Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by David Dhawan and headlined by Varun Dhawan, positions itself as a loud, chaotic comedy built on confusion, relationships and exaggerated situations. The film, released this Friday, arrives alongside a slate of releases that, in different ways, touch upon themes of consent and personal boundaries, though this particular film largely treats those ideas as background noise rather than its central focus.

At its core, the story follows Jass (Varun Dhawan), a man caught in a complicated marital and romantic situation. His wife Bani (Mrunal Thakur) pushes for a divorce due to mismatched intimacy expectations, particularly her inability to keep pace with his sexual appetite, while also complicating his desire to become a father. The narrative escalates further when Jass moves on with Preet (Pooja Hegde), only to find himself entangled in a farcical situation where both women become pregnant, leading to a chain of misunderstandings and comic chaos.

The first half of the film struggles to find rhythm, with jokes landing unevenly and stretches of narrative feeling flat. Despite the expectations typically associated with a David Dhawan entertainer, the opening act lacks consistent energy, and the humour often fails to connect with the audience in a meaningful way. However, the film’s tone begins to shift post-interval, as it leans more confidently into its chaotic structure and exaggerated comedic situations.

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In the second half, the film finds comparatively better footing, with several punchlines and situational gags working more effectively. Writer Farhad Samji’s dialogue occasionally lands well, particularly in moments that play on meta humour and self-awareness. A standout example is a line referencing Mouni Roy in a comedic misunderstanding, which draws laughs due to its playful reference and timing. While the humour remains largely dependent on double entendres and slapstick, it avoids becoming excessively crude in most places.

However, the film’s weaknesses remain noticeable. The pacing suffers from a sluggish first hour followed by an overstretched climax that dilutes the impact of its better moments. Some comedic choices, including reliance on outdated tropes such as fat-shaming and simplistic character jokes, feel dated and inconsistent with contemporary sensibilities. Certain narrative beats are also stretched beyond necessity, making the overall runtime feel longer than it needs to be.

Ultimately, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is a flawed but intermittently entertaining comedy that works in bursts rather than as a cohesive whole. It relies heavily on its performers and occasional bursts of humour to carry it through, delivering moments of laughter but struggling to maintain momentum across its entirety.

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