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Alpha - External Reviews

meeta — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:16:28 +0000

26 reviewers have given Alpha an average rating of 1.6/5.0 ^(?)

5 yays

14 nays

7 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

Like any ol' new-age action film. Only with women, so that's fun. The action is slick. The lost-and-found story is right out of '80s Hindi films. Plus, of course, the seemingly inevitable dose of 2010s-20s patriotism.

Thumbs up by Subhash k Jha, Bolly Spice ...The fight, bickering, and the banter that ensues are solidly constructed.... full review

Thumbs up by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...Alpha may not be the strongest film in the Spy Universe, but it gives the franchise something it genuinely needed: a fresh perspective. Now all the makers need is a story every bit as fearless as the women leading it…... full review

Thumbs up by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal ...No songs from Alpha were unveiled before the release, so whatever you hear in the movie will be new for you, and once the film is over, you will feel like searching for the jukebox of the movie. Also, the background score is wow and elevates the action sequences.... full review

Thumbs up by Titas Chowdhury, News18.com ...Alpha may not be the YRF Spy Universe’s strongest or most flawless outing. There are loopholes and the story remains largely predictable. But even with its imperfections, this one is a trailblazer. It sets a powerful precedent for women-led action films in mainstream Hindi cinema, proving that female protagonists can command scale, spectacle and star power just as convincingly as men.... full review

Thumbs up by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...Watching two women lead a franchise that has so far been dominated by male spies is genuinely empowering. Alpha successfully establishes Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as worthy additions to the YRF Spy Universe, even if the screenplay doesn't consistently support their efforts.... full review

So-So by Siddharth Varada, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express ...Alpha works as a female-led spy thriller. It is entertaining and also has pretty good potential going forward. I just wish the emotions between Sita and Kaul came through better. Despite not being as emotionally satisfying as some of the other spy films, it ends up being a good watch.... full review

So-So by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...On the whole, Alpha is not as bad as Bobby Deol's Haryanvi accent and is a decent one-time watch. While it has nothing new to offer, you can still watch it if you're a fan of action-packed spy thrillers.... full review

So-So by Manmath Sahu, fullhyd.com ...If you walk in expecting a gripping spy thriller, you will likely be disappointed. But if you view Alpha as a stylish combat action film, it still manages to earn a one-time watch.... full review

So-So by Vineeta Kumar, india today ...The last truly satisfying film from this universe was War back in 2019. Since then, the graph has steadily dipped. Alpha doesn't drag it further down, but it certainly doesn't raise the bar either.... full review

So-So by Anindita Mukhopadhyay, India TV ...Alpha is one of those films that you desperately want to root for. It's Bollywood's first female-led spy film. It has Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor and a surprise that fans will be talking about long after they leave the theatre. On paper, it should have been a slam dunk.... full review

So-So by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...The film is not short of powerhouse performers. As the antagonist, Bobby gets a meaty role, and he bites into it with full force. His eyes exude an inherent innocence, which makes him such a deadly villain. It makes his sudden bursts of violence twice as terrifying because you never see them coming, but the screenwriters don’t give him a compelling backstory to complement his efforts. While the film belongs to its leading ladies, the solid presence of Bobby and Anil cannot be understated. Their commitment and intensity provide enough dramatic weight to keep a shallow, derivative script afloat for those who marvel at spectacle rather than storytelling.... full review

So-So by Mimansa Shekhar, Times Now ...Alpha is an entertaining entry in the YRF Spy Universe that works more on punches than on its screenplay. Alia Bhatt redefines herself as an all-out action star. Sharvari Wagh gives an appealing supporting performance. But the story occasionally walks familiar paths. Alpha is a fun theatre experience for fans of stylish spy entertainers. If you want real spy-thriller meat, go watch Dhurandhar. There, I said it... full review

Thumbs down by Divya Pal, Bollywood Life ...Alpha is definitely worth watching on the big screen. But if you're looking for a genuinely gripping spy thriller with tighter writing... there are better options available.... full review

Thumbs down by Pranati A S, Deccan Herald ...Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as Sita and Durga deliver restrained performances even as they wield guns and beat up the ‘bad’ boys. It is delightful to watch the two of them bonding in the Kashmir valley as they climb mountains, jump into rivers and sleep under the stars. There isn’t much to say about how technically sound the film is — as it should be like any other film made on this scale.... full review

Thumbs down by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...Alpha is not an outright poor film. It has scale, polished visuals, energetic action and two committed performances from Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. Both actresses are likely to benefit from the film and add a credible action title to their filmographies. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for YRF. For a studio that has delivered some of Hindi cinema’s most memorable spy entertainers, Alpha never rises above being an average, over-stylised action thriller... full review

Thumbs down by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Alpha is neither the disaster naysayers had predicted nor the reinvention the SpyVerse needed after the disappointing War 2. It is a competently mounted but emotionally underwhelming film that delivers very few highs, largely courtesy Hrithik Roshan, but never finds a compelling pulse of its own. Sometimes, that's more disappointing than watching an outright bad film.... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...To me, that’s the worst part: here’s a film telling us to believe that a lone female ranger can blow up a massive superstructure, housing a gigantic lab running a scheme thought up by a mad scientist type, and this highly trained assassin will then meekly do what she’s told? It would fit in if the film was going for the fun comic-book feel of ‘Pathaan’, where eye-rolls are served along with eye-watering high octane scenes, but Alpha asks us to take it seriously.... full review

Thumbs down by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...Alpha is absurd and chaotic. It takes a monumental franchise milestone—the first female-led spy film—and turns it into some kind of spoof! If this is the creative direction the makers are taking, it might just be time to let the Spy Universe rest in peace. Skip this one totally!... full review

Thumbs down by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...Shiv Rawail's ‘Alpha’ is sorely missing fresh ideas and is unable to credibly showcase Alia Bhatt as an action star... full review

Thumbs down by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...Soon as he reveals his face to the attackers, they run, “Bhaago, yeh Kabir hai!” As in Kabir from the equally jhantu War 2. Or, actually, no. Scratch that. Alpha is superior.... full review

Thumbs down by Sameer ahire, Movie Talkies ...Technically, the cinematography and VFX are decent, but most other aspects fall short. The action sequences work in the first half but collapse later. The editing fails to keep things engaging, although the script is the bigger culprit. Production design is passable, and the music is below average. I seriously don’t understand why those songs were included—they feel completely out of place. Ishita Moitra’s dialogues are painfully weak.... full review

Thumbs down by DEBANJAN DHAR, Outlook India ...Alpha lacks the spunk and grit to make a drama riveting and destabilising. It’s as glib as late, anxious shuffles to posit an enemy country’s plot that has apparently been in the works for years. Buying into this film’s lurches is a bigger ask than YRF haggling to be rewarded for mounting a female-led actioner.... full review

Thumbs down by Sukanya Verma, Rediff ...Ultimately, Alpha is a botched up opportunity. It's sad but I would rather watch Deepika in Pathaan and Katrina in the Tiger series kick ass in second fiddle capacity than become toys of their own story.... full review

Thumbs down by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The film’s story, credited to Uday Chopra, and the screenplay, by Sridhar Raghavan and Soumil Shukla, has a couple of twists that enliven the parade of dull writing and repetitive action set pieces. Some of these developments are unknown even to Vikram.... full review

Thumbs down by "Sajin Shrijith ", The Week ...Universe movie, but also just another case of jumping on the bandwagon. There are, of course, going to be many logic-related questions. Don't waste your time trying to find answers. It's simply not worth it.... full review

Thumbs down by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India ...A braided, stoic Alia Bhatt, despite her baby face, delivers a sincere performance and remains committed throughout, but the film gives her very little to work with. Sharvari is reduced to a bubbly sidekick, wasting much of her potential. Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor bring strong screen presence, but even they are let down by an overly convenient screenplay.... full review

Alpha - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Yash Raj Films
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Director: Shiv Rawail
Lead Cast: Alia Bhatt
Supporting Cast: Hrithik Roshan , Anil Kapoor , Bobby Deol, Sharvari
Story: Uday Chopra
Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, Soumil Shukla
Dialogues: Ishita Moitra
Cinematography: Rubais
Editor: Aarif Shaikh
Background Score: Sanchit Balhara, Ankit Balhara
Choreography: Bosco Martis, Vijay Ganguly
Music Director: Abeer, Rohansh
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt Guptan, Kumaar, Kausar Munir, Abeer, Rohansh
Costume Designer: Aki Narula, Gunpreet Kaur Mann, Natasha Vohra, Deepali Singh Raseen
Running time: 140 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Action

Alpha - Review

meeta — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:56:08 +0000

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

Review

The set-up of this set-up for YRF's spy universe is as interesting as it is amusing. The execution has a certain quality that makes it unintentionally funny. It is slick in that it has western action movie sensibilities. But the story-telling is true-blue Indian with its 80s-style family-reunion-meets-abductor-villain plot and 2010s-20s-theme of aggrandising war.

