Have a long essay about the roles Saif and Abhay Deol portrayed in DCH and ZNMD respectively, the mediator of the group who holds friendship above personal ego. In both films, the other two men chose their personal egos over their friends, and this leaves the Kabir/Sameer alone https://twitter.com/funda_filmy/status/1293945559070289922

Also of note is how both films treated their love lives/conflicts differently, yet not so much. While Kabir gets a more meaty arc about questioning his commitment wrt Sameer, their conflict is also treated as the least important in both films.

Their relationships are deemed frivolous, esp Sameer, and DCH ultimately becomes Sameer aiding Akash in his quest for Shalini. The 3 also unite at Tara's deathbed, to support Sid, while neither Sid not Akash have any take on Sameer's relationship w/ Pooja after the initial jokes.

Kabir gets better treatment but Kalki's doubts are brushed off and not addressed very seriously. Pooja doesn't even have much of a personality in DCH. Ironically, most seriousness, weight, and personality belonged to the conflict of the 'artist' in both films - Imran and Sid.

While the most developed character in both films was the perceived male lead (also the biggest star of the film), Akash & Arjun, probably perceived so due to the billing & having the top female cast member act opposite them. While ZNMD treats Kabir better, Sameer doesn't get much

Ultimately, this could be put down the inability of the writer/director to not be able to give equal weight to all three of their leading stars, and going old school - Bollywood by making one of the three stand out, but credit where it's due, ZNMD does a better job.

Ironically, DCH is perceived to be a better film. Would love to have a discussion with someone over why this is. Maybe we as audience aren't ready to accept this multi-lead setup in its true form.