"Yaariyan 2," directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, serves as a standalone sequel to the sleeper hit "Yaariyan" (2014), directed by Divya Khosla Kumar. Despite the high expectations set by its predecessor's success and its memorable music, this romantic drama unfortunately falls short in several areas.
The movie stars Divya Khosla Kumar, Pearl V Puri, and Meezaan Jafri in the lead roles. The plot is convoluted and lacks coherence, making it challenging to summarize. The story kicks off with Ladli (Divya Khosla Kumar) being rescued from a forced marriage by her cousins Bajju (Pearl V Puri) and Shikhar Randhawa (Meezaan Jafri). Ladli is subsequently married to Abhay, who is disinterested due to a past love. In a twist of revenge, Ladli's former fiancé ensures that Shikhar's dream of becoming a motocross racer is shattered, leading to his banishment. The narrative then spirals into a chaotic mix of love interests, forgotten storylines, and missed subplots, ultimately culminating in a happy ending that feels unearned.
Divya Khosla Kumar, while successful as a director with "Yaariyan" and "Sanam Re," disappoints in her acting role. Her performance lacks the necessary emotional depth and expression, despite her beauty. Pearl V Puri's portrayal of the introverted and socially anxious Bajju feels forced and unconvincing. Meezaan Jafri, following his promising debut in "Malaal," fails to make an impact here, much like his role in "Hungama 2."
Yash Dasgupta, a renowned Bengali actor with a strong following in Hindi soap operas, delivers a performance that is as lifeless and uninspiring as his late-night soap opera characters. Anaswara Rajan, making her Hindi film debut at just 20 years old, likely hopes this movie is a temporary setback, as the disaster of "Yaariyan 2" could hinder her future prospects in Hindi cinema.
The film fails to offer even the guilty pleasure of being so bad it's good, or to redeem itself with a memorable soundtrack, which has been a saving grace for many T-Series productions under Bhushan Kumar. Instead, "Yaariyan 2" is a muddled and forgettable entry, lacking the charm and entertainment value that might have justified its existence.
