HAI JAWANI TOH ISHQ HONA HAI – MOVIE REVIEW
Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is a Hindi-language romantic comedy that marks what may well be the swan song of veteran filmmaker David Dhawan, the architect of some of Bollywood’s most enduring commercial entertainers. Produced by Ramesh Taurani under the Tips Films banner and co-produced by Gaurav Bose of Maximilian Films, the film reunites Dhawan with his son Varun Dhawan for their fourth collaboration, pairing him with Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde in a vibrant ensemble led by familiar faces such as Manish Paul, Chunky Pandey, Jimmy Shergill and Mouni Roy. Conceived in late 2023 and officially announced in 2024, the film was shot across Mumbai, Goa, Rishikesh and Edinburgh, lending a sprawling visual canvas to its light-hearted romantic escapades. Musically, the project brings together an eclectic roster of contemporary composers, while cinematographer Ayananka Bose and editor Ritesh Soni lend the film a polished mainstream sheen. Positioned as a quintessential David Dhawan entertainer—buoyant, colourful and unapologetically crowd-pleasing—the film arrived in cinemas worldwide on 5 June 2026 carrying both the promise of youthful romance and the nostalgia of a filmmaker bidding farewell to a genre he helped define.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is an old-school Bollywood entertainer that relies heavily on confusion, romance, and loud comedy, but its weak story and predictable screenplay make it difficult to stay invested. The film feels like a collection of disconnected scenes stitched together rather than a cohesive narrative. The plot—centered around Varun Dhawan’s Jass, his failed marriage with Bani (Mrunal Thakur), and his relationship with Preet (Pooja Hegde)—is paper-thin and filled with twists that can be seen coming from a mile away. Instead of offering anything fresh, the film recycles outdated tropes, affair-driven drama, and decades-old comic situations that feel increasingly irrelevant in 2026.
The performances do little to elevate the material. Varun Dhawan brings his usual energy, but his exaggerated performance often slips into overacting, while Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde are reduced to underwritten characters with little depth or purpose beyond serving the plot. Supporting actors such as Chunky Pandey, Jimmy Shergill, Manish Paul, and Mouni Roy are given loud, chaotic roles that add more noise than entertainment. Much of the humour feels dated and repetitive, relying on shouting, misunderstandings, and forced slapstick rather than genuinely funny situations. The screenplay lacks emotional weight, and even the dramatic moments feel artificial and unearned.
One of the film’s biggest disappointments is its music. Despite featuring several popular tracks and recreated classics, the soundtrack fails to leave a lasting impact. The recreated songs feel unnecessary and lack the charm, energy, and nostalgia of the originals, making them come across as wasted opportunities rather than crowd-pleasing moments. Instead of enhancing the narrative, the songs often interrupt the flow of the film and add to its already bloated runtime. For a filmmaker of David Dhawan’s stature, this feels like a surprisingly uninspired and outdated effort. With a weak script, average performances, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of originality, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai ultimately comes across as a forgettable and disappointing experience. If you’re simply looking for a time-pass entertainer, you will still not find some value in it, very difficult to recommend.
My Rating 1/5
