Zidd by Hetansh Desai — A Story of Friendship, Ambition and an Impossible Dream

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Review:

“Nothing is random doesn’t mean you don’t act. It means you believe that life, with its precise design, is intentionally arranging itself to give you an opportunity to act.”

We all need that one friend who would move mountains for us. But when the time comes, would we do the same for them?

Zidd by Hetansh Desai is a story about friendship, family, love, ambition, entrepreneurship, dreams and the spirit of never giving up. It is a story where an almost impossible dream becomes the starting point for a journey filled with relationships, business, emotions, challenges and, most importantly, friendship.

Even the title and cover make you curious. And then comes the story behind that hoarding. After a turn in his relationship with Raina, Vihaan decides that if she doesn’t want to see his face again, she will see it every morning on a hoarding outside her home. The catch? The hoarding costs ₹10 crore. What sounds like an impossible dream becomes a challenge Vihaan puts forward on a national platform. And that is where Zidd begins to live up to its name — the determination to chase something even when everyone else thinks it is impossible.

At the centre of the story are Vihaan and Parth, two brilliant minds from very different backgrounds. Vihaan is the son of a professor, but he is drawn towards business and has a knack for creating interesting business models. He can think of ideas and see possibilities, even though expressing himself isn’t always his strongest suit. Parth, on the other hand, is the son of a tea vendor. His world has taught him something very different. He understands people, sales and the art of convincing someone. He can sell almost anything and everything, even though business isn’t necessarily his strength.

One knows business. The other knows how to sell it. It is this contrast that makes their relationship interesting. They aren’t identical personalities who happen to become friends. They bring completely different abilities to the table, and that difference becomes their strength. Their friendship also made me think about how often the people who complement us are not necessarily the people who are most similar to us. Sometimes, the person who sees the world completely differently is the one who helps us see possibilities we wouldn’t have seen on our own.

I particularly liked how the book explores the influence of their fathers on who they become. Vihaan’s father and Parth’s father come from completely different worlds, yet both shape their sons in their own ways. Their relationships also bring out an interesting side of Indian parenthood — the expectations parents have from their children, the desire to see them succeed and the different ways fathers express love, pride and concern. Sometimes, parents don’t necessarily say, “I am proud of you.” Instead, their love comes through questions, advice, expectations and even the pressure they put on their children. I liked how this emotional layer exists alongside the business and friendship narrative.

Vihaan’s interest in business isn’t something he inherits from a family business. It is something he discovers for himself. That makes his entrepreneurial journey interesting because he is choosing a path based on his own interests and abilities. Parth’s journey is equally interesting in a different way. Growing up around his father’s tea stall becomes an education of its own. He learns about people, selling, negotiation and hustle simply by observing and participating in everyday life. Their stories show how our surroundings can shape us without necessarily deciding who we become.

The business and entrepreneurship angle adds another layer to the story. It is not just about having a big idea. It is about figuring out what to do with that idea, understanding people, taking risks, finding opportunities and continuing even when the path isn’t straightforward. I enjoyed watching Vihaan and Parth bring their different strengths together. There is something entertaining about seeing an idea move from being just a thought to something that requires actual planning, selling, convincing and, of course, a lot of determination.

And then there is Raina, who brings another emotional dimension to the story. Her relationship with Vihaan isn’t simply a romantic track running alongside the main story. It becomes part of what drives the central challenge. I liked how the book uses their relationship to explore expectations, emotions and the sometimes impulsive decisions we make when our feelings get the better of us.

Set in the heart of Gujarat, particularly Ahmedabad, the story carries a distinct Gujarati flavour. I enjoyed the local references, conversations and the Gujarati/Hindi slang and expressions woven into the narrative. They add humour, give the characters a natural voice and make the setting feel more authentic. The tea stalls, local conversations and entrepreneurial atmosphere also complement the story’s themes of business and hustle. For me, this was one of those details that made the book feel rooted in a particular place rather than making the setting interchangeable. The book brings together family, friendship, love, relationships, business, politics, drama, dreams and hope, with each character carrying their own emotions and motivations. There is a lot happening, and the story keeps moving between different aspects of the characters’ lives.

