A Follow-Up That Forgets What Made the First One Work
Over ten years after Son of Sardaar hit theatres, Ajay Devgn is back as Jassi — but this time, the film ditches any connection to the original and goes all-in on absurdity. Son of Sardaar 2 moves from Punjab to Scotland, brings in new characters, and builds a chaotic comedy out of misunderstandings, cultural clashes, and family drama.
It tries to be light-hearted and goofy — and sometimes succeeds — but more often, it spins in circles trying to figure out what kind of film it really wants to be.
Plot: Confusion as Comedy
At its core, the story revolves around Jassi (Ajay Devgn), a well-meaning but dim-witted Punjabi man, who travels to the UK to reconcile with his estranged wife (Neeru Bajwa). Things quickly spiral out of control when he crosses paths with Rabia (Mrunal Thakur), a Pakistani dhol band leader. The two end up pretending to be a couple — not for love, but to help Rabia’s sister secure a marriage alliance with a patriotic, anti-Pakistan father (played by Ravi Kishan).
There’s a mix of cross-border tensions, mistaken identities, romantic subplots, and random patriotic outbursts — all delivered with high volume and low coherence.
Performances: A Mixed Bag of Energy
Ajay Devgn is game for silliness, shedding his usual tough-guy persona. But even his comic timing can’t rescue a script that’s straining for laughs. Mrunal Thakur shows some potential with comic timing, but her character — and styling — feels more forced than fun.
The standout here is Deepak Dobriyal, who plays a gender-nonconforming character with surprising grace. He brings a touch of authenticity and wit, but sadly isn’t given enough screen time. Ravi Kishan commits to the absurdity, even when his character veers into caricature.
Kubbra Sait, Roshni Walia, Vindu Dara Singh, and the late Mukul Dev round out a bloated cast, most of whom are left wandering through underdeveloped subplots.
Writing and Direction: Lost in the Noise
The writing team (Jagdeep Singh Sidhu and Mohit Jain) shows occasional flashes of charm, especially in the first half. But the second half stumbles into randomness — including a bizarre drug sequence and recycled war film tropes. There’s an attempt to subvert India-Pakistan clichés, but the gags often fall flat or get buried under messy storytelling.
By the time a tank rolls into the frame, and Rohit Shetty makes a surprise cameo to plug another franchise, it’s clear the film is more interested in spectacle than substance.
Final Verdict
Son of Sardaar 2 is noisy, chaotic, and filled with moments that aim for comedy but land in confusion. It’s not without its flashes of fun — mainly thanks to Dobriyal and Ravi Kishan — but the film lacks the discipline to stick the landing. If you’re in the mood for mindless entertainment, it may amuse in bits. But even for a slapstick sequel, the bar is low, and this one barely clears it.
Bullseye Rating:★★½ (2.5/5 stars)
Ajay Devgn returns in Son of Sardaar 2, a chaotic sequel with some laughs and lots of confusion. Deepak Dobriyal shines, but the film struggles with uneven writing and forced humor.
The movie is currently in theatres.