War 2 review: Hrithik-Jr NTR’s bromance peaks in this narratively anaemic spy thriller
War 2 pairs Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR in a bromance-laced spy spectacle, but its stylish action can't mask a thin plot. Read our review of this globe-trotting yet narratively anaemic action thriller.
New Delhi: Yash Raj Films’ War 2 stormed into theatres ahead of Independence Day 2025 as a high-stakes box-office duel with Rajinikanth’s Coolie. Directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Aditya Chopra, it is the sixth film in the YRF Spy Universe (Adi Chopra’s very own MCU; but patriotic). Starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR in the lead, War 2 lands with all the noise and muscle. But once the dust settles, you are left with a film that dazzles in VFX, significantly better than Pathaan, but stumbles in the long run with its unconsolidated plot.
Amid globe-trotting locales and cryptic past connections, War 2 arrives with the swagger of a weekend must-watch. But should you really clear your schedule? Scroll down to read!
War 2 plot
RAW’s golden boy Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) is suddenly branded a traitor after assassinating his own chief, Colonel Karan Luthra(Ashutosh Rana). Vikrant Kaul (Anil Kapoor) steps in as the new War Chief, recruiting Vikram (Jr NTR) to hunt Kabir down. But their shared history blurs the lines between hunter and hunted. Shadowing their chase is the globe-spanning Kali Cartel, which plots to cripple India and target the Prime Minister.
Unknown to all, Kabir, famed as "the man who doesn’t miss” with 20 kills in 15 months, is infiltrating Kali from within. War 2 races through buried loyalties and a secret mission that could turn enemies into allies. Yet with hidden agendas on all sides, the real question remains: Who is truly playing ‘India First’?
War 2 review: Performances
Jr NTR arrives in Bollywood with a slow burn of a role. In the latter half, he matches Hrithik’s screen presence beat for beat. But the script’s reluctance to grant him any terrific moment is a puzzling misstep. He is given a thunderous entry with no goosebump-worthy high point feels. It almost feels criminal.
Hrithik owns the screen with the kind of effortlessness only he can conjure – the chiselled physique, the feline agility in combat, the smouldering silences. He’s pure cinema.
Kiara Advani flits in and out. She looks resplendent yet saddled with a thankless role. Her subplot is tacked on, and the less said about her chemistry with Hrithik, the better.
War 2 review: What’s good?
The VFX is slick, the production design opulent. Sanchit and Ankit Balhara’s background score adds urgency, even when the narrative loses steam. Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s bromance gets its most flamboyant flourish with the track Janaab-e-Aali. The song’s infectious beat and playful staging lift the energy. It’s a crowd-pleaser moment that sticks.
WTF: Where’s the Flaw?
Where War 2 truly falters is in its action and storytelling. Ayan Mukerji leans too heavily on spy-movie clichés. We have double crosses, identity flips, and rogue agents with murky motives. A little bit of everything we have watched before in Hollywood action films. The emotional moments between Kabir and Kavya are surface-level, and it is needless to say, the Kabir-Vikram bromance had more chemistry.
Aarif Sheikh’s editing can’t disguise the sag in the midsection. And by the time the over-engineered and snoozefest of a climax arrives, the audience has stopped caring which side anyone is really on. The film is peppered with patriotic dialogues and scenes that are too stretched in the second half. That explains the 173 minutes.
War 2 review: Final verdict
War 2 is a paradox. It has all the gloss, muscle, and star wattage money can buy. Yet it is hollow at its core. It’s a missed opportunity for Jr NTR’s Hindi debut and a step down for a franchise that once redefined Bollywood action.
Watch it for Kabu-Raghu bromance.
War 2 cast: Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana, Anil Kapoor, Varun BadolaWar 2 director: Ayan MukerjiWar 2 ratings: 2.5 stars