Why Does War 2 Feel So Pathetic?

War 2

War 2 was supposed to be one of the most anticipated Bollywood films of 2025. It’s already crossed ₹400 crores of budget, but sitting through it left me wondering — what exactly was YRF trying to do? Ayan Mukerji’s involvement felt minimal, and the studio’s formula was all over the movie.

The first War (2019) was a genuine phenomenon. The film brought insane action, swagger, and box-office records: highest first day, highest weekend, and fastest to ₹200 crores. Hrithik Roshan’s entry alone became iconic, and watching him and Tiger Shroff — two action stars also known for their dance — go head-to-head was electric. The audience saw magic; the studio saw a formula.

Spy Universe

And that’s where the problem starts. YRF realized its “spy universe” could be its money-minting machine. With Tiger, Pathaan, and now War 2, the template is fixed:

• A personal touch to the hero’s story
• Twists at regular intervals
• And above all, more and more action

With War 2, the cracks show in the first 15 minutes. The issue isn’t just the plot — it’s the approach. Siddharth Anand, director of the first film, grounded the action, keeping it stylish yet believable. Ayan Mukerji leans fully into glossy spectacle, but it collapses under its own weight. Thirty assassins can’t touch Kabir? Twenty armed men in a parking lot can’t fire a single shot? At some point, logic matters more than scale.

By forcing every film into the same mold, YRF has hammered the final nail in its own coffin. The bigger question now: will they keep milking this dead formula, or finally invest in fresh writing instead of throwing money at empty VFX and exotic sets?

And don’t even get me started on the Alpha teaser. A whole film around the idea of “alpha male and female”? In 2025? That mindset feels outdated, if not outright embarrassing.

What do you think? Is YRF’s spy universe already past its prime, or can it still reinvent itself?

Ayan Mukerji, I love this man for giving Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and Brahmastra. Now I feel scared by his over ambiguity