Crude, brainless, and overlong, Humshakals is slapstick at its most punishing.
Verdict tier Unfavorable, most critics didn't like it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical consensus on Humshakals is overwhelmingly negative, with the vast majority of reviewers finding it an unfunny, overlong, and offensive exercise in slapstick gone wrong. Several critics explicitly ranked it below director Sajid Khan's previous widely panned film Himmatwala, calling it one of the worst Bollywood films in recent memory. The film's crude humour, reliance on drag and cross-dressing gags, insensitive depictions of mental illness, and repetitive structure drew particular condemnation. A small handful of critics acknowledged that isolated moments or certain performers like Ram Kapoor elicited mild amusement, but even these concessions were heavily qualified.
9 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 31 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
... essentially a tasteless, overblown affair that plods on for 159 brain-numbing minutes. I'm going with half out of five, yes just half out of five, for Sajid Khan's 'Humshakals'. I've never had one, but I imagine a ruptured appendix would hurt less.
Top critic
Film review ·
Humshakals is consistent in one respect: the only way it goes is down. The gags turn more and more grotesque as the film progresses, ending in such an unseemly heap that it becomes impossible to fathom what the hell is going on. Heed the warning: Humshakals is infinitely more insufferable. Even if you possess plenty of himmat, use it elsewhere.
Top critic
Film review ·
I am all for political incorrectness. Silliness can be great fun. But brainless doesn't have to translate to brain-dead, when it is done with smarts. 'Humshakals' has zero. Even in his really terrible moments, Sajid has managed to come up with one laugh out loud moment. Or two. Here there are none.
Top critic
Film review ·
Humshakals couples its crude farce with a certain aggression, as if daring the audience to stay in their seats while it repeatedly spits at them. This is not filmmaking, this is sadism.
Film review ·
A fun and unconventional movie about a chef, his life, the people he loves and his dream to cook from the heart. Jon Favreau makes you forget about the world and inhabit this lovely concoction where you will drool while watching food being prepared. It is an exploration of what it means to be happy and the risks we have to take in order to truly be great. Catch Chef and enjoy this heartwarming tale of food, passion, family and humor.
Film review ·
Humshakals is a funny film, made for every Bollywood buff who loves goofy comedies. So if you want to enjoy a couple of good laughs this weekend, grab your friends and watch this film. The silly gags and jokes are bound to keep you entertained, even if you won't rave about them once the film's over.
Film review ·
Sajid Khan's new film isn't as funny and entertaining as Housefull or Housefull 2 however it wouldn't hurt if you watch it once. But keep your brains aside and I am sure you'll have fun.
Film review ·
The result's like a minty chewing gum that's been stretched too long. Shedding 30 minutes and some jaded gags would make Humshakals consistent fun - now, you laugh but also frequently go, ho-hum.
Film review ·
If over-the-top situations, silly jokes and a plot with no logic is what you are looking for then Humshakals is for you. You might manage to laugh a few times.
Film review ·
Slapstick as a genre is difficult to execute. It is something that many people do not associate with. However there have been enough films in the genre that have left me rolling on the floor laughing. This movie fails to do that. Though it is notches higher an effort from Sajid's last Himmatwala, Humshakals is not the film that would help him redeem his fate.
Film review ·
HUMSHAKALS tries too hard to make you laugh, but fails miserably.
Film review ·
Humshakals is the lowest form of buffoonery I have seen this year. It would have been way more harsh if Ram & Riteish were missing from the film. Loaded with indecipherable dim wit, the film is an odd mishmash of pathos and drudgery. Unfunny and strictly for juvenile, I am gonna take the day off to decide whether Himmatwala was better than this. Meanwhile, stick to FIFA and stay away from the cinemas. Going with a very lenient 1.5/5, I am on the brink of lunacy after watching some glop like this.
Film review ·
Humshakals is a defiant film made by a man who is fast becoming a rebel without a cause. His audacity is almost frightening, but I was reassured by the pin-drop silence in the hall-one that'd accompany the screening of a gutwrenching war drama. This is, in many ways, not too different.
Film review ·
Although, the director Sajid Khan tried to offer something new with the concept of triple roles in Humshakals but sadly the director has ended up making something below his original capability. All in all, Sajid Khan's Humshakals proved out to be nine times more senseless.
Film review ·
A series of bad gags is still better than a bad film that takes itself seriously. Therefore we give comedy the long rope. This one is dedicated to Kishore Kumar, Peter Sellers and Jim Carrey for inspiration. You could find yourself chuckling during certain initial portions of Humshakals, even though you would be laughing at the film rather than with it.
