War 2 Review: Hrithik–Jr NTR Spy Epic Fires on Star Power, Wobbles on Story
The first thing you notice on the morning of 14 August 2025 is that the air itself feels different. It’s not just Independence Day weekend — it’s War 2 day. Outside Hyderabad’s Prasads IMAX, the pavement is littered with marigold petals from a garland ceremony for a giant cut-out of Jr NTR. Fans have been here since 5 AM, sipping chai in paper cups and guarding their place in line. In Mumbai, the crowd is more mixed — office-goers on a holiday, teenagers with “Kabir Forever” scribbled on their cheeks, couples weighing whether the ₹2,600 recliner seats are worth it.
That’s the thing about War 2: it isn’t just a movie, it’s an event. Yash Raj Films positioned it as the crown jewel of their Spy Universe — the cinematic world that began in 2012 with Ek Tha Tiger and grew into a web of interlinked blockbusters. But after the underwhelming response to Tiger 3, the franchise needed a jolt. Hrithik Roshan’s brooding superspy Kabir makes a comeback here, this time squaring off with Telugu cinema’s powerhouse, Jr NTR, in what is his first full-scale outing in Hindi. And to steer this high-stakes ship, Yash Raj turned to Ayan Mukerji — the man behind Brahmastra — who spoke of blending sweeping scale with full-throttle action and just enough emotional weight to keep it grounded.
In the weeks before release, you couldn’t walk through a major city without bumping into War 2. Hrithik’s sharp profile stared down from billboards in Delhi, Jr NTR’s unflinching gaze watched over busy Vijayawada roundabouts, and Kiara Advani’s sunlit beach stills seemed to pop up on every second Instagram story. Yet when the advance booking numbers finally dropped, the noise gave way to a brief, thoughtful silence. The film had raked in ₹20.57 crore in India for Day 1, ₹11 crore overseas — a ₹29 crore global pre-sales tally. Big by most standards, but modest for a production of this reported ₹300–₹400 crore budget. The surprise twist? Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ticket sales nearly matched the Hindi belt. In the South, Jr NTR’s pull was real.
Storyline
The story itself — kept under wraps in promos — picks up after the events of Tiger 3. Kabir Dhaliwal is no longer the agency’s golden boy; he’s gone rogue, and his motives are a mystery. Vikram, played by Jr NTR, is the agency’s sharpest weapon, dispatched to hunt Kabir down. Their pursuit hurtles from the chaos of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to the rain-slick streets of Mumbai, races through Rome’s historic alleys on roaring motorcycles, and dives into a nerve-tightening underwater mission in Malta. Kiara Advani is the unpredictable element — sometimes ally, sometimes adversary — her true intentions hidden until the very end.
Action & Set Pieces
It’s in the set-pieces that War 2 flexes its budget. The Istanbul market chase, shot with hundreds of extras, has a kinetic energy that feels grounded. The Rome motorcycle sequence blends real stunt work with drone cinematography that gives it a thrilling verticality. The much-teased Janaab-e-Aali song — more of a playful dance-off than a battle — lets Hrithik and Jr NTR showcase why they’re both considered among the best movers in Indian cinema. And the Malta sequence, performed largely underwater, is one of Kiara’s finest moments, revealing a steeliness beneath the glamour.
#War2Review
— Rohit 😇 (@goonerfromind) August 14, 2025
Its a must watch guys. Actually its a multiple watch movie 🔥
It has everything Action Drama Emotions Twists Surprise (Second half twists were too good)#HrithikRoshan screen presence and aura no one can match plus his range in acting . Man you seriously need to do… pic.twitter.com/KAFbwoip0x
Performances
The performances are a study in contrast. Hrithik brings his trademark precision — every gesture, every glance calibrated — but there’s a familiarity to his Kabir, as though the actor is gliding on the muscle memory of earlier roles. Jr NTR, by contrast, radiates raw force. His entry scene, scored with a Telugu-English rap blend, sends the South Indian crowd into a frenzy, and his emotional beats land with quiet weight. Still, the script sidelines him in the second half, a choice that’s already stirred debate online. Kiara, styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, gets her share of eye-catching moments — yes, including the bikini scene that’s had social media buzzing — but also proves her action chops in a brutal Istanbul fight.
Audience Reactions
If the reaction inside the theatres is intense, outside it borders on the surreal. In Hyderabad, fans dance in the streets, setting off firecrackers and blaring RRR’s “Naatu Naatu” alongside War 2 tracks. One clip of a man applying a blood tilak to Jr NTR’s poster goes viral. In Mumbai, the whistles come loudest for Hrithik’s slo-mo entries, the claps for his banter with Vikram, the collective hush when Kabir and Kiara share the frame. And then there’s the online split: “NTR stole the film” vs “Kabir carried it” vs “Great first half, predictable second.”
Critical Reception
Critics are equally divided. Some hail the scale, the slick choreography, and the easy chemistry between leads. Others, like trade analyst Sumit Kadel, liken it to YRF’s Thugs of Hindostan misstep, calling the visual effects “worse than PS3 graphics” and lamenting an underwritten antagonist. Taran Adarsh summed up his take in a single word — “DULL.” Even reviewers on the fence agree that the second half plays it too safe, with predictable turns that sap the momentum built in the first.
Direction & Technical Aspects
On the craft side, Ayan Mukerji’s imprint is everywhere. He frames Istanbul in molten-gold light, catches Rome’s cobblestones glistening under a steady drizzle, and gives the film a painter’s sense of composition. Pritam’s score moves easily between foot-tapping tracks and sweeping orchestral swells that lift the big, dramatic beats. But for all its polish, the illusion wobbles now and then — a flat aerial shot here, an underwhelming explosion there — little things that tug at the sense of grandeur a franchise like this thrives on.
Box Office & Impact
On the box office front, early signs are mixed. By 10 AM on release day, the film had earned ₹8.36 crore in India, with Telugu states matching Hindi market numbers — a rarity for this franchise. Overseas, it’s projected to pull in USD 2.3–2.5 million on Day 1. The weekend will be critical; insiders estimate it needs ₹500 crore worldwide to break even comfortably.
Beyond numbers, War 2 leaves a mark in other ways. For Jr NTR, it’s a high-profile Hindi debut that cements his pan-India status, even if fans wish the role gave him more dominance. For Hrithik, it’s another entry in his action portfolio, proof that his charisma hasn’t dimmed. For Kiara, it’s a chance to stretch beyond romantic leads into the action space. And for YRF’s Spy Universe, it’s a step forward in world-building, with two post-credit scenes that set up Alpha — Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in the spotlight, Bobby Deol as a mysterious mentor — and tease crossovers with Pathaan and Tiger.
Final Verdict
The question — What is the review of War 2? — doesn’t have a neat answer. This is a film made up of striking moments: a deft sidestep in the middle of a fight, a knowing smile exchanged across a dance floor, a cinematic wide shot of two spies facing off on a rain-drenched rooftop. But it’s also a film of missed chances — a second half that retreats to safe territory, visual effects that fall short of the ambition, and a central rivalry that could have been explored with far more bite.
Is War 2 released today? Yes, and it’s already sparked a wave of street-side celebrations and online arguments. Is it a hit or flop? Too early to tell, but its fate will hinge on whether the Hindi belt joins the South in turning out in force. For now, it stands as a lavish, loud, and largely enjoyable spectacle — a reminder that in the war between style and substance, Bollywood often lets style take the first shot.
Also read: about the Kesari movie, and also explore our entertainment desk
