De De Pyaar De 2 Review: When Ajay Devgn Gets Sidelined in His Own Sequel and Madhavan Walks Away With the Film

I walked into De De Pyaar De 2 expecting something simple a breezy, silly, popcorn rom-com. The type you watch with zero expectations and walk out feeling ki haan, timepass ho gaya. But nowhere on my 2025 cinematic bingo card was “Ajay Devgn as a glorified extra in his own franchise.” This is the same Ajay Devgn who has been speed-running franchises like he’s collecting Infinity Stones.But here, in a franchise built around him, he is barely present — spiritually or physically. And that’s not even the wildest part. The sequel actually does something shocking for Bollywood: it follows continuity from the first film. No memory loss. No soft reboot. No convenient retcon. But it also manages to be dumber, louder, and more chaotic than its predecessor.

Let’s break it down.

A Quick Recap: Where This Sequel Picks Up

The film continues the story from the 2019 hit, with 52-year-old Ashish (Ajay Devgn) and 28-year-old Ayesha (Rakul Preet Singh) finally going to meet her parents to get “approval.”Except “modern” parents Rajji (R. Madhavan) and Anju (Gautami Kapoor) are only modern on the outside. Inside, the age gap is eating them up whole.

In classic Bollywood parent fashion, they try everything possible to derail the relationship — including pushing in Ayesha’s childhood friend Adi (Meezaan Jafri) as a “better match.”

Cue confusion. Cue jealousy. Cue Luv Ranjan-style rom-com mischief.

Except this time, the mischief isn’t always fun.

The Good: When the Film Actually Works

1. The Situational Comedy

Finally, a rom-com that doesn’t rely on stale meme references from two years ago.The jokes here come from awkward situations, character dynamics, and generational clashes.

Some genuinely funny moments include:

• Ajay trying a Singham-style entry and failing

• Jaaved Jaaferi wishing Meezaan was his son

• A perfectly placed “Main Kya Karoon Ram Mujhe Buddha Mil Gaya” gag

• Madhavan’s simmering irritation every time Ajay breathes near Rakul

These bits work because they’re rooted in the characters’ crisis, not Instagram trends.

2. The Charpai Conversations

Ajay and Jaaved Jaaferi lying on a charpai complaining about Meezaan’s charm is the most organic fun in the entire film.

3. The Meta Bollywood References

The DDLJ, HDDCS, and a gloriously random Vashikaran reference?Genuinely funny.

The Standout: R. Madhavan. Full Stop.

This is not Ajay Devgn’s movie.This isn’t even Rakul Preet’s movie.This is R. Madhavan’s film, start to finish. As a father pretending to be progressive but dying inside, he delivers the film’s only emotionally grounded performance. His frustration, insecurity, fear of judgment, and faux-modern energy feel so real it hurts. What’s sad is that Gautami Kapoor starts off equally strong, but the film sidelines her so aggressively that the mother almost disappears entirely.

And honestly, Meezaan Jafri is shockingly good here.But he needs to stop doing mid movies and charming his way out of them with one item song appearance.

The Bad: A Film That Tests Your Patience

1. The Casting Gap That Distracts

Rakul Preet Singh is 35.Gautami Kapoor is 51.Madhavan is 53.

So the math suggests Ayesha was born when Gautami was 16?Visually and logically, nothing adds up.This creates a weird adjustment period for the viewer.

2. The Luv Ranjan Aesthetic Overload

Everyone is two shades lighter, with pink lips and airbrushed skin.The houses look like they were copy-pasted from Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar.Dialogues sound like tongue twisters delivered by people who forgot to breathe.

“Khabar kam khabar lage aisi khabar khabar na rahe.”Why. Just why.

3. Rakul Preet Singh Shouting Through Half the Film

This is the most acting she’s done, yes.But the emotional pitch is stuck at one loud volume.When placed beside Madhavan, the imbalance becomes painfully obvious.

4. Ajay Devgn Sleepwalking Through His Role

Ajay contributes nothing until the last 30 minutes.He is a passive observer in a movie that was built on his character.

5. The Twist That Thinks It’s Christopher Nolan

The third act introduces a twist so tone-deaf, so unnecessarily cruel, that it derails the entire film. You stop rooting for the couple. You stop believing the relationship. You start hoping they break up for their own sanity. When your rom-com convinces the audience the leads should go their separate ways? The writing has failed.

Final Verdict: A Frustrating Sequel With Occasional Charm

De De Pyaar De 2 has moments — real, funny, entertaining moments.But they’re lost inside a storyline that feels rushed, messy, and ultimately pointless. What could have been a fun, lighthearted family rom-com ends up being a confused film unsure of what it wants to say about age-gap relationships, marriage, or even adulthood.

If the first half is mildly enjoyable, the second half falls apart entirely.

Rating: 2 out of 5 Watch only if you’re in the mood for selective fun and don’t expect logic.

Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab (FAQs)

1. Is De De Pyaar De 2 worth watching in theaters for Ajay Devgn fans?

If you're going mainly for Ajay Devgn, prepare to be disappointed because he barely gets screen time and feels sidelined in his own sequel. The film is more focused on Rakul and R. Madhavan.

2. How does R. Madhavan perform as Rakul Preet Singh’s father in De De Pyaar De 2?

Madhavan delivers the film’s strongest and most memorable performance. His scenes elevate the emotional and comedic tone, making him the unexpected highlight of the sequel.

3. Does De De Pyaar De 2 handle the age-gap relationship better than the first film?

The sequel attempts to explore ageism and parental discomfort but ends up leaning heavily into melodrama and awkward twists, weakening the message instead of strengthening it.

4. Why are viewers calling the De De Pyaar De 2 climax confusing or tone-deaf?

The final twist relies on exaggerated emotional manipulation and questionable decisions by characters, making the ending feel forced, unnatural, and out of sync with the film’s rom-com tone.

5. Is De De Pyaar De 2 a family-friendly comedy for weekend viewing?

The first half works as a harmless family entertainer, but the second half’s dramatic turn and logic gaps might not appeal to all age groups. It’s a mixed bag for family viewing.