Despite making you feel like you are in a battlefield for more than half the film, the film is more action than hardcore violence. And the action choreography along with the editing makes it an involved watch. Yes, despite the shoddy CGI at times.

It's partly because there are women at the helm of affairs. They are more graceful. They add an x-factor, even though the makers are not confident that they can pull the film through. Why else would they have a cameo played by a male star? Yeah-yeah, that he is from the same spy universe is a good excuse.

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt's efforts in making her Sita believable as a top-notch superhuman soldier come through. She is light on her feet and subtle in showing the effect of the suppression her character had to endure. Now, whether Sharvari playing Durga could have carried the film on her shoulders is a question mark. As a side character, though, she makes her presence felt. The scenes with the two of them have a spark that keeps the movie alive.

This has to do with their relatively fleshed out characters as well. They don’t have too many lines, so the broader story and their facial and body language are doing a lot of the heavy-lifting. This is highlighted by the contrasting dull treatment that Bobby Deol's and Anil Kapoor's characters receive from the writing department. Monotonous characters with "filmy" lines only go on to add to the 80s feel.

Same goes for the overall plot too. Falling back on the tried-and-tested finger-pointing at Pakistan is weary and lifeless. Sure, the writing tries to fill as many holes as it creates. It uses non-linearity. It makes us ask the question, "Wait! How did he know that?" and offers an answer right in time. Only that the answer seems lame and a cop-out while trying to seem clever. The glaring one remains a given, of course, "Why is Sita loyal to borders?"

Thankfully, the pace allows all this to pass by quickly. So, you aren't left with any one question for too long. And before you know it, the end credits roll with a run-of-the-mill item number. The women didn't get a chance to be glam, you see. As you watch it, you realise numbly that you aren't going to remember much from the film. Even though you might have been engaged for most of the 140 minutes. That's what it boils down to—not all bad while it lasts, not much to mull over later.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Loads, some of it gory too.
Language: Clean.
Nudity & Sexual content: None.
Concept: YRF expanding its spy universe.
General Look and Feel: Slick, smart, quick.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 2.5
Story: 2.5
Lead Actors: 3
Character Artists: 3

Dialogues: 2
Screenplay: 2
Music Director: 1
Lyrics: 1

Alpha - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Yash Raj Films
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Director: Shiv Rawail
Lead Cast: Alia Bhatt
Supporting Cast: Hrithik Roshan , Anil Kapoor , Bobby Deol, Sharvari
Story: Uday Chopra
Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, Soumil Shukla
Dialogues: Ishita Moitra
Cinematography: Rubais
Editor: Aarif Shaikh
Background Score: Sanchit Balhara, Ankit Balhara
Choreography: Bosco Martis, Vijay Ganguly
Music Director: Abeer, Rohansh
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt Guptan, Kumaar, Kausar Munir, Abeer, Rohansh
Costume Designer: Aki Narula, Gunpreet Kaur Mann, Natasha Vohra, Deepali Singh Raseen
Running time: 140 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Action

Welcome To The Jungle - External Reviews

meeta — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:21:00 +0000

27 reviewers have given Welcome To The Jungle an average rating of 3.2/5.0 ^(?)

14 yays

6 nays

7 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Don't bother ^(?)

quick review:

It's cute! Not the film. No. It's cute that they felt the need to offer logic. Even cuter that there is an attempt at metaphors. Why bother? When the intent is to evade tax by making the most terrible film possible ?😉

Streaming Partner: JioHotstar

Thumbs up by Sahelee Rakshit, Bollywood Life ...If you're looking for nuanced storytelling, deep themes or meaningful cinema, this may not be the film for you. But if your idea of a good time involves switching off your brain, gathering the family and enjoying a loud, unapologetically entertaining Bollywood comedy, Welcome To The Jungle delivers exactly what it promises.... full review

Thumbs up Deccan Chronicle ...Welcome To The Jungle is a loud, chaotic, and unapologetically commercial entertainer that understands exactly what it wants to be. It offers an entertaining mix of comedy, action, adventure, and pop-culture humour, making it an enjoyable big-screen outing. If you're looking for a film that allows you to switch off your brain and simply have a good time, this one delivers exactly that. Grab some popcorn, gather your family or friends, and prepare for a fun-filled rollercoaster of madness.... full review

Thumbs up DNA ...The movie looks really good too. It is colorful and fun. The songs are good. They do not interrupt the movie. The music, in the background is good too. It makes the movie more fun.... full review

Thumbs up by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare ...Welcome To The Jungle uses these bits of unconventional tidbits to make the conventional comedy more palatable. And in all fairness, it all comes together to make one silly but entertaining film.... full review

Thumbs up by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal ...The songs of Welcome To The Jungle are strictly decent. Apart from Ghis Ghis and Ucha Lamba Kad Forever, no other song leaves a mark. Also, while Disha has tried her best in Ucha Lamba Kad Forever, we still missed Katrina Kaif a lot!... full review

Thumbs up by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...Ultimately, Welcome To The Jungle succeeds because it never breaks its own promise. It knows exactly what it wants to be and commits wholeheartedly to that vision. It is loud, chaotic, exaggerated and completely unafraid of being over the top. If you walk in expecting realism, you are watching the wrong film.... full review

Thumbs up by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, not every film needs to be profound. Some just need to entertain. Welcome To The Jungle understands that assignment from the outset and, despite an average finale, delivers enough laughs to make the ride worthwhile.... full review

Thumbs up by Twinkle Gupta, India TV ...The songs of Welcome to the Jungle are average. Apart from “Ghis-Ghis” and “Uncha Lamba Kad Forever”, none of the tracks leave a strong impact. Even though Disha tries her best in “Uncha Lamba Kad Forever”, the absence of Katrina Kaif is felt. The songs by Vikram Montrose, Anand Raj Anand and Talwinder are also not particularly impressive.... full review

Thumbs up by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...Akshay Kumar needs a mention again as he steers the climax effortlessly with a double role none expected to be this funny! I know that making fun of disabilities can never be cool, but you need to see it to believe that it is done with an absolute sense of funny intent!... full review

Thumbs up by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...Frankly, this sort of screwball, slapstick stuff — whether timepass, or terrible, and this is the former — doesn’t merit a review. You enjoy it for the parts, rather than the whole, within a disjointed mess, and measure it by the number of laughs; even a few are good enough.... full review

Thumbs up Movie Talkies ...Overall, Welcome To The Jungle is an action-packed, adventurous comedy that fully commits to its chaotic vision. It’s loud, nonsensical, and unapologetically entertaining. If you’re in the mood for a carefree cinematic experience, this one deserves a big-screen watch with your family or friends. Sit back, switch off logic, and enjoy the madness—it’s a full-on blockbuster-style movie outing.... full review

Thumbs up by TITAS CHOWDHURY, News18.com ...Basically, Welcome To The Jungle throws everything at the wall, right from meta humour, slapstick and nostalgia to action and gibberish, and somehow, enough of it sticks. There’s nothing that lies beneath the noise and it may not make sense, but then again, sense was never really the point. It works best when you surrender to its wild, logic-defying energy and simply go along for the ride.... full review

Thumbs up by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...Your jaws will hurt from laughing, a complete family entertainer that brings back the magic of old-school Bollywood comedy.... full review

Thumbs up by Tanmayi Savadi, Times Now ...Welcome To The Jungle should be watched without expecting logic. Better than most comedies, this film has some excellent scenes that could eventually become meme material and cult classics.... full review

So-So by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...Making a mindless comedy is not child’s play. It’s a lot more difficult than making mindful movies triggered by murky mayhem. Welcome To The Jungle is much more on-the-ball than it was expected to be. Not all the intended laughter hits target. But there’s enough to smile over, even if you don’t want to be caught doing so.... full review

