Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Review: Varun Dhawan’s Energy Can't Fully Save This Uneven Comedy

June 05, 2026: Directed by David Dhawan, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde in a romantic comedy packed with misunderstandings, relationship drama, and over-the-top situations. Released on June 5, the film attempts to revive the trademark no-brainer comedy formula that has defined many of David Dhawan’s biggest hits. But does it deliver the laughter audiences expect?

Plot: A Love Triangle Wrapped in Chaos

The story follows Jas "Jazz" (Varun Dhawan), his wife Baani (Mrunal Thakur), and his new love interest Preet (Pooja Hegde). Jazz and Baani are heading for divorce due to conflicting priorities. While Jazz desperately wants to start a family because of pressure from his relatives, Baani is focused on building her career. The court grants them six months before finalizing the separation.

During this period, Preet enters Jazz's life, complicating matters further. The situation spirals out of control when both Baani and Preet claim to be pregnant, leaving Jazz trapped in a web of lies, confusion, and endless cover-ups.

Set largely against the backdrop of London, the film embraces a completely illogical, larger-than-life narrative. However, despite being marketed as a comedy, many of the jokes feel outdated and heavily reliant on old Bollywood formulas. While the film maintains a brisk pace, it struggles to establish an emotional connection with the audience. Several comic situations appear forced, and much of the story unfolds under the influence of alcohol, whether during weddings, celebrations, or major life events.

Performances: Varun Carries the Film

Varun Dhawan once again returns to the energetic comic persona that made films like Main Tera Hero successful. His comic timing, facial expressions, and relentless energy remain the film’s strongest assets. Whether he's running through London in panic or trying to escape increasingly absurd situations, Varun keeps the audience entertained.

Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde perform their roles sincerely and bring glamour to the screen. However, the screenplay offers them limited scope to leave a lasting impact. Their chemistry with Varun appears promising on paper but never fully translates on screen.

Supporting Cast Deserves Better Material

The film boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Manish Paul, Jimmy Shergill, Ali Asgar, Mouni Roy, Chunky Pandey, Johnny Lever, Manoj Pahwa, Rajpal Yadav, Rakesh Bedi, and Ayesha Raza. Unfortunately, most of these talented performers are underutilised.

Jimmy Shergill generates some laughs as Preet's overprotective brother, while Mouni Roy's brief appearance contributes to a few memorable moments. However, many supporting characters seem to appear solely to move the plot forward rather than leaving any meaningful impression.

Direction and Technical Aspects

David Dhawan remains committed to the style of filmmaking that made him one of Bollywood's most successful commercial directors. Rather than chasing modern trends, he sticks to his tried-and-tested formula of confusion, mistaken identities, and exaggerated comedy.

Visually, the film is polished and colourful. The exotic locations, designer costumes, and lavish production values make for an attractive viewing experience. The cinematography effectively captures the glamorous setting, while the use of nostalgic songs such as Chunari Chunari adds a sense of familiarity and crowd-pleasing energy.

However, the film suffers from several shortcomings. The first half feels sluggish and repetitive, with many jokes failing to land. Although the second half significantly improves and delivers a series of genuinely funny situations, the film eventually overstays its welcome. The extended runtime makes the climax feel stretched.

Additionally, some aspects of the humour feel outdated. Body-shaming jokes and toilet humour continue to feature prominently, making parts of the screenplay feel stuck in a previous era of comedy.

Final Verdict

Mention David Dhawan's name, and films such as Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1, Aankhen, and Haseena Maan Jayegi immediately come to mind. Those films combined effortless humour, memorable characters, and pure entertainment. Unfortunately, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai falls short of recreating that magic.

The film is neither emotionally engaging nor consistently funny. While Varun Dhawan's energetic performance and the chaotic second half prevent it from completely collapsing, weak writing and outdated humour limit its overall impact.

That said, audiences looking for a light-hearted, logic-free entertainer may still find some enjoyment, especially if they are fans of David Dhawan's signature style. However, viewers expecting the charm and comic brilliance of his classic films may leave disappointed.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is a typical old-school Bollywood masala entertainer that works only if you switch off your brain and simply go along for the ride. The second half offers enough laughs to keep things afloat, but the film never fully reaches the heights it aims for.