When you bring together two of India’s biggest superstars - Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR and give them a budget of nearly ₹400 crore, expectations are bound to be sky-high. Unfortunately, War 2 turns out to be nothing short of a cinematic disaster - a “Thugs of Hindostan moment” for Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe. Despite its massive scale, glamorous cast, and extravagant promotions, the film collapses under the weight of its own ambition.

The three essential pillars of any large-scale action film - VFX, action, and story,crumble spectacularly here. For a movie that’s touted as the biggest offering in the Spy Universe, War 2 shockingly delivers some of the worst visual effects seen in recent big-budget cinema. At several points, the graphics look worse than an early-generation video game. Major set pieces , including a train-top fight, an aerial dogfight involving a bomber jet, and a boat chase in Dubai are so poorly executed that they draw unintentional laughter instead of awe.

The storyline fares no better. What unfolds is a predictable, recycled narrative that audiences can guess halfway through. The much-hyped interval twist lands with a dull thud, offering no real surprise or shock value. The screenplay is sluggish, flat, and devoid of the kind of goosebump-inducing moments one expects from a spy thriller of this scale. There are no hero-elevation sequences, no emotional payoffs, and certainly no memorable high points.

Fans of Jr. NTR will feel particularly short-changed. His character, Raghu, is criminally underwritten and pales in comparison to Hrithik’s Kabir. His entry scene ,meant to be his grand moment - falls flat, and he’s largely sidelined in the second half. It’s a waste of his immense screen presence and acting prowess, though his performance and Hindi diction are spot-on.

Hrithik Roshan, as Kabir, looks magnetic as always, but even his charisma can’t salvage the dull writing. His much-publicized Japan action sequence is clumsy and lacks the finesse expected from a franchise that once gave us stylish action in War (2019).

The direction by Ayan Mukerji is uninspired. While Mukerji proved his flair for spectacle in Brahmāstra, here he seems shackled by a weak script and inconsistent tone. Even basic detailing errors ,such as skyscrapers from modern-day Mumbai appearing in childhood flashbacks set 30 years ago - expose the film’s carelessness. The character arcs lack logic, the missions are poorly justified, and the supposed emotional conflict between Hrithik and NTR never connects.

The film’s villain group, “KALI”, is both lazily conceived and awkwardly named, further diluting any sense of threat or gravitas. The writing by Sridhar Raghavan, who also penned Tiger 3, once again fails to deliver intrigue or excitement.

Kiara Advani and Anil Kapoor are entirely wasted, with little to do beyond a handful of superficial scenes. The only redeeming moment is the foot-tapping song “Jaanabe Ali”, featuring Hrithik and NTR, which briefly brings life to an otherwise dull narrative.

Ultimately, War 2 is a monumental misfire , a film that neither entertains nor justifies its massive budget. It lacks the charm of Pathaan, the energy of War (2019), and even the coherence of Tiger 3. Both in content and execution, it’s a complete failure and easily the weakest link in the YRF Spy Universe so far.

At the box office, War 2 is unlikely to roar. If it even manages average collections in the North and South, that will be a miracle in itself.