Hetansh’s writing is crisp and descriptive, and the language is easy to follow. There is also a certain larger-than-life, almost Bollywood-like quality to the story – big dreams, dramatic situations, romance, friendship, ambition and unexpected turns. However, I did feel that the book becomes a little slow-paced in places. There are moments where the details and drama stretch longer than necessary, and some portions could have been edited more tightly. While there is plenty happening to keep you entertained, the story occasionally takes a longer route than it needs to. I think a slightly tighter narrative would have made some of the emotional and dramatic moments land even better.

Among the characters, Vihaan and Parth were my favourites, especially Parth. I loved his willingness to do things for his friend, his understanding of people and his determination. There is something very endearing about a character who doesn’t just talk about loyalty but is willing to show it through his actions. Vihaan’s journey is interesting for a different reason. His ambitions, his relationship with his father, his interest in business and his friendship with Parth all contribute to his growth. Raina, too, adds another perspective to the story and makes us look at relationships from a different angle. But what stayed with me most was the friendship between Vihaan and Parth.

We often talk about having that one person who will fight the world for us. Someone who will stand beside us when things are difficult, believe in our crazy ideas and remind us that perhaps the impossible isn’t quite as impossible as it looks. But perhaps the bigger question is: When the time comes, will we fight the world for them too?

That is what makes the friendship at the heart of Zidd work for me. It isn’t just about having someone beside you when everything is going well. It is about showing up when things become difficult and being willing to put your friendship to the test. And perhaps that is also what the title means. Zidd can mean stubbornness. But sometimes stubbornness is simply another word for determination. It is refusing to give up on a dream, a goal, a relationship or a person who matters to you.

Overall, Zidd is an entertaining read filled with friendship, family, love, entrepreneurship, drama, ambition and unexpected turns. It may feel stretched in parts, but the contrasting characters, the Gujarati setting, the entrepreneurial journey and, most importantly, the friendship between Vihaan and Parth make it an interesting read.

Sometimes, all you need is an impossible dream, one crazy idea and a friend who says, “Let’s figure it out.”

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Zidd by Hetansh Desai about?

Zidd is a contemporary story about friendship, family, love, entrepreneurship, ambition and determination. At its heart is the friendship between Vihaan and Parth and their journey of chasing an almost impossible dream.

2. What makes Zidd interesting?

The contrasting personalities of Vihaan and Parth, the entrepreneurship angle, the Gujarati setting and the strong focus on friendship make the story engaging. The larger-than-life premise also gives the book an entertaining, almost Bollywood-like quality.

3. What kind of readers will enjoy Zidd?

If you enjoy stories that blend friendship, ambition, family, romance and entrepreneurship with drama and humour, Zidd could be an enjoyable read. It also offers a distinctly Gujarati setting and plenty of local flavour.

4. Is Zidd a good book for readers interested in entrepreneurship?

Yes. The story explores ideas, business models, sales, ambition, risks and the process of turning an unlikely idea into something tangible, making entrepreneurship an interesting part of the narrative.

5. Does Zidd have a strong friendship angle?

Absolutely. The friendship between Vihaan and Parth is one of the strongest elements of the story. Their contrasting personalities, strengths and willingness to stand by each other give the book much of its emotional heart.

Reader_viddh’s Take

For me, Zidd was ultimately a story about friendship. I enjoyed the contrasting personalities of Vihaan and Parth, but Parth especially stood out for me because of his understanding of people, determination and the lengths he is willing to go for his friend. I also liked the Gujarati setting, the entrepreneurship angle and the exploration of fathers and Indian parenthood. The book has its slower moments, but the larger-than-life premise, colourful characters and the friendship at its heart make it an entertaining read. Sometimes, the biggest dreams are the ones that sound impossible  and sometimes, all you need is a little zidd and the right friend beside you.

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