So-So by Vinamra Mathur, FirstPost ...Welcome To The Jungle works more than it doesn’t due to its self-awareness. It’s a film that fully commits to its idiocy. It stops at nothing. It halts at nothing. We may not take back anything. But a smile amid the time of gloom also works if you can’t entirely guffaw.... full review

So-So by Vineeta Kumar, india today ...The screenplay keeps changing lanes. One minute it's slapstick, the next it is action. Then romance. Then patriotism. Then terrorism. Then another explosion. By the end, the film seems as confused about its identity as the audience is about what exactly they have paid to watch. At one point, Rajpal's Dev instructs the actors in his film-within-the-film to do whatever they want, move at their own pace and build the story themselves. The irony of that now.... full review

So-So by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...The film gives an unwieldy cast the kind of freedom that only a muddled, overstuffed screenplay can. The actors stop at nothing, hamming it up like there is no tomorrow.... full review

So-So by Aishani Biswas, Outlook India ...Technically, the film looks polished enough. Ahmed Khan stages the large ensemble with reasonable confidence and manages to keep the action visually energetic. The production design is colourful and suitably larger than life, while the music blends comfortably into the film's nostalgic tone. Yet the screenplay remains wildly uneven. The first half takes too long to settle and several characters exist without adding much to the story.... full review

So-So by Sukanya Verma, Rediff ...Comedy hits best when it's genuinely committed to the dishonesty at play. Welcome To The Jungle's moment of truth arrives when Akshay pleads 'Hum sab bhand hain' in the face of fear and power. If only the rest of this slog was as self-aware as this single scene.... full review

So-So by Archika Khurana, Times of India ...Welcome To The Jungle is not a flawless comedy. It is overcrowded, noisy and often indulgent. But despite its flaws, it manages to deliver enough laughs and entertaining moments to justify the ride. This is the kind of film that asks you to leave logic behind and simply surrender to the madness. If you enjoy chaotic ensemble comedies packed with slapstick humour— this jungle ride offers enough fun to keep you engaged.... full review

Thumbs down by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Overall, Welcome To The Jungle is a disappointing comedy that fails to live up to expectations. While Akshay Kumar and the supporting cast work hard to entertain, the weak screenplay, overcrowded narrative, and inconsistent humour prevent the film from becoming the laugh riot it aims to be. Fans of the franchise may find a few enjoyable moments, but the film ultimately falls short of delivering the classic Welcome experience.... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...Me, I don’t have any problem with dimaag occasionally being turned into dahi when I’m at such movies, because that’s the ask. Just don’t bore me.... full review

Thumbs down by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes ...Skip this and re-watch 'Welcome' instead; 1.5/5 stars Khan throws everything at the wall in the hope that something sticks, and the result is a bloated mess. Patani barely gets any dialogues, Lara Dutta has an excessively loud character, and several supporting actors get only a line or two. In one scene, an exasperated Rajeev asks, "Aye, comedy chal raha hai kya idhar?" The answer is a resounding no.... full review

Thumbs down Scroll.in ...Akshay Kumar exercises his privilege as one of the film’s co-producers and has far too many scenes to himself. Welcome to the Jungle tries to weave this hogging into the script, but the severely overstretched 164-minute movie isn’t that self-aware to carry it off.... full review

Thumbs down by Kartik Bhardwaj, the new Indian Express ...Welcome To The Jungle is a ludicrous, hodgepodge of events which works only when the actors and the audience are in on the absurd. However, it is fun to see Akshay Kumar get down his saviour high-horse and improvise some funny bits. He is hilarious as an actor who wants to hog all the limelight. The meta-ness can be a tad-bit on the nose but Akshay sells it.... full review

Thumbs down by Agnivo Niyogi, The Telegraph ...Yet throughout the film, one cannot help but miss the manic brilliance that Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor brought to the earlier Welcome films. Their absence leaves a noticeable void that no amount of star power quite manages to fill.... full review

Welcome To The Jungle - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Cape of Good Films, Base Industries Group, Seeta Films, Star Studio
Producer: Firoz Nadiadwala, Rakesh Dang, Vedant Vikaas Baali
Lead Cast: Arshad Warsi , Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Akshay Kumar Parija
Supporting Cast: Shreyas Talpade , Jackie Shroff, Farida Jalal, Lara Dutta , Paresh Rawal , Zakir Hussain, Aftab Shivdasani , Tusshar Kapoor , Rajpal Yadav, Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi , Rahul Dev, Sayaji Shinde, Jacqueline Fernandez , Kiran Kumar, Raveena Tandon , Pankaj Dheer, Kiku Sharda, Johny Lever, Krushna Abhishek
Story: Neeraj Vora, Farhad Samji
Background Score: Hanif Shaikh
Choreography: Ganesh Acharya, Aadil Shaikh, Rahul Shetty, Prince Gupta
Costume Designer: Kunal Rawal, Anna Singh, Ami Patel, Shakil Prakash Shetty, Namita Alexandar, Sunakshi Rathod
Running time: 165 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Slapstick

Welcome To The Jungle - Review

meeta — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:12:45 +0000

wogma rating: Don't bother ^(?)

quick review:

Streaming Partner: JioHotstar

Review

Nothing, absolutely nothing, is sacrosanct in Welcome to the Jungle. Language, age, objectification, racism, casteism, disabilities, to name a few. Oh, and body-shaming in all dimensions—height, width, depth—all bases covered. Everything is game to be the butt of a joke. So, every other scene in this true-blue equal opportunity offender has something problematic about it. And when it's not that, it is characters putting each other down—all with the good intentions of making the audience laugh.

Okay, before I put the entire movie down. I began laughing out loud in one scene, and it became uncontrollable for a bit. Things were getting just way too silly. Also, once you accept that the idea is that the characters berating each other constantly, some of the scenes have witty quips. But, I've never found it in myself to spend energy on considering roasting as a form of humour.

Then there is the other regular slapstick fair—loudness, slurping, people getting shot in the buttocks, and so on. Oh, and characters talking over each other. All the time. To top it off, they go ahead and make it a feature.
Character gets talked over ➡️ They lose track of what they were saying ➡️ They try to remember what they are saying ➡️ Other characters create more confusion ➡️ The first character remembers ➡️ And repeats the train of thought!
I wonder how many extra minutes this non-comedy added to the almost 3-hour film.

Speaking of which, did they just shoot a series of "item" numbers? Sure, some of them will hit the clubs regularly. But, I could spot three left over after an "explainable" one and an end-credit one. How do I know they had extra songs in their kitty? Well, they have one inexplicably follow what I am calling the "explainable" one, one before the end-credit one, and one…hold your breath…during the interval! Not just before or just after the interval, right after "INTERVAL" shows up on screen.

It is remarkable in this mayhem and some-15 oddly-written characters that you can recall some of the actors. Every one other than Akshay Kumar share screen space almost equally. His act is as insufferable as ever. Arshad Warsi stands out because he doesn't shout all the time. Jacqueline Fernandes might stay in memory a little longer than usual because her character owns how dim she is made out to be. Once you give in to the quirks written for Farida Jalal and Kiran Kumar's characters, you appreciate their performance. Also, we know Jackie Shroff is barely changing expression between films. Is he not changing makeup either? Having said that, I am not sure how much we can judge the acts, when the dubbing is off so often.

Other than that, the writing has at least one self-referential element for many actors. As usual, this feels like lazy writing though I guess forcing it in the story requires some skill too. Given that then, it is surprising to have a "Fate versus Choice" debate thrown in.

Equally commendable was the self-aware pre-end-credit-item-number item-number. Yes, as much as I complained about it. But more importantly, they wear the answer to "Why they got involved with this film?" on their sleeve. "Money." Either they get a tax write-off, or they earn money selling a film that they know is terrible. Win-win for them. Lose-lose for us, isn't it?

