There was a time when the biggest complaint against Hindi cinema was the lack of good stories. Now the problem seems to have evolved further. Filmmakers do not even appear interested in finding good titles for their stories. The industry has become so creatively exhausted that an old title is simply dusted off, a number is added to it and presented as a new film. The obsession with numbers seems to have gone beyond box office collections and into the very process of filmmaking itself. It often feels as if films are being made not because there is a compelling story to tell but because one more film needs to be added to the tally of films produced.
That sense of forcefulness becomes the defining characteristic of Cocktail 2, directed by Homi Adajania. What unfolds is an unimaginative love triangle where the love feels forced, the conflict feels manufactured and the emotional complications appear to exist only because the screenplay demands them. At times, it seems as though the makers first came up with a few preachy dialogues and some convenient life lessons, then looked around for an old title they could recycle, added a picturesque European backdrop supported by tourism-friendly visuals and built a film around it.
The story follows Kunal (Shahid Kapoor) and Diya (Rashmika Mandanna), who have been in a live-in relationship for a considerable period. Constantly questioned by friends and acquaintances about why they are not getting married, the couple decides to escape the noise and head to Sicily. During their trip, they run into Diya’s not-so-close friend Ally (Kriti Sanon), a free-spirited woman who openly admits to living life like a vagabond. It does not take long for Ally to develop feelings for Kunal. Once Kunal and Diya return home and decide to formalise their relationship through marriage, an unexpected Ally arrives back into their lives and the screenplay sets in motion the inevitable emotional chaos.
The problem is that very little of this chaos feels organic. The film repeatedly pushes situations that demand viewers accept emotional decisions which appear irrational even within the world it creates. In doing so, it adulterates the simplicity of love, raises questions about the value of friendship and ultimately arrives at a conclusion that feels surprisingly loose for a film so determined to make a point. By the time the resolution arrives, the narrative has created such a mess that even the film itself seems unsure how to untangle it.
The shadow of the 1997 Hollywood romantic comedy My Best Friend’s Wedding hangs heavily over several portions of the narrative. While Cocktail 2 attempts to modernise the relationship dynamics, much of it feels like familiar territory dressed up in contemporary packaging.
One area where the film certainly delivers is visual appeal. Sicily emerges as the film’s biggest star. The picturesque landscapes, scenic streets and postcard-perfect locations offer viewers a virtual European vacation at the price of a movie ticket and from the comfort of an air-conditioned cinema hall. Unfortunately, that is not what audiences buy a ticket for. Beautiful locations can enhance a story but cannot replace one.
The music, despite arriving at frequent intervals, leaves surprisingly little impact. Considering the legacy of the original Cocktail and the importance of music in contemporary romantic dramas, the songs come and go without leaving behind a memorable tune or emotional resonance.
The performances fare better than the writing. Shahid Kapoor gets a few genuinely effective moments and emerges as the film’s most grounded character. As Kunal, he plays a grown-up lover who understands responsibility and recognises the difference between commitment and temporary attraction. Even when the screenplay falters, Kapoor lends sincerity to a character trying to navigate an increasingly absurd situation.
Kriti Sanon is handed the flashiest role and spends much of the film embodying Ally’s carefree lifestyle. The film repeatedly leans on her glamour quotient and by the final act attempts to justify her unconventional existence by informing audiences that she comes from a wealthy background. Whether that explanation adds depth to the character or merely serves as a convenient narrative excuse is open to debate. Rashmika Mandanna, meanwhile, plays Diya with conviction, though the screenplay often reduces her to reacting to situations created by others.
Interestingly, the only consistently watchable portion of the film arrives during the climax. It is here that Adajania appears interested in exploring the emotional consequences of the choices made by his characters. The director attempts to resolve the tangled relationships he has created, though even these scenes carry an air of uncertainty about where exactly the film wants to land emotionally.
There is also at least one visual moment that feels unnecessarily explicit and could easily have been edited out despite the film’s adult certification. The inclusion adds little to the narrative and seems designed more for attention than storytelling.
Cocktail 2 wants to be a glamorous modern romance about friendship, love and self-discovery. Instead, it often comes across as a collection of relationship tropes stitched together against an attractive European backdrop. We have seen glamorous romantic dramas before. This one, unfortunately, feels less romantic and more silly. Its biggest achievement may be making Sicily look irresistible. Its biggest failure is making the emotional journey feel equally convincing.
Movie: Cocktail 2
Directed by: Homi Adajania
Written by: Luv Ranjan, Tarun Jain
Story by: Luv Ranjan
Featuring: Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna, Tiku Talsania, Pulkit Samrat
Music by: Pritam
Theatrical Release Date: 19 June 2026
Run Time: 2hrs, 29mins
Cocktail 2
1.5