Film review ·
Humshakals doesn't have any story, and the insane sequences run nowhere.
Film review ·
I understand that this is kindergarten humour at its best, but I have just one question for Sajid; is HUMSHAKALS really a tribute to Kishore Kumar and Jim Carrey?
Film review ·
It would be wrong to say Humshakals is an irrelevant film. It takes mainstream Bollywood comedy to its lowest level yet. Look at the brighter side. May be things can't get worse than this in the future.
Film review ·
Silly, irreverent humour is always a welcome change. But braindead, childish (sorry children, don't roll your eyes yet) pathetic attempt at funny is not. And I think the only original joke is the fact that Ram Kapoor quit his TV career for this film. Ram Kapoor did put in a sincere effort into making whatever he was doing believable but that sight of him in a red bikini overpowered it all.
Film review ·
As social experiments go, this one tests patience rather than intelligence. It takes every ounce of the former not to take the cue from Ashok's audience at the outset and leave.
Film review ·
With no story or comedy on offer, even Riteish and Ram are unable to save the day for Sajid Khan. Skip this movie if you do not want a bad headache and other after-effects of being tortured.
Film review ·
For Sajid Khan, I can only say that Humshakals will be listed in one of the worst films of the century. Watch Humshakals only if you want to test your patience.
Film review ·
Simply put, comedy never looked this bad. Humshakals is an unforgiveable farce. At one point in the film, Chunky Pandey, whose cameo appearance is forgettable, says, "This is public harassment." That is the precise sentence we'll use to describe the experience of seeing this film.
Film review ·
Having endured Himmatwala, it appeared that your creative juices had dried up and it couldn't have got any worse. But sadly, we were wrong. Make no mistake, I was well prepared for all eventualities. I practiced sitting on a cactus for two and a half hours every day to get myself ready for it. What I wasn't prepared for was being water boarded at the same time.
Film review ·
I am not really expecting to enjoy a Sajid Khan film any time soon. But, is a little sensitivity too much to ask for from a filmmaker who has a reasonably wide reach? Does humor have to be at someone else's expense?
Film review ·
Humshakals could be one of those classic cases of the after party being a little better than the real party. Because after 159 minutes of, let's not get into what that was, it's the behind-the-scenes shots that actually make you laugh, if at all.
Film review ·
Watch it if you can tolerate Saif (dressed as a waitress, and looking eerily like a revolting version of Soha Ali Khan) getting sexy with Riteish, and Riteish (in a skirt) seducing Saif's clone. And if Ram Kapoor lusting after his own clone (in drag), and trying to rape "her" is your idea of fun, who am I to judge. Just don't say you hadn't been warned!
Film review ·
...a boring, silly and infuriatingly long film. So, if you thought Sajid's 'Himmatwala' was the worst movie ever in Bollywood, then you are wrong. The title has now been handed over to his latest attempt at slapstick comedy.
Film review ·
Juvenile humour and racist remarks aside (which Humshakals has plentiful) this film assumes watching mentally unstable people and their loony behavior is entertainment. If it were, mental asylums would charge a price of admission. But Sajid Khan chooses to ignore any such argument. Because everything's possible in slapstick.
Film review ·
If you're thinking of watching Humshakals, here's a suggestion. Don't do it. There are better things you can do with your money and being swallowed alive by a python is less excruciating than watching Sajid Khan's latest attempt at making a movie.
Film review ·
If you are willing to suspend belief for nearly three hours, then this mad bunch may make your day. But for others, it's just torturous. At some point in the movie, we saw a DVD of Himmatwala (Sajid's recent box-office debacle) being displayed as a weapon of torture for mentally unstable inmates who break hospital rules. Shouldn't Humshakals feature on that list too?
Film review ·
If you want to test your patience then there cannot be a bigger examination than this two and half hour of mindless comedy, (read 'tragedy').
Film review ·
Humshakals is funny only in parts and boring, by and large. Too farcical and repetitive and resting on an implausible premise, it will fail to make its mark at the box-office. Considering the investment of the distributors, it will entail them heavy losses.
Film review ·
Sajid Khan has declared in every available forum that his movies are for audiences rather than critics (whatever that means). The same audiences booed his last offering, Himmatwala, out of the cinemas. If there is something to relish in Humshakals, it is the opportunity to sharpen weapons and words. It's been a while since there's been a movie this hatchet-worthy. For that, the team behind Humshakals needs eternal gratitude and continued support.