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Supposedly funny gun shots and fist fights.
Language: Some curse words are used.
Nudity & Sexual content: None.
Concept: A businessman wants tax write-offs, so he decides to make a film destined to flop.
General Look and Feel: Loud, caricaturish.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 0
Story: 0
Lead Actors: 0.5
Character Artists: 1

Dialogues: 1
Screenplay: 0
Music Director: 1
Lyrics: 1

Welcome To The Jungle - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Cape of Good Films, Base Industries Group, Seeta Films, Star Studio
Producer: Firoz Nadiadwala, Rakesh Dang, Vedant Vikaas Baali
Lead Cast: Arshad Warsi , Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Akshay Kumar Parija
Supporting Cast: Shreyas Talpade , Jackie Shroff, Farida Jalal, Lara Dutta , Paresh Rawal , Zakir Hussain, Aftab Shivdasani , Tusshar Kapoor , Rajpal Yadav, Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi , Rahul Dev, Sayaji Shinde, Jacqueline Fernandez , Kiran Kumar, Raveena Tandon , Pankaj Dheer, Kiku Sharda, Johny Lever, Krushna Abhishek
Story: Neeraj Vora, Farhad Samji
Background Score: Hanif Shaikh
Choreography: Ganesh Acharya, Aadil Shaikh, Rahul Shetty, Prince Gupta
Costume Designer: Kunal Rawal, Anna Singh, Ami Patel, Shakil Prakash Shetty, Namita Alexandar, Sunakshi Rathod
Running time: 165 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Slapstick

Cocktail 2 - External Reviews

meeta — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:37:41 +0000

26 reviewers have given Cocktail 2 an average rating of 1.6/5.0 ^(?)

2 yays

11 nays

13 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Watch some day, maayyybe… ^(?)

quick review:

Philosophy and non-trivial conversations are the ends. A love triangle and non-funny jokes are the means. Hardly a shocker that the ends don't justify the time and energy spent on the means, despite some good performances and better ambience. Streaming Platform: Netflix

Thumbs up by Sahelee Rakshit, Bollywood Life ...One of the biggest strengths of Cocktail 2 is its writing. The dialogues are simple, practical and straight from real life. There is no attempt to sound overly dramatic or poetic, and that honesty works in the film’s favour. Written by Tarun Jain with story by Luv Ranjan, the film understands the pulse of today’s relationships. The conversations feel lived-in, and many moments stay with you because of how familiar they sound.... full review

Thumbs up by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...Living up to the nostalgia of Cocktail is a monumental task, but Cocktail 2 confidently creates its own identity. The script doesn’t try to replicate the Veronica-Meera-Gautam dynamic; instead, it updates the language of love, friendship, and unadulterated desire for 2026. The biggest victory of Cocktail 2 is its unapologetic maturity.... full review

So-So by Divya P, Deccan Herald ...‘Cocktail’ featured some banger music by Pritam and 'Tum hi ho bandhu' is still the most peppy track in this one as well. Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran gives us sweeping shots of the exotic coastlines, enriching the film visually.... full review

So-So by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...Visually, the film is a treat. The Italian countryside has been beautifully photographed, and the production design is first-rate. Unfortunately, the shallow writing doesn't give the actors much room to shine.... full review

So-So by Lachmi Deb Roy, FirstPost ...Towards the end, the film features profound discussions about love and responsibility, emphasising that love does not require constant agreement. It’s about a habit and getting used to each other, including the bad habits, and coming back to each other despite all the differences. The movie makes you believe that despite all the differences, a long-term relationship can never be disrupted; it is indeed like an old and torn T-shirt which makes you feel comfortable and lets you sleep peacefully every night!... full review

So-So by Ria Sharma, Free Press Journal ...Visually, the film is gorgeous. Sicily's stunning locations and scenic views add a lot of charm. But beyond the beautiful backdrop, the story offers very little that's fresh. It is stuck in the past. It's another familiar Bollywood lesson on love, marriage and relationships. The plot is predictable, there are hardly any surprises, and the film often feels like a sequel that didn't really need to be made.... full review

So-So by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, perhaps the biggest issue with Cocktail 2 is that it constantly reminds you of a better film. The original Cocktail was messy too, but it had heart and characters you cared about. This spiritual successor has the gloss, the glamour, but not the emotional punch. Some drinks are best served once.... full review

So-So by Sana Farzeen, india today ...In a nutshell, Cocktail 2 is a beautiful-looking love story with surprisingly little love in it. By the end, you'll remember the songs, the locations and the outfits, but you'll probably want to forget the characters and the story.... full review

So-So by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...Ultimately Cocktail 2 comes off a bit of a cocktail itself, swinging between style and substance . It is Shahid Kapoor who carries this film with a pleasing conviction I haven’t seen in a long time. And while I missed Deepika Padukone’s wild wounded-ness, Sanon isn’t half bad herself. But there’s no getting past the conservatism which comes wrapped in this pyaar ka punchnama: for all its modern vibe, it’s the guy who gets the last word, not the gals.... full review

So-So by Sameer Ahire, Movie Talkies ...Cocktail 2 turns out to be more watchable than expected. If you walk in with low expectations, it can serve as a decent one-time watch. However, it’s unlikely to appeal to single-screen audiences and works better as a multiplex entertainer.... full review

So-So by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...The actors carry much of the onus. Shahid Kapoor is as steady as a rock even when the film isn't. Kriti Sanon not only enhances the sensuality quotient but also goes beyond being skin deep. Rashmika Mandanna, playing the sedate Diya, pulls off the more dramatic passages with aplomb but is often relegated to a secondary role.... full review

So-So by TITAS CHOWDHURY, News18.com ...Cocktail 2 wants to bottle the upheavals of modern love but is too afraid of spilling any of it. For all its talk of complicated relationships and emotional infidelity, it remains too safe. The designer clothes and postcard-perfect locations stand out but this intoxication is fleeting. Once the high wears off, you’re left with a rom-com that’s little romance and even lesser comedy.... full review

So-So by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...Cocktail 2 suffers from a stretched second half and occasionally relies on familiar tropes. However, just when the narrative appears to be losing steam, the film finds its footing in the final 15 minutes. The climax packs enough emotional punch to make up for some of the unevenness that precedes it, ensuring that you walk out with a smile and perhaps even a lump in your throat. Cocktail 2 may not be intoxicating throughout, but its aftertaste lingers.... full review

So-So by Agnivo Niyogi, The Telegraph ...Pritam's music and Amitabh Bhattacharya's lyrics complement the narrative effectively, even if the soundtrack lacks the instantly memorable quality associated with the original Cocktail. The songs serve the emotional flow of the story, especially during the European holiday narrative track.... full review

So-So by Dhaval Roy, Times of India ...If you enjoy relationship dramas that keep things light, musical and easy on the eyes, Cocktail 2 makes for a fun watch.... full review

Thumbs down by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...Kriti Sanon has some fun with her leggy part. But is eventually unable to pull off the various layers of subterfuge her role requires. The only hero of the show is Sicily. Sometimes you just feel like telling the silly characters to move out of the way. They are blocking the view.... full review

Thumbs down by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Cocktail 2 turns out to be a strictly average film. It has good music and attractive visuals. However, the predictable writing and lack of emotional depth prevent it from reaching the level set by its predecessor. Fans looking for a light romantic entertainer may find enough reasons to watch it once, but those expecting the magic of the original Cocktail are likely to be disappointed.... full review

Thumbs down by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...The music, despite arriving at frequent intervals, leaves surprisingly little impact. Considering the legacy of the original Cocktail and the importance of music in contemporary romantic dramas, the songs come and go without leaving behind a memorable tune or emotional resonance.... full review

Thumbs down by Anindita Mukhopadhyay, India TV ...Homi Adjania, who directed Cocktail in 2012, has helmed the sequel too. His style of filmmaking is modern and taps into the flavour of the season. While Cocktail 2 might not be his worst film, we definitely expected a better blend. The characters seemed underdeveloped and unripe, as if a teaspoon of sugar would have saved the drink. But sometimes, all you need is a teaspoon for perfection. And a teaspoon could be a lot.... full review

Thumbs down by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...Cocktail 2 is frictionless filmmaking, glib enough to provide the illusion of a good time. Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran’s photography is hideously bright and Insta-minded. The soundtrack is catchy but Pritam-by-numbers. There’s nothing at all apart from the central trio, and I couldn’t tell you a single useful thing about any of them aside from how they approach relationships. Nothing sticks, and maybe that’s the intention. Adajania won’t even commit to the contrived drama that builds before Diya and Kunal’s wedding, which Ally is attending as a ‘bridesmaid’; there’s a sudden lurch into manic comedy before Kunal tells the girls off one last time.... full review

