War 2 Movie Review

Movie Name: War 2

Release Date: August 14, 2025

Starring: NTR, Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Producer: Aditya Chopra (Yash Raj Films)

Music Directors: Pritam, Sanchit Balhara, Ankit Balhara

Cinematographer: Benjamin Jasper ACS

Editor: Aarik Sheikh

War 2 is the latest chapter in Bollywood’s biggest action franchise — the YRF Spy Universe — and brings together two cinematic powerhouses: Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR. With Ayan Mukerji at the helm, the buzz was sky-high, and the film has finally hit the screens today. Does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out.

Story

Kabir (Hrithik Roshan), once a top-tier R&AW agent, now works as a contract assassin targeting high-profile figures. Meanwhile, a coalition of powerful nations forms a shadowy syndicate called Kali, bent on destabilizing India. Seeing Kabir as the perfect weapon, they task him with dismantling both India’s defenses and R&AW itself.

R&AW responds by deploying their ace agent, Vikram Chalapathi (Jr. NTR), to stop him. What follows is a high-stakes battle of wits and skill. Why did Kabir betray his nation? How is his past tied to Vikram and Wing Commander Kavya Luthra (Kiara Advani)? The answers unfold in this stylish yet uneven spy thriller.

Plus Points

Casting Masterstroke: The pairing of Jr. NTR and Hrithik Roshan is a visual treat, and their presence alone adds immense weight to the film.

Stylish Star Intros & Action: Both stars get grand entry sequences, followed by an exciting chase scene that kicks the adrenaline up.

Interval Twist: The pre-interval reveal raises curiosity for the second half.

Performances: Hrithik radiates swag and charisma, while NTR brings his trademark intensity. Kiara Advani and the supporting cast do their jobs adequately.

Minus Points

Routine First Half: While intermittently engaging, the first half often feels like a rehash of War, relying heavily on action to sustain interest.

Underused Potential: The idea of two grey-shaded protagonists is exciting on paper but underdeveloped on screen.

Lack of Emotional Depth: Opportunities for strong drama are missed, and the emotional payoff arrives too late to make a major impact.

Flat Cat-and-Mouse Game: The much-anticipated face-off between Hrithik and NTR lacks the tension and thrills expected from such a clash.

Technical Aspects:

Pritam’s songs are average, with none standing out. The background score by Sanchit and Ankit Balhara works well during the action set pieces. However, Salam Anali’s choreography is a letdown, especially given the dancing prowess of the leads.

VFX work is a slight improvement over Pathaan and Tiger 3 but still falls short of big-budget excellence. Aditya Chopra’s story is solid in concept, yet Ayan Mukerji’s uneven narration — reminiscent of the issues in Brahmastra — prevents it from soaring. The editing could have been tighter, and Benjamin Jasper ACS’s cinematography delivers in patches rather than consistently.

Verdict

War 2 is a notch above recent YRF Spy Universe entries, thanks to Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR’s commanding screen presence. The first half offers some stylish action, but the flat second half and lack of high-impact moments keep it from being a top-tier spy thriller. Watch it for the stars and a few well-executed set pieces, but don’t expect a consistently gripping narrative.

RATING: 3/5