BY NAMITA DOGRA SUDAN*
Released on August 14th, just ahead of India’s Independence Day weekend, War 2 marks the sixth chapter in Yash Raj Films’ ever-expanding Spy Universe. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film brings back Hrithik Roshan as Kabir Dhaliwal, once India’s top agent, now its most wanted rogue. To stop him, RAW deploys Vikram Chelapathi (N. T. Rama Rao Jr., making his Hindi film debut), with Kiara Advani as a Wing Commander who joins the mission in high style.
Plot
Picking up from War (2019), the story crisscrosses Mumbai, Spain, Italy, and Abu Dhabi in a whirlwind of chases, shootouts, and elaborate set pieces designed for Dolby and IMAX glory. The Indian box office responded with holiday-weekend enthusiasm, but in the US, early “average” reviews dulled interest, and by weekend, even among Indian Americans, the turnout was underwhelming.
The issue? While the film delivers wall-to-wall spectacle, the writing leans heavily on clichés and forced twists. The action often abandons logic entirely, whether it’s a midair fistfight on top of a plane with no oxygen masks, bullets killing everyone except the heroine who walks away untouched, Jr. NTR leaping from a bridge onto a moving train and landing flawlessly, or Hrithik Roshan making a wolf bow down with a single alpha glare. The list is endless, as the film overflows with physics-defying stunts and a logic-defying story.
Acting
Hrithik Roshan remains magnetic, blending steely resolve with physical power. Jr. NTR steps into Bollywood with gravitas, and the pair’s face-offs are the film’s high points, but in front of Hritik’s screen presence Jr. NTR falls short. Kiara Advani looks stunning, but her role suffers from a frustratingly familiar Bollywood pattern, where the heroine exists mainly to wear a bikini, dance in a song, and few lame action scenes. Her presence adds glamour, but no real weight to the plot. For a genre that rarely caters the female audience, such underdeveloped female portrayals only reinforce the “For Men Only” feel. Women enjoy action films too, but give us the grounded thrills of Mission Impossible or the charm of James Bond ormartial arts’ skilled Karate Kid, not empty glamour shots between explosions.
Strengths & Weaknesses
The film’s strengths lie in its polished visuals, exotic locations, and adrenaline-charged stunt choreography. Hrithik and Jr. NTR’s combined star power holds attention, and Pritam’s soundtrack, especially “Aavan Jaavan” and “Janaab-e-Aali”, keeps the pulse racing.
Its weaknesses, however, are just as glaring. The screenplay relies on recycled plot beats and paper-thin villains. Supporting characters like Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor are wasted. Most damaging is the lack of narrative logic, which undermines even the most ambitious action sequences. And with the female lead sidelined into a decorative role, the film misses a chance to bring broader appeal and smarter storytelling to its big-budget franchise.
Final Word
War 2 is a feast for the eyes and maybe an average watch for franchise loyalists, but for viewers craving story, realistic action, or meaningful female characters, it’s another glossy but hollow entry in Bollywood’s action catalogue.
Verdict:
2.5 stars, a below-average movie. Disappointing for many, and a reminder to Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe: please don’t assume your audience hasn’t gone to school or college.
*Namita Dogra Sudan is the entertainment news editor and video news producer of NRIPulse.