Thumbs down by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...Or, maybe, that is the ending? Obviously, I’m not gonna tell you. There’s only one way for you to find out. Order this Cocktail too. Seriously. Must I suffer this hangover alone?... full review

Thumbs down by DEBANJAN DHAR, Outlook India ...The game Diya set off has major emotional consequences which, when they inevitably happen, come as a shocker to her. Cocktail 2 makes Divya appear like a fool and Ally a loosely defined vamp. Kunal is the casualty. He is seen as someone hemmed between the machinations of the women. He’s perfectly gullible. The film keeps giving him the clean pass, pushing women into the jostling fray.... full review

Thumbs down by sukanya Verma, Rediff ...Of the three, Rashmika heaves and blows through a character that's so illogical it's almost pitiable. Kriti Sanon delivers her va va voom brief in gloriously glamorous looks. Her saucy, mischief attitude would steal a lot more thunder if Cocktail 2 wasn't so undecided about her sneaky ways. Change the background from soulful ballads to thriller scores and there's a Fatal Attraction level of obsession twinkling in her glossy eyes.... full review

Thumbs down by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The chemistry between Kriti Sanon and Shahid Kapoor is missing too. However, Kapoor fares the best in Cocktail 2, apt as the loyal boyfriend who confronts temptation with a mix of pleasure and puzzlement. Kapoor is fully aware that Cocktail 2 is all about the glory of Kunal, and acts accordingly.... full review

Thumbs down by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...But the tragedy of Cocktail 2 is that it treats its audience exactly the same way. It is a messy cupboard of a movie, but instead of feeling comforting, it just feels exhaustingly predictable. There is nothing much to look at inside!... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhangi Shah, The Week ...The film's greatest strength, meanwhile, lies in its stunning shots of itself wasn’t a great film to begin with, “Cocktail 2” makes it look like a masterpiece.... full review

Cocktail 2 - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube
Banner: Maddock Films
Producer: Dinesh Vijan, Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg
Director: Homi Adajania
Lead Cast: Shahid Kapoor , Kriti Sanon , Rashmika Mandanna
Supporting Cast: Tiku Talsania
Story: Luv Ranjan, Tarun Jain
Cinematography: Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran
Choreography: Vijay Ganguly
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Costume Designer: Anaita Shroff Adajania
Running time: 150 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Relationships, Romance

Main Vaapas Aaunga - External Reviews

meeta — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:23:05 +0000

25 reviewers have given Main Vaapas Aaunga an average rating of 4.4/5.0 ^(?)

20 yays

1 nays

4 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

At 2.5 hours, you're rooting for a 95-year-old to get answers so he can die in peace. And then you witness one of the most brilliantly done end credit scenes. I call that a movie well-made even if it doesn't engage through its runtime.

Thumbs up by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...Main Vaapas Aaunga is not a breezy experience. It commands our attention and respect for constructing a compelling case for peace and empathy at a time when movies are going all-out to propagate hatred and enmity. What Imtiaz Ali asks us in this precious film about love and amity is this: could the enemy be within us?... full review

Thumbs up by Pranati A S, Deccan Herald ...Among the many ironies of the two countries is how we can’t go there and they can’t come here, but a British citizen telling us how identical Delhi and Lahore are. Imtiaz uses it subtly to show reality’s bitter contradiction. The film also highlights the convenient politics of the British that shaped the harsh political and social landscape of the two countries.... full review

Thumbs up by Simran Singh, DNA ...Barring a few hiccups, I find Main Vaapas Aaunga Imtiaz Ali's best work. Yes, more than Jab We Met, Rockstar, and Tamasha. This film will truly make you start believing in love again. For me, this is the best love story in the last 20 years after Veer-Zaara (2004). Don't miss Main Vaapas Aaunga at any cost, and go with your grandparents.... full review

Thumbs up by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Overall, Main Vaapas Aaunga is not without flaws. The slow and somewhat underwhelming first half prevents it from reaching greatness. However, its emotionally rewarding second half, impactful performances and heartfelt storytelling make it a worthwhile watch.... full review

Thumbs up by Lachmi Deb Roy, FirstPost ...Not just cinematically, the film shines in every possible way, but it is an urgent watch because of its connection to present-day situations. To connect with every scene, you better stay glued to the big screen!... full review

Thumbs up by Ria Sharma, Free Press Journal ...Yes, the film could have been slightly shorter, especially in the first half. But that's just a small complaint in an otherwise beautiful cinematic experience. Main Vaapas Aaunga is packed with love, loss, longing and hope. It is emotional and heartbreaking. This is the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits roll.... full review

Thumbs up by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Main Vaapas Aaunga delivers something far rarer: a deeply human story. It may stumble occasionally, but when it soars, it reaches the kind of emotional heights few filmmakers today can access. By the time the credits roll, you are left with moist eyes, and the lingering ache of a story that refuses to leave you long after you have left the theatre.... full review

Thumbs up by Sakshi Verma, India TV ...As far as music is concerned, the background score by AR Rahman plays a very subtle role in conveying different emotions to the audience. At the same time, the songs add to the emotional aspect of Imtiaz Ali's movie. Together, the music and visuals create a sensory experience that elevates scenes beyond what is written on the page. Main Vaapas Aaunga album is special and should be celebrated.... full review

Thumbs up by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...For me, the film’s weaker portions are papered over by the ones that hold us, re-uniting us with a filmmaker unafraid of drama, telling us a story about memory and loss, and the power of home-coming.... full review

Thumbs up by Rajiv Vijayakar, koimoi ...A.R. Rahman, as in most cases, does a great job of the background score, but one cannot say the same about his songs. Irshad Kamil’s lyrics, however, are between pithy (mostly) and a shade abstruse, but the song, Kya kamaal hai, sung by Diljit, is a lyrical masterpiece that grips also with its unique and brilliant visuals. Mascara is catchy, but only in the mukhda!... full review

Thumbs up by Radhika Sharma, NDTV ...Imtiaz Ali has famously said he hates that his films "work" only years after release, with Laila Majnu being a case in point. Here's hoping he gets that real-time recognition with Main Vaapas Aaunga.... full review

Thumbs up by Shachi Chaturvedi, News18.com ...While promoted as a Vedang Raina and Sharvari starrer, the film has Diljit Dosanjh and Naseeruddin Shah as the heroes who remain the film’s strongest pillars throughout. Diljit, as Nirvair, holds the entire story together, and it feels like he makes us live both timelines of Keenu’s life through Naseeruddin Shah’s eyes. His punches land well, while we all feel something when he speaks about the desire to be loved like Keenu and Jiya.... full review

Thumbs up by Aishani Biswas, Outlook India ...Visually, Main Vaapas Aaunga is stunning. The cinematography captures both the beauty and fragility of memory. The recreation of old Punjab feels immersive without appearing artificial. Every frame appears carefully designed to evoke a world that exists partly in reality and partly in recollection.... full review

Thumbs up by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...After a long dry spell, Hindi cinema finally delivers a profound love story that will leave your heart racing and your eyes moist long after you step out of the theater. True to the Imtiaz Ali universe, the iconic tradition of a lead character eating in isolation makes a poetic return.... full review

Thumbs up by Sreeju Sudhakaran, Rediff ...Kya Kamaal Hai encapsulates exactly why Imtiaz Ali made this film. It is his mercy letter to a burning world that continues to look away while millions are killed, displaced or rendered homeless across the globe.... full review

Thumbs up by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The story’s radical edge is waiting to be unsheathed. In Kya Kamaal Hai, sung by Diljit Dosanjh and placed in the middle of the end credits, Ali dazzlingly links Partition not only to present-day conflicts around the world but also to the tendency of Indians to ignore uncomfortable realities and insist that everything is wonderful.... full review

Thumbs up by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...Rahman is shifting his musical axis, fusing his global, synth-heavy soundscape with the raw, untamed heartbeat of Punjab. It is not an easy marriage and at times gives a sense of desperation to fit in, but the friction between Rahman’s clinical precision and Punjab’s bleeding heart is precisely where the magic happens.... full review

Thumbs up by Anas Arif, the new Indian Express ...Yet, for all the familiar trademarks, Main Vaapas Aaunga may also be Ali’s most evolved film. For perhaps the first time, he is less interested in leaving home than in returning to it. He is less interested in escape than in embrace.... full review

