The film explores several themes, including:

The film received positive reviews from critics, with many praising Alia Bhatt's performance and the film's themes of self-discovery and mental health. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over ₹ 98 crore (US$14 million) at the box office.

Kaira’s inability to sleep is the physical manifestation of her mental unrest.

At its surface, Dear Zindagi follows Kaira (Alia Bhatt), a talented but restless cinematographer in Mumbai. She is good at her job but terrible at relationships. She cycles through men—leaving them before they leave her, sabotaging potential love with the precision of a demolition expert.