Film review ·
In the opening credits, Sajid Khan pays tribute to Kishore Kumar, Jim Carrey and Peter Sellers. It takes barely a few minutes of "Humshakals" to find this claim to greatness by association both arrogant and audacious. The movie is best avoided.
Film review ·
Humshakals should set several online forums on fire, with topics ranging from "Is Humshakals Really Worse Than Himmatwala?" to "Saif Ali Khan's Mid-life Crisis – Desperate For A 100cr Hit" to "Must Sajid Khan Get To Make Films Only He And His Friends Enjoy?" If you plan to spend money on Humashakals, though, there's a song created only for you: "Hum paagal nahi hai bhaiyya. Humara dimaag kharaab hai (no translation required)."
From our readers
3 ratings · user score 1.0
Title word HUMSHAKAL itself is a plural. Then why add "s" at its end? Probably because all asses throng the movie! In this movie all r shitting and hamming! Sajid Khan made for a good TV show host. He then jumped into film making but has not done much except making flops. He has a fetish for letter H. Barring Darna Zaroori Hai(2006), consider Heyy Babyy(2007), Housefull(2010), Housefull 2: The Dirty Dozen(2012), Himmatwala(2013) and now Hamshakals. Humshakals is a three-triple-roles comedy featuring Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh and Ram Kapoor. To begin with, there is no story. Consider Saif and Ritesh applying butter on Ram's face and saying, "We are buttering you!" or "Hum pagal nahin hain!" or slapping each other and saying, "Yeh toh slapstick comedy hai!" As Saif, Riteish and Ram meet their humshakals, not one but two each, there is confusion galore. Glamour(or lack of it) is provided by three bikini-clad lead actresses - Bipasha, Esha and Tamanna. Humshakals is inspired by cult film Angoor(1982). Angoor was based on Shakespeare's play The Comedy of Errors(c. 1594). Indian cinema has made five films based on the play, Bhrantibilas(1963, Bengali, Uttam Kumar), Do Dooni Char(1968, Hindi, Kishore Kumar), Angoor, (1982, Hindi, Sanjeev Kumar), Ulta Palta(1997, Kannada, Ramesh Aravind) and Aamait Asal Eemait Kusal(2012, Tulu, Naveen D Padil). Best watch Angoor again. But if you still would like to watch Humshakals, take sardard tablet with you and return echoing, "bekaar, bekaar, bekaar." Blame it on the power of three! What is the use of investing time, money and energy along with talent when the end result is a tri-cycle sorry tri-shakals. It is three to the power of infinity Bore Bore Bore. Sajid Khan did well as a host. As a director, he is competing with Dada Kondke(with due respects to the long departed). Sis Farah piggy-rode on SRK and Akshay Kumar and could transform from choreographer to a credible director. Sajid has no such luck. Let him live in his dream world with this HIMMATWALA Part 2. Even God will not save this trash. Instead get a DVD of ANGOOR(1982) and taste the thunder that was Sanjiv Kumar. But if u still wish to go ahead watching this whatever: take headache tablets along and demand ticket refund, pop, corn, hourly wage and transportation fare along with other misc fares. Good Luck! BTW: The movie is proving to be a big hit in China! Can u guess why? My Witty Quotes: 1. Earlier, Sajid Khan was talented. Today, he is ail-ented. Earnestly pray for him. May his soul find its mooring post JacFer and Tamanna. 2. HIMMATWALA To HAMSHAKALS: Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Chodenge! Rating: Awarded Sun, Moon & Stars. 3. HUMSHAKALS is simply a scary movie. It scares u from never daring to watch future movies. It is actually HAMshakals. The actors ham. The viewer begs for ham(the food). 4. Badi himmat chahiye in sab shakals ko dekhne ke liye. Sajid toh bechara, dekhne ke baad pagal ho gaya! 5. Sajid Khan is undergoing mid-life crises. And he cannot deal with it single-handedly. Meri Shaadi Karaado! 6. Ekta Kapoor popularised letter K. Sajid Khan does it with letter H. 7. Nobody is calling it hero Saif's movie but baying for the blood of'director' Sajid Khan! Wonder why! 8. If u wish to escape depression, EXIT before it is too late! Bips escaped and she is SANE! BTW: This is not a review but an expression of pain. PHEW!
IT is campelely stupid,idiot and good for nothing movie
Credits
Saif Ali Khan
Riteish Deshmukh
Ram Kapoor
Bipasha Basu
Tamannaah Bhatia
Esha Gupta
Sajid Khan
Vashu BhagnaniHindi films like Humshakals
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