Thumbs up by Shubhangi Shah, The Week ...Performance-wise, the film is anchored by an exceptional cast. Vedang Raina is excellent the younger Ishar, while Sharvari lends innocence to Afsana that reminds you of a bygone, simpler time. Dosanjhserves as the film's emotional bridge between past and present, grounding it exceptionally well.... full review

Thumbs up by Dhaval Roy, Times of India ...Imtiaz Ali’s signature poetic and deeply emotional storytelling, along with the powerful performances, make this a must-watch. The film’s bittersweet ache stays with you long after the credits roll.... full review

So-So by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare ...And yet. For anyone who has ever read Rumi on a sleepless night or found themselves undone by an Amrita Pritam poem, Main Vaapas Aaunga has a soulfulness that quietly gets under your skin and into the rhythm of your heart beats. The love at its core is real, rare, and worth returning for.... full review

So-So by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...For those willing to invest in its world, however, Main Vaapas Aaunga offers a sincere and moving experience. It is an unusual interfaith romance that uses the tragedy of Partition to tell a deeply human story about love, longing and the connections that survive even when time, distance and history stand in the way.... full review

So-So by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...Ali seems especially moved by the plight of refugees. The film opens with news of a devastating earthquake. The end credits have Dosanjh singing over footage of various humanitarian crises. It’s heartfelt, and a little cheesy—like everything that’s come before. There’s a small, key moment when an old man hesitates to share his Partition memories, saying they’ll be misunderstood and turned into hate. Main Vaapas Aaunga understands that the past is only worth dredging up if it can heal the present.... full review

So-So MiD DAY ...The performances are undoubtedly one of the film's biggest strengths. Naseeruddin Shah effortlessly carries the emotional weight of the narrative on his shoulders, delivering a deeply moving portrayal of a man burdened by fading memories and unfulfilled love. Diljit Dosanjh, meanwhile, lights up the screen with his natural charm and warmth, providing the film with some of its most heartfelt moments. Vedang Raina leaves a strong impression as the young Keenu, capturing both the innocence and vulnerability. Sharvari Wagh is equally stunning, bringing grace, spirit, and emotional depth to Jiya, making her presence felt despite the limited screen time.... full review

Thumbs down by Vineeta Kumar, india today ...Main Vaapas Aaunga wants to be a conversation between generations - between those who lived through Partition and those who inherited its memories. It wants to explore grief, belonging, identity and reconciliation. These are worthy ambitions. But ambition alone cannot sustain a film.... full review

Main Vaapas Aaunga - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Window Seat Films, Applause Entertainment
Producer: Sameer Nair, Deepak Segal, Mohit Choudhary
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Lead Cast: Naseeruddin Shah , Diljit Dosanjh , Vedang Raina, Sharvari
Supporting Cast: Kumud Mishra, Rajat Kapoor , Anjana Sukhani, Sahil Mehta, Vinod Nagpal, Nikhat Khan, Banita Sandhu, Rasika Agashe, Kashmira Irani, Jashn Kohli, Jaipreet Singh, Krishna Kotian, Debasree Ghosh, Nikki Narula, Naresh Asija, Shruti Sodhi
Story: Imtiaz Ali, Nayanika Mahtani
Cinematography: Sylvester Fonseca, SR Kathir I.S.C
Editor: Aarti Bajaj
Background Score: Suresh Permal
Music Director: A R Rahman
Lyrics: Irshad Kamil
Costume Designer: Sheetal Iqbal Sharma
Running time: 165 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Romance, Social

Cocktail 2 - Review

meeta — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:35:29 +0000

wogma rating: Watch some day, maayyybe… ^(?)

quick review:

Review

Boy meets immature girl. Boy meets another immature girl. Does that make the boy mature? The tone of the film makes you feel that that's what the makers are implying. But intentionally or not, they touch upon a trait that the boy has that puts a question mark on the whole premise. If he knows what he wants so clearly, why is he stalling? But that is not why Cocktail 2 was made. The movie wanted to bring some profound conversations to screen. Pretty much everything else comes across as fillers.

That the movie wanted to have conversations at all is the biggest takeaway for me. It is not the norm, right? Stories set in beautiful locations showcasing the urban and/or bohemian lifestyle don't usually have their heart in any part of the writing. Here at least there was life in these dialogues between characters. Even though you know that the good lines from the first half are all foreshadowing for a comeback post-interval. And hey, what do you know, there is some meat even in the final monologue.

Other than that, there is a spark in the montage that goes with the titles. It is not just moments stuck together but marks the age and situates the time-frame of the story. The writing also uses loudness well to bring the catastrophisation experienced by a character to the viewers.

The film's attempts at humour, though, fall flat. Except for one short, fun scene with Ally (Kriti Sanon) making fun of good boys with film names, the rest are slapsticky, out of place with the tone of the rest of the film, or lame innuendoes. That Shahid Kapoor is being taught to dance is funny though!

Other than that, the broader writing is easy to oversimplify as yet-another-love-triangle. I've never found the concept of a love triangle itself appealing—one of those things that I don't 'get' like horror or sexual slapstick. Or maybe I haven't yet encountered a story that explores the potential of the central character truly being at the centre of the two choices. If, from the word go, you know who they are going to pick, what is even the point? No? Is it even a triangle if one side doesn't exist?

Especially when you don't really know the real reason for that choice. Almost always, the person who the protagonist decides to go with is the most superficially written. At least, Cocktail 2 unlike most others in the genre that take it as a given, has Kunal (Shahid Kapoor) "tell" us why he likes who he likes. Maybe, the next one will also "show" us. Then there is this whole business of owning a life-partner with the "yours" and "mine" language. Always brings cringe.

Anyway, given that the film has been made, I am thankful that it sinks its teeth a little deeper into relationships. Actually, in these times when three out of four films seem to be driven by propaganda or messaging, I am just happy to watch something else.

And Cocktail 2 is good for the other senses. You are looking at beautiful people in exquisite settings. The camerawork with its gorgeous framing beautifully enhances the natural light. The music is peppy and almost a constant. The lyrics of most of the songs are above the ordinary.

Also, even if we question why Kunal is the way he is, Shahid Kapoor plays the quiet and "mature" Kunal well enough to make you want to shake him so that he starts speaking. And unless the scenes in which he is shown as a college student are from historic footage, boy, can this 40+-year-old surely pass off as a late-teen!

I would mark this as one of Kriti Sanon's better performances. For one, she is asked to be more than a doll and she is up to the task. Rashmika Mandanna's act, on the other hand, is a downer. It feels like she is going through the motions. It doesn't help that there is something off with her dubbing.

Cocktail 2 ends with making us dislike both women, but at least they stay in character as they do so. Why does the man wait for the pimple to grow into an abscess that is waiting to burst? Maybe there is some resemblance to real life, after all.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: None
Language: Some abusive language
Nudity & Sexual content: Conversations about sex and nudity, a lip-to-lip peck, a scene that alludes to making out.
Concept: A love triangle
General Look and Feel: Gorgeously shot. Crisp, modern.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 2.5
Story: 2
Lead Actors: 3.5
Character Artists: 3.5

Dialogues: 3
Screenplay: 2
Music Director: 2.5
Lyrics: 3

Cocktail 2 - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube
Banner: Maddock Films
Producer: Dinesh Vijan, Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg
Director: Homi Adajania
Lead Cast: Shahid Kapoor , Kriti Sanon , Rashmika Mandanna
Supporting Cast: Tiku Talsania
Story: Luv Ranjan, Tarun Jain
Cinematography: Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran
Choreography: Vijay Ganguly
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Costume Designer: Anaita Shroff Adajania
Running time: 150 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Relationships, Romance

Main Vaapas Aaunga - Review

meeta — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:41:04 +0000

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

Review

Yes, it is long. And it is slow. And yes, it could have been crisper and snappier, which is why it feels a tad self-indulgent. Some side stories come out of nowhere and disappear just the same. They are abrupt and jerky. Other tracks could have been shortened or cut out without much damage. In fact, the absence might have added value. Yet other plots felt over-written and some were difficult to grasp. Also, the first half breaks into song way too often. The second half though, especially the last hour, tethers you to your seat and holds you there right till the last of the end credits has rolled.

