War 2 Review: Hrithik and Jr. NTR Prove Two Stars Are Better Than One

Hrithik Roshan returns as Kabir in the YRF Spy Universe’s latest entry, facing off against Jr. NTR’s Vikram. Ayan Mukerji directs this action spectacle that hit theatres on August 14, 2025. Kiara Advani and Ashutosh Rana round out the cast.

Spanning 173 minutes, the film travels from Japan to Spain to frozen caves. Shridhar Raghavan and Abbas Tyrewala wrote the screenplay. It’s the sixth instalment in YRF’s growing spy franchise.

The Story

Kabir was India’s finest RAW agent until he went rogue. Now he works for KALI, a terrorist outfit run by India’s enemies. His first assignment: eliminate his own mentor, Colonel Luthra.

The government deploys Vikram to stop him. This special operative has a reputation for never failing. But when the two meet, something unexpected happens. They share history from their training days.

KALI’s next order comes through: kill the Defense Minister’s family. Instead of following through, Kabir joins forces with Vikram. Their partnership against KALI forms the backbone of what follows. The film uses flashbacks to show how these former batchmates became the men they are today.

The plot hits familiar notes. Rogue agent stories follow certain patterns, and this one doesn’t break them. But watching how it unfolds still provides plenty of thrills, mainly because of how the lead actors sell their relationship.

How They Performed

Roshan slips back into Kabir’s skin like he never left. His physical training shows in every frame. The Japan sequence where he battles multiple attackers demonstrates his dedication to doing his own stunts whenever possible.

What impressed me more were his quieter moments. When Kabir remembers Luthra’s teachings about putting country first, Roshan’s face tells you everything about the character’s internal war. He balances the spy’s ruthlessness with genuine patriotism.

Jr. NTR brings something fresh to this franchise. Vikram could have been just another tough guy, but NTR gives him layers. His intensity never tips into overacting. When Vikram declares his instant respect for Kabir in that Spanish mall, you believe it completely.

Their dynamic makes this film click. The tension between them feels real. So does their eventual friendship. Both actors understand they’re stronger together than apart, and they play off each other beautifully.

Kiara Advani gets shortchanged. Kavya enters seeking revenge for her father’s murder. Then the script gradually forgets about her. Advani does solid work with what she has, bringing real grief to her early scenes. I just wish she’d been given more than supporting status.

Ashutosh Rana appears mainly in flashbacks as Colonel Luthra. Despite limited time, he makes those scenes count. Luthra’s influence on Kabir shapes the entire story, and Rana gives the mentor figure genuine warmth and authority.

The Good Stuff

The action sequences deliver. Mukerji understands how to shoot fights so you can actually see them. No shaky cam hiding sloppy choreography here. Each move lands clearly. Each stunt registers properly.

That car chase in Spain ranks among the year’s best. Real driving combined with digital assists creates genuine excitement. The boat chase later on throws in surprises I didn’t expect. Both sequences prove you don’t need to confuse viewers to create thrills.

Location shooting adds production value. Japan’s neon-lit streets contrast with Spain’s sunny architecture. That final showdown in an ice cave looks impressive even when you spot the occasional digital seam. The film knows how to use its budget.

What really works is watching Roshan and NTR build their connection. They move from wanting to kill each other to trusting each other with their lives. The script doesn’t rush this. It lets their bond develop through actions and shared danger.

There’s also a surprising openness about their relationship. Most action films would play the male bonding straight. This one acknowledges the charged nature of what’s happening between them without making a big deal of it. That honesty feels refreshing.

The runtime of nearly three hours could have dragged. Instead, Mukerji keeps things moving. Action beats alternate with character work and plot developments. I stayed engaged throughout, which says something about the film’s rhythm.

What Fell Short

You can predict every twist. The shared history reveal? Saw it coming. The team-up against the real enemy? Expected it. The various double-crosses? Called them all. A few genuine surprises would have elevated this considerably.

Kavya deserved better treatment. Her revenge motivation could have driven a whole storyline parallel to the Kabir-Vikram dynamic. Instead, she fades into the background once the boys start bonding. Advani has proven herself in other films. This script wastes her.

KALI never feels dangerous. Sure, the characters tell us this organization threatens national security. But we never see why we should fear them. The individual villains lack personality. They’re just obstacles for our heroes to overcome rather than genuine threats.

The patriotic messaging gets heavy at times. Every character seems to repeat variations of India first. I understand spy thrillers lean nationalistic. But this one occasionally forgets to be subtle about it. The way it positions neighboring countries as villainous also feels dated.

How Critics and Audiences Reacted

Reviews have been split. Rotten Tomatoes shows just 27% of critics recommending it, based on 22 reviews. Critics pointed to weak plotting despite strong action.

Roger Ebert’s site took a kinder view. Their reviewer appreciated how the film delivers what its audience wants without pretending to be something else. The Times of India gave it 3 out of 5, describing it as decent entertainment without being exceptional.

General audiences rated it 5.9 on IMDb. User opinions divided between those calling it one of the franchise’s best and those wishing it had more fun with its ridiculous premise. Variety noted the star power pulls you in but the story can’t hold that attention.

Social media buzz leaned more positive than professional critics. Fans of the franchise seem satisfied. Action lovers appreciate the well-shot sequences. The consensus seems to be: good enough if you know what you’re getting into.

Final Thoughts

War 2 knows its job. Deliver spectacular action. Make your stars look great. Keep audiences entertained for three hours. Mission accomplished on all counts.

It won’t change how spy thrillers get made. It doesn’t aim to. The focus stays locked on giving fans what they want: Roshan and NTR kicking ass while developing genuine chemistry. Everything else serves that goal.

Mukerji improves as an action director here. His fight choreography favours clarity over confusion. His pacing prevents dead spots. His willingness to let the bromance be openly bromantic adds unexpected depth.

The predictable story and thin villains hold it back from greatness. So does wasting Kiara Advani. But for a Friday night action fix, this hits the spot. It’s one of the stronger YRF Spy Universe entries despite its flaws.

Rating: 3 out of 5