War 2 Review: Familiar spy verse with high action

What’s it about?

in a startling turn of events, Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) eliminates his own RAW chief, Sunil Luthra (Ashutosh Rana), sending shockwaves through the agency. Determined to avenge her father’s death, Luthra’s daughter, Kavya (Kiara Advani), vows to hunt Kabir down. However, the newly appointed RAW chief (Anil Kapoor) believes only one man can match Kabir’s skill: Agent Vikram Chalapathi (NTR).

Vikram arrives in Europe and engages in a high-octane pursuit of Kabir. Yet, when given an early opportunity to eliminate him, Vikram inexplicably lets Kabir escape, hinting at an agenda of his own. Soon, it is revealed that the two men share a bond that traces back to their childhood.

Matters take a darker turn when the Kali Cartel, an international network of political and corporate power brokers, presumes Kabir to be dead and enlists Vikram to assassinate India’s Prime Minister. As loyalties blur and motives intertwine, the stakes rise to a razor’s edge. Who is the true hero and who is the villain? What unpredictable twists await on the tangled paths of Kabir and Vikram?

Analysis

“War 2,” the sequel to the highly successful 2019 blockbuster War, generated massive buzz primarily because it marks NTR’s Bollywood debut. His entry into the famed YRF Spy Universe created immense excitement among fans and film lovers alike. However, despite this promising combination, the script, with story by producer-writer Aditya Chopra and screenplay by Sridhar Raghavan, offers nothing fresh. It stays firmly within the familiar territory of the YRF spy template and mirrors much of what we saw in the first War. In a star-studded action spectacle, audiences rarely expect groundbreaking storytelling, but what matters most is how the director balances the leads and delivers cinematic moments for fans.

On that front, Ayan Mukerji succeeds to an extent in the first half. The film opens with Hrithik Roshan’s stylish introduction, featuring a slick action sequence in Japan, followed by the shocking killing of his RAW chief. This paves the way for NTR’s grand entry around the 30-minute mark, where he appears in a bare-chested action block. After establishing both leads with strong introductory sequences, the film moves into a thrilling set piece of NTR hunting down Hrithik in a European setting. Although reminiscent of Mission: Impossible and Bond films, the sequence is engaging and fits well within the spy universe tone. The action on a moving plane, over the top but visually striking, provides another spectacle moment. Overall, the first half moves briskly and offers several crowd-pleasing highlights.

The slide begins post-interval, starting with the childhood flashback that explains the heroes’ shared past. From here, the writing falters. The makers seem unsure how to position NTR’s character, avoiding making him a villain but also not giving him a clear heroic arc. This results in contrived narrative turns and a tedious second half. 

The tension that should build towards the big set pieces is missing, and the character arcs remain flat. An emotional scene between the leads near the climax works partially, but the final act, including the pre-climax and climax, underwhelms. Although the film ends with a setup for the next installment, the resolution here lacks punch.

“War 2” relies almost entirely on the charisma and star power of Hrithik Roshan and NTR. Both give committed performances. Hrithik Roshan reprises his role from the original, delivering a nuanced performance along with some spectacular action stunts. NTR’s character may not be strongly written, yet his screen presence, swag, and natural charisma light up every frame he is in. Even when the writing falters, he injects energy and style into his scenes, and he is given two major cinematic action moments to shine. Kiara Advani’s role is minimal, offering her little scope to make an impression. For fans, the film does feature her bikini shots in a song, which have not been cut by the CBFC.

On the technical front, the film boasts top-tier action choreography and exceptional cinematography, easily matching Hollywood standards. However, the music and editing fall short, lacking the punch to complement the visual spectacle.

Bottom-line: The pairing of Hrithik Roshan and NTR had all the makings of an explosive cinematic event, but “War 2” ultimately feels like a missed opportunity due to its predictable storyline. The film does have its moments, particularly two spectacular action sequences in the first half, and both stars command the screen with their undeniable charisma. However, the writing falls short of expectations, making it just okay watch rather than a gripping action drama.

Rating: 2.75/5

By Jalapathy Gudelli

Movie: War 2
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, Ashutosha Rana and others
Story: Aditya Chopra
Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan
DOP: Benjamin Jasper ACS
Music: Pritam
Background Music: Sanchit Balhara, Ankit Balhara
Editor: Aarif Sheikh
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Directed by: Ayan Mukerji
Release Date: August 14, 2025