Main Vaapas Aaunga's old-world romance brews on a slow flame. The pace might have been okay if it didn't last the whole length of the first half and a little more. That aside, you begin to see glimpses of what the makers are trying to get at. It is more than a simple love story. It is more than even a regular ol' romance set during the India-Pakistan Partition. It is an allegory. Of every displacement in the modern global history and that continues to this day. That was the hook for me at interval. Are they going to make something more of it? Or is it just a fleeting metaphor?

I was not left with any of those questions by the end. I won't say which way it went at the risk of giving away any more of the plot. But their intention was clear, and they put it across beautifully.

Take this in. A whole community decided to not look back at their lived experiences. It collectively suppressed combined and individual trauma—to keep the peace. This is underlined with as much rawness as one scene of sacrifice and helplessness that will stay with every viewer forever. Why? Because the generation that did not actually suffer will just use the brutality endured during the partition to propagate hatred. This hits a nerve. Decisions about the partition were made by people who had no skin in the game. This notion uses a brilliant metaphor. This is thought-provoking and heart-wrenching.

And all of this is done without melodrama or glamourising any one side. That balance is maintained delicately. Another spark in writing shows through with the deft use of non-linearity. This is laced with philosophy about love—a profound take on passion whether it be for work, a person or a hobby.

The performances take the writing a notch higher. Naseeruddin Shah's portrayal of the onset of dementia is as mind-boggling as the writing that weaves the illness with reality. Diljit Dosanjh has a reassuring presence throughout. Vedang Raina and Sharvari are young and earnest, just like their characters.

Given all that the move has going for it proves that it is a well-made one. It is a shame then that it feels unjustifiably stretched with a sluggish first half. :(

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Lots of mental and physical brutality during partition
Language: Clean
Nudity & Sexual content: The beginning of a rape.
Concept: Search for a closure by a person who had to leave his loved ones in Pakistan during the India-Pakistan Partition.
General Look and Feel: Sober and crisp.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 3
Story: 3
Lead Actors: 4
Character Artists: 4

Dialogues: 3
Screenplay: 3
Music Director: 3
Lyrics: 3.5

Main Vaapas Aaunga - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Window Seat Films, Applause Entertainment
Producer: Sameer Nair, Deepak Segal, Mohit Choudhary
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Lead Cast: Naseeruddin Shah , Diljit Dosanjh , Vedang Raina, Sharvari
Supporting Cast: Kumud Mishra, Rajat Kapoor , Anjana Sukhani, Sahil Mehta, Vinod Nagpal, Nikhat Khan, Banita Sandhu, Rasika Agashe, Kashmira Irani, Jashn Kohli, Jaipreet Singh, Krishna Kotian, Debasree Ghosh, Nikki Narula, Naresh Asija, Shruti Sodhi
Story: Imtiaz Ali, Nayanika Mahtani
Cinematography: Sylvester Fonseca, SR Kathir I.S.C
Editor: Aarti Bajaj
Background Score: Suresh Permal
Music Director: A R Rahman
Lyrics: Irshad Kamil
Costume Designer: Sheetal Iqbal Sharma
Running time: 165 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Romance, Social

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do - External Reviews

meeta — Mon, 25 May 2026 07:08:26 +0000

22 reviewers have given Pati Patni Aur Woh Do an average rating of 2.5/5.0 ^(?)

8 yays

8 nays

6 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do ^(?)

quick review:

Just because we have seen worse, doesn’t make a borderline slapstick attempt at rom-com entertaining. Yes, despite its whacky, hilarious premise.

Thumbs up by Divya Pal, Bollywood Life ...In the end, the film works because its cast fully commits to the madness. Ayushmann Khurrana, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Rakul Preet Singh all play their parts effectively within the ensemble setup. But quietly and unexpectedly, Sara Ali Khan emerges as the film’s most memorable element — not through louder scenes or dramatic moments, but through a performance that simply stays with you after the laughter settles.... full review

Thumbs up by Simran Singh, DNA ...Overall verdict Pati Patni aur Woh Do is a family entertainer that rebrands the franchise for good. It's a hilarious ride from start to end, made for family.... full review

Thumbs up by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...In the end, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do is a glossy, easygoing entertainer that banks heavily on confusion, chaos and relationship drama. It has its genuinely funny stretches, a committed lead performance from Ayushmann Khurrana and a few enjoyable supporting characters that keep the film moving at a brisk pace.... full review

Thumbs up by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, Pati, Patni Aur Woh Do is the kind of film that knows exactly what it wants to be and rarely loses sight of it. Packed with misunderstandings and energetic performances, it delivers enough laughs to justify the ride, even if some stretches work better than others.... full review

Thumbs up by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...The ensemble is equally funny. Right from Tigmanshu Dhulia‘s MLA to his goon, Durgesh Kumar. Vijay Raaz playing the ever-confused funny police wala to Ayesha Raza playing a loud Bua and Deepika Amin playing the sharp mother-in-law to the bechara pati! Each one of them plays their part to perfection.... full review

Thumbs up Movie Talkies ...The music of Pati Patni Aur Woh Do is decent, but... full review

Thumbs up by TITAS CHOWDHURY, News18.com ...Vishal Vashishtha, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vijay Raaz also deserve a mention. Pati Patni Aur Woh Do isn’t a flawless film but then again, it never pretends to be one. The makers commit to the madness with enough conviction to make much of it oddly enjoyable. At the heart of it is crackling chemistry between its ensemble, who collectively keeps the film buoyant even when the screenplay fumbles.... full review

Thumbs up by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...Pati Patni Aur Woh Do is a laughter-filled rollercoaster powered by clever writing, situational chaos and entertaining performances. Mudassar Aziz deserves credit for crafting dialogues that consistently hit the mark while cleverly incorporating nostalgic film references.... full review

So-So by Troy Ribeiro, Free Press Journal ...The music serves its purpose without demanding immortality. The songs blend seamlessly into the narrative’s massy temperament, neither interrupting nor elevating it dramatically. Visually, the film embraces colour, bustle, and small-town flamboyance. Prayagraj is presented with affectionate theatricality, while the production design supports the film’s larger-than-life comic temperament. Thankfully, even the animal sequences are handled with surprising visual competence.... full review

So-So by Shruti Sampat, MiD DAY ...Overall, the film is a fun one time watch, amid the recent comedy films attempting to keep their audience on seats with good laugh moments. Don't miss out on the major 'Welcome' reference in the film.... full review

So-So by Narendra Seni, NDTV ...पति पत्नी और वो दो में एक्टिंग की बात करें तो आयुष्मान खुराना कमाल के हैं. एक्सप्रेशन परफेक्ट हैं. रोल के लिए परफेक्ट हैं. कई सीन में तो वो सारी हदें पार कर जाते हैं. रकुल प्रीत सिंह का टॉम बॉय टाइप का रोल जमता है, और इस रोल में वह एकदम सटीक है. वामिका और सारा भी ठीकठाक हैं. दुर्गेश कुमार और विजय राज की कॉमिक टाइमिंग फिल्म को मजेदार बनाती है. तिग्मांशु धूलिया का छोटा लेकिन देसी और मजेदार किरदार है.... full review

So-So by Pratik Shekhar, News18.com ...टेक्निकली, यह फिल्म एक अच्छी और साफ-सुथरी बॉलीवुड फिल्म है. सिनेमैटोग्राफर ने प्रयागराज, बनारस और कानपुर के लोकल माहौल को बहुत खूबसूरती से कैप्चर किया है. फिल्म के विजुअल्स ब्राइट और कलरफुल हैं, जो एक कमर्शियल कॉमेडी फिल्म के मूड से पूरी तरह मेल खाते हैं. फॉरेस्ट डिपार्टमेंट के सीन और तेंदुए वाले सीन में इस्तेमाल किया गया VFX बजट के हिसाब से सही है और बनावटी नहीं लगता.... full review

So-So by Sreeju Sudhakaran, Rediff ...By the way, if the film itself is not amusing you enough in the theatre, I suggest a fun game: Count how many times 'Kajaria Tiles' appears on screen. I guarantee that exercise alone will keep you entertained.... full review

So-So by Dhawal Roy, Times of India ...कुछ ही मनोरंजक पलों और एक असमान पटकथा के साथ, इस परिस्थितिजन्य कॉमेडी को आसानी से छोड़ा जा सकता है। अपनी आशाजनक कहानी और सक्षम कलाकारों के बावजूद, पति पत्नी और वो दो अपनी ही उलझनों में इतना उलझ जाती है कि लगातार हँसी नहीं दिला पाती।... full review

