Son of Sardaar 2 review: Ajay Devgn lands India-Pakistan jokes, not the film

‘Son of Sardaar 2’ takes the fun of Punjab all the way to Scotland. Ajay Devgn returns as Jassi, now a confused Sardaar in a foreign land who, by chance, meets a Pakistani wedding dancer, Rabiya (Mrunal Thakur), and finds himself deeply involved in not one but two chaotic missions. He has to pose as a girl’s father for her wedding and pretend to be a soldier in the Indian Army. What follows is a muddle of confusion, cultural clashes, and comedy – at least on paper.

If the first ‘Son of Sardaar’ film thrived on local humour, action, and desi quirks, the second film trades it for India-Pakistan banter, awkward romance, and a strange message about dance being a form of art. But, does all the comedy and social messaging pay off? Do the Jassi we know manage to entertain us one more time? Does the story have any potential to enthral the family audience?

Directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, the film tries hard to juggle social messaging with slapstick, but what it relies on is its convoluted narrative. Supporting characters carry the weight, while the leads struggle to connect. Jassi lands in Scotland only to be served a divorce notice by his wife. Rabiya, abandoned by her husband (Chunky Panday), is left to care for a family of four. Cue the meet-cute, but sparks don’t fly.

Devgn and Thakur’s chemistry feels forced. Their scenes together lack warmth and conviction. A 56-year-old Devgn romancing a 33-year-old Thakur doesn’t look odd; it drains the believability out of the pairing. One particular potential kissing scene between them is not romantic or funny, just awkward.

The supporting cast swoops in to salvage the mess. Ravi Kishan (Raja) is a riot as a Pakistan-hating businessman-turned-gangster, delivering some of the film’s best lines and laughs. His comic timing is impeccable, and every frame he’s in adds energy to the film.

Deepak Dobriyal and Sanjay Mishra also shine. Dobriyal plays a transgender woman with surprising depth, while Mishra brings his signature UP-Bihar swag to Scotland as a local gangster. Together, they elevate the film’s otherwise lacklustre emotional and comic beats.

Where ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ gets tricky is its depiction of Pakistan. The film walks a tightrope: offering a nod of civility to its Pakistani characters but also not shying away from reducing the nation to terrorism and cowardice with ‘bomb-dropping’ punchlines. There’s a long-winded scene where Jassi proudly lists India’s victories in wars against Pakistan – funny? Yes. But exaggerated? Also, yes.

The humour, except for in the climax, largely looks patchy. The second half delivers more laughs than the first, but it’s a slog to get there. Some gags hit the mark, while others feel wildly forced or completely disconnected.

And what happened to the action in this action-comedy? Devgan barely lifts a finger – except for in a song. He mostly looks lost, carrying the expression of a helpless man who’d rather be anywhere else. He drives a tank and carries an injured Neeru Bajwa in the name of action. The comedy, for the most part, is outsourced to others. The music is forgettable. Even the scenic locales of Scotland fail to make a visual impact.

One of the few heartfelt touches is the tribute to Mukul Dev, who reprises his role as Tony alongside Vindu Dar Singh’s Titu. Their camaraderie with gangster Raja brings a few solid chuckles.

‘Son of Sardaar 2’ is a clean family entertainer that tries to tick every box – comedy, drama, patriotism, romance – but ends up being an uneven ride. It lacks the magic and madness of the original ‘Son of Sardaar’, and suffers from weak storytelling.