There’s no denying War 2 comes loaded with star power. Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR together in the same frame should’ve been enough to set screens ablaze. Add Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, and Ayan Mukerji in the director’s chair, and you’d expect a spy thriller to remember. Instead, what we get feels more like a travel documentary with guns than an actual story-driven film.
The film is visually lavish — hopping from India to Spain, Russia, Switzerland, and even Manali — but all that globe-trotting can’t hide the fact that the plot simply refuses to take off. The mission at hand gets buried under postcard-perfect scenery, gravity-defying stunts, and glossy slow-motion shots of the stars looking fabulous.
Action Without Purpose
War 2 pushes the envelope for over-the-top stunts — fights mid-air, chases on icy roads, bullets dodged with Matrix-level reflexes — but none of it feels necessary. The action sequences look expensive, but they don’t add depth or urgency to the story. It’s almost as if the action exists just to remind us this is part of the “Spy Universe,” not because the narrative truly calls for it.
Even when the stakes are supposedly high — a cartel threatening India, an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister — the villains feel far too bland to be taken seriously. The tension never really builds; instead, we’re distracted by perfectly styled hair, spotless wardrobes, and locations screaming for an Instagram tag.
Wasted Talent
Hrithik Roshan can sell intensity with just his eyes, and Jr NTR has the charisma to hold any scene, but here, both feel like they’re running in circles. Kiara Advani’s Air Force officer Kavya, sadly, gets reduced to a sun-kissed prop in Spain. Anil Kapoor shows up in a blink-and-miss role, and Ashutosh Rana continues his routine Spy Universe presence without much impact.
The saddest part? None of these talented actors get the kind of meat they deserve in their roles. With such a cast, we expected sparks. Instead, we got scattered embers.
Scenic But Hollow
Ayan Mukerji clearly knows how to stage beautiful frames, but War 2 proves that cinematic gloss can’t replace solid storytelling. The constant location shifts begin to feel like filler, making the narrative seem even thinner. You start to wonder if the budget went more into air tickets and CGI than into script development.
By the time the film circles back to its starting point, you’re left with more questions about why the story felt so undercooked than about the fate of the characters.
All Style, No War
War 2 isn’t without entertainment value — fans of Hrithik and Jr NTR will still enjoy their presence, and the action lovers will find some jaw-dropping moments. But for those craving a tight, gripping spy thriller, this one is all about the surface shine with nothing much underneath.
If the Spy Universe wants to keep its audience invested, it’s going to take more than star power and scenic locations. We need stories that hit as hard as the stunts look.