Thumbs down by Vinamra Mathur, FirstPost ...Director Musassar Aziz is let down by a lifeless script. It is not a film about infidelity, but it is not a comedy of errors either. It almost comes close to becoming a comedy of terrors.... full review

Thumbs down by Jaya Dwivedie, India TV ...The biggest weakness of Pati Patni Aur Woh 2 is its writing. The most important aspect of comedy films is punchlines and situational humour. Most of the jokes used in this film either feel outdated or resemble WhatsApp forwards.... full review

Thumbs down by Shalini Langer, indian express ...Towards a brief while in the end, the comedy of errors actually works as a comedy of errors, as the film’s bevy of good actors shine through.... full review

Thumbs down by UDITA JHUNJHUNWALA, Live Mint ...The biggest weakness of Pati Patni Aur Woh 2 is its writing. The most important aspect of comedy films is punchlines and situational humour. Most of the jokes used in this film either feel outdated or resemble WhatsApp forwards.... full review

Thumbs down by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes ...Gabbi and Khan (at least they get meaty roles) lend Khurrana able support, while Singh is mostly relegated to the background. At 117 minutes, the comedy is fast-paced, but feels longer because of the ludicrousness on display. The occasionally funny one-liners might work for some, but other than that, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do doesn't offer anything you haven't watched before.... full review

Thumbs down by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...Mudassar Aziz instructs the cast to perform in a highly exaggerated manner and deliver every line at high volume. Only Khurrana, Singh and Raza Mishra are able to carry off this hyperbolic style. If the movie had been played straight, and if the acting had been naturalistic, it might perhaps have been a bit more effective.... full review

Thumbs down by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...There is a scene where one of the girls asks Prajapati, “Are you high on opium?” This is exactly my question to the conjurers of this tripe.... full review

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: T-Series Super Cassettes Industries Ltd., Zee Studios, B.R. Studios
Producer: Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Renu Ravi Chopra, Juno Chopra
Director: Muddassar Aziz
Lead Cast: Ayushman Khurana , Wamiqa Gabbi, Rakul Preet, Sara Ali Khan
Supporting Cast: Vijay Raaz, Shireesh Sharma, Tigmanshu Dhulia , Deepika Amin, Ayesha Raza, Shashie Verma, Aaditya Gupta, Vishal Vashishtha, Durgesh Kumar, Guneet Singh Sodhi, Manoj Singh ‘Tiger’, Santanu Kumar Panda, Rahul Chawla, Ishaan Kesarwani, Anmol, Sabrina, Shanaya Gupta, Urja Gupta, Ashutosh Pandey, Sadaam Hussain, Lal Mohd, Muskaan Khan, Akshay Aggarwal, Rajveer Singh, Akash Jaiswal, Ram Mani Tripathi, Neeraj Sharma, Abhishek Sonpaliya
Story: Muddassar Aziz
Screenplay: Muddassar Aziz , Ravi Kumar
Dialogues: Muddassar Aziz
Cinematography: Jishnu Bhattacharjee, Piyush-Shazia
Editor: Ninad Khanolkar
Background Score: Ketan Sodha
Action Choreography: Amar Shetty
Choreography: Bosco Martis
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty , Himesh Reshammiya, Rajesh Roshan, Tony Kakkar, Rochak Kohli, Badshah, Anand Milind, Tanishk Bagchi, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Lijo George, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan Nizami, Dev Sadana, Neelkamal Singh
Lyrics: Mayur Puri , Javed Akhtar , Sameer, Kumaar, Ayushman Khurana , Badshah, Kunaal Vermaa, Indeevar, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan Nizami, Neelkamal Singh
Costume Designer: Manish Malhotra , Aki Narula, Ipshita Bhatnagar
Running time: 115 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slapstick

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do - Review

meeta — Fri, 15 May 2026 12:55:20 +0000

wogma rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do ^(?)

quick review:

Just because we have seen worse, doesn’t make a borderline slapstick attempt at rom-com entertaining. Yes, despite its whacky, hilarious premise.

Review

Girl asks boy to play fake boyfriend. The reasons are irrelevant, for now. Everything that can go wrong, does. And more. Now, add the reason—a politician is after the girl's life. More things to go wrong. Oh boy is married and happily so, by the way. Need I say anything at all? And I haven't given away anything that you wouldn't know in the first 10 or so minutes of the movie.

It is actually quite funny, the situation that our boy, Prajapati Pandey (Ayushmann Khurana), finds himself in. But the choice to make it loud and tacky doesn't serve the story. And that's about sums up what it made me feel.

I guess that means I wanted to watch a different movie. One with a similar story but which tones down the exaggerated reactions and expressions, the intrusive aunt, the caricatured police officer, and so on. So, I am pretty much asking for this potential for a decent comedy film to take a Hrishikesh Mukherjee/Basu Chatterjee route. And that's unlikely to happen, isn't it?

Or maybe it will, some day. Until then, I can complain about the misuse of Ayushmann Khurana's talent even as I appreciate the promise of comic timing shown by Wamiqa Gabbi, Rakul Preet and Sara Ali Khan. Of course, the writing doesn't have too many situations for them to explore that potential, but the half moments they grab on to are noticeable.

If only they spent some time on fleshing out the lines and situations instead of using up the energy to conjure up some random Hindu-Muslim situations. I get that it is satire full of social commentary. But it doesn't land. Firstly, because it comes out of the blue. And secondly, well, it is just not funny.

It actually hurts to see a potentially comic situations making you cringe rather than giggle or even smile. Not that, that hasn't happened before. But, I still feel bad and sad and everything that goes with it, when I know I could have watched something better, they could have certainly made something better. I guess that also means the hope still lives. Until the next time, then.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: People being tied to trees and threat of gunshots.
Language: Clean but loud. Feels like people are yelling at each other all the time.
Nudity & Sexual content: Some sensual dance sequences and a married couple romancing each other.
Concept: A man trying to be a good friend to a woman and all goes wrong.
General Look and Feel: Bright and loud.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 2
Story: 2.5
Lead Actors: 2.5
Character Artists: 2

Dialogues: 1.5
Screenplay: 2.5
Music Director: 1
Lyrics: 1

Pati Patni Aur Woh Do - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: T-Series Super Cassettes Industries Ltd., Zee Studios, B.R. Studios
Producer: Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Renu Ravi Chopra, Juno Chopra
Director: Muddassar Aziz
Lead Cast: Ayushman Khurana , Wamiqa Gabbi, Rakul Preet, Sara Ali Khan
Supporting Cast: Vijay Raaz, Shireesh Sharma, Tigmanshu Dhulia , Deepika Amin, Ayesha Raza, Shashie Verma, Aaditya Gupta, Vishal Vashishtha, Durgesh Kumar, Guneet Singh Sodhi, Manoj Singh ‘Tiger’, Santanu Kumar Panda, Rahul Chawla, Ishaan Kesarwani, Anmol, Sabrina, Shanaya Gupta, Urja Gupta, Ashutosh Pandey, Sadaam Hussain, Lal Mohd, Muskaan Khan, Akshay Aggarwal, Rajveer Singh, Akash Jaiswal, Ram Mani Tripathi, Neeraj Sharma, Abhishek Sonpaliya
Story: Muddassar Aziz
Screenplay: Muddassar Aziz , Ravi Kumar
Dialogues: Muddassar Aziz
Cinematography: Jishnu Bhattacharjee, Piyush-Shazia
Editor: Ninad Khanolkar
Background Score: Ketan Sodha
Action Choreography: Amar Shetty
Choreography: Bosco Martis
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty , Himesh Reshammiya, Rajesh Roshan, Tony Kakkar, Rochak Kohli, Badshah, Anand Milind, Tanishk Bagchi, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Lijo George, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan Nizami, Dev Sadana, Neelkamal Singh
Lyrics: Mayur Puri , Javed Akhtar , Sameer, Kumaar, Ayushman Khurana , Badshah, Kunaal Vermaa, Indeevar, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan Nizami, Neelkamal Singh
Costume Designer: Manish Malhotra , Aki Narula, Ipshita Bhatnagar
Running time: 115 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slapstick

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