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Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai backdrop
4 June 2026Hindi136 min

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai

4.611 reviews
CriticsUnfavorable

Bayesian avg · 11 critic reviews

7.5+ Exceptional · 6.5 Recommended · 5.0 Mixed

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When Jass leaves his marriage over conflicting priorities, a new romance abroad is upended by shocking revelations, forcing him to confront love, loyalty, and the true meaning of commitment.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' is largely mixed-to-negative, with most reviewers acknowledging it as a deliberate throwback to David Dhawan's 1990s comedy formula but finding it ill-suited to contemporary audiences. The most consistent praise goes to Varun Dhawan's energetic central performance and isolated moments of infectious, chaotic humor. However, the majority of critics fault the film for dated, recycled comedy, a weak and chaotic plot, and a brand of humor that has aged poorly rather than matured into genuine nostalgia.

11 reviews · 2 positive · 5 mixed · 2 negative

Praised: Varun Dhawan's energetic performanceCriticised: Dated, recycled humor and plot

AI-generated summary of 11 critic reviews · may contain errors

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Critic Reviews (11)

Shubhra GuptaTop Critic· Indian Express
3.0
"What worked for a flagrantly politically incorrect time when the team of David Dhawan- Govinda-Kader Khan-Shakti Kapoor skilfully skated through the thin ice of vulgarity and hilarity comes off as plain cringe now. Just like the plot, the laughs are wafer-thin."
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7.0
"David Dhawan is in his element and is back in form after the debacle that was the Coolie No. 1 reboot (2020). He maintains an even tenor where the goal is 'Entertainment, Entertainment, and Entertainment—Dhawan style' and brooks no obstacles to that mass-friendly aim."
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Devesh Sharma· Filmfare
6.0
"Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is an absurd comedy which tries to capture the magic of David Dhawan's comic capers of the '90s. Ultimately, it functions as a farewell letter from a filmmaker who once defined mainstream Hindi comedy—loud, excessive, illogical, and completely unashamed of its silliness. Whether today's generation embraces this over-the-top brand of comedy the way audiences did in the 1990s remains uncertain."
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Rishabh Suri· Hindustan Times
5.0
"Varun Dhawan and co deliver laughs in this flawed and at times fun entertainer."
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Vineeta Kumar· India Today
5.0
"David Dhawan returns to the formula that made him Bollywood's king of comedy - mistaken identities, chaotic romances and jokes that exist in their own universe. The problem is that the audience no longer does. What once felt outrageously entertaining now feels like a relic trying desperately to pass off as nostalgia."
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Archika Khurana· Times Of India
5.0
"While HJTIHH offers a handful of laughs, catchy songs and a committed central performance from Varun, the film ultimately relies too heavily on Dhawan's energy to keep this comedy afloat, falling short of being a genuinely memorable entertainer."
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4.0
"Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai remains a David Dhawan comedy frozen in time, with dated humour and recycled plotlines that fail to land despite energetic performances. If you have already accepted that many of those David Dhawan comedies people claim to miss have aged rather poorly, this film is unlikely to change your mind."
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"A vintage David Dhawan comedy stuck in 1990s. This concoction is mindless but ultimately harmless."
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Mayank Shekhar· Mid-Day
2.0
"Much mehnat (effort) to watch this movie, I tell you. The review criticizes Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai for its weak comedy, chaotic plot, and lack of genuine laughs despite colorful visuals and nostalgic David Dhawan elements."
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Aakruti Bagla· Mid-Day
"Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai revisits David Dhawan's trademark comedy formula but struggles with weak writing, rushed storytelling, and humour that rarely lands. Despite Varun Dhawan's energy, the film turns into an exhausting affair."
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Anuj Kumar· The Hindu
"When in form, the infectious, chaotic energy of David Dhawan's cinema can make even the most cynical critic melt. He attempts to create a bridge between two distinct eras of his own filmography, using his trademark style. The final act rescues the experience as Dhawan systematically re-energises the theatre through the good old buffoonery that makes us submit to the rhythm of the ridiculous."
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Cast & Crew

Cast

Details

Release Date
4 June 2026
Runtime
136 min
Language
Hindi

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