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Season Premiere | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2018|12|14|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 2 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = TwitterWar: Mira vs Angad | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2018|12|14|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 3 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = 4 kisses, 1 party and a 30-sec pitch | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2018|12|14|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 4 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Man vs Woman: The ego tussle | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2018|12|14|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 5 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = The wounded tigress | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2018|12|14|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 6 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = Kaun sahi kaun galat | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2018|12|14|df=y}} }} {{Episode list/sublist | EpisodeNumber = 7 | EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | Title = Sher ki sawari | DirectedBy = Danish Aslam | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2018|12|14|df=y}} }}}}
== Release == The series was announced to consist of 7 episodes as part of the first season on 6 October 2016 and started airing on [[Voot]] on 21 October 2016. It was written by Charudutt Acharya.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VOOT launches all-new web series, 'IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE' |url=https://www.adgully.com/voot-launches-all-new-web-series-it-s-not-that-simple-69152.html |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=www.adgully.com |date=6 October 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref> The second season was announced by Voot on 30 August 2018 along with 16 other new original series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Voot Announces 17 New Originals, International Expansion |url=https://gadgets360.com/entertainment/news/voot-17-new-originals-javed-akhtar-international-expansion-uk-viacom18-1908865 |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=Gadgets 360 |date=30 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
== Reception ==
=== Season 2 reviews === The series received mixed responses from critics. It was praised for its performances by [[Swara Bhasker|Swara Bhaskar]] and [[Sumeet Vyas]] while it was criticised by some for its story.
Sreehari Nair of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' gave 2 stars, criticizing its plot while praising the performance of the cast "What holds the show together is the cast; performers who frequently rise above their stodgy lines to bring something personal to the table." She added "''It's Not That Simple'' is, at its core, a speeded-up, foul-mouthed version of shows like ''Shanti'' and ''[[Swabhimaan]]'' -- those [[Doordarshan]] soaps where business magnates had secrets that only their slavish butlers knew about."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nair |first=Sreehari |title=It's Not That Simple: Foul-mouthed Soap Opera |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/its-not-that-simple-foul-mouthed-soap-opera/20181218.htm |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Rediff |language=en}}</ref>
Soumya Rao of ''[[Scroll.in]]'' mentioned "Strong performances come to the rescue when the dialogue and plot fall flat. The surface-scratching observations about gender bias and stereotypes are complemented by a couple of genuinely strong moments."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Soumya |title=More men and more problems in season two of web series 'It's Not That Simple' |url=https://scroll.in/reel/906731/more-men-and-more-problems-in-season-two-of-web-series-its-not-that-simple |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Scroll.in |date=24 December 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>
A reviewer for ''Firstpost'' said "Performance wise, ''It's Not That Simple'' season 2 earns brownie points. Vivan oscillates perfectly between the obsessive friend and repulsed, homophobic lover. Sumeet is unsurprisingly on point. His predatory nature is well-fleshed out, all the while keeping it understated. Swara Bhasker does justice to a role tailor-made for her"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-11 |title=It's Not That Simple season 2 review: Swara Bhasker does justice to a role tailor-made for her |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/its-not-that-simple-season-2-review-swara-bhasker-does-justice-to-a-role-tailor-made-for-her-5878271.html |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref>
''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave 3 stars, saying "the focus here is on Swara who looks svelte and gives her character a heft and heave that never seem manufactured. Some of the dialogues do sound like bumper sticker wisdom and WhatsApp forwards."<ref>{{Cite web |title='It's Not That Simple' season 2 review: This Swara Bhasker-starrer not that complicated |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2018/dec/20/its-not-that-simple-web-series-season-2-this-swara-bhasker-starrer-not-that-complicated-1914248.html |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=The New Indian Express|date=20 December 2018 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=6132872}}
[[Category:Indian comedy web series]] [[Category:Comedy-drama web series]]