Cocktail 2 Movie Review: A Breezy Love Triangle Elevated by Shahid and Kriti's Charm
Dhaval Roy | Jun 19, 2026 | 3.0 Rating
Story: Long-time lovers Kunal (Shahid Kapoor) and Diya (Rashmika Mandanna) are in a stable relationship, but marriage still hasn't happened. On a whim, Diya asks her college friend Ally (Kriti Sanon) to seduce him to 'test' whether he truly loves her or is with her just out of habit. Things don't pan out as planned, and their equation turns into a love triangle.
Review: Director Homi Adajania's spiritual sequel to his 2012 film Cocktail follows Kunal and Diya, who have been together for 16 years and for whom marriage is just a formality. After an offhand joke by Kunal that Diya would never find out if he ever cheated on her, she begins to wonder if he is deliberately avoiding proposing to her. As the wedding season approaches, they take off to Sicily to avoid nosy relatives asking the same old, 'When are you getting married?' question. Enter Ally, Diya's college bestie, and the trouble in paradise begins. The movie then becomes an exploration of modern love and its insecurities, responsibility and commitment versus desire and following your heart.
Written by Luv Ranjan and Tarun Jain, the narrative follows the template of an urban love story with glossy visuals, a sweet girl, a temptress, and messy emotions. The first half remains breezy and engaging, with stunning visuals of Sicily and the easy, fun equation between the trio. However, the premise of a lover testing their partner feels immature, while the story and screenplay progress in familiar ways. The make-believe romance turning into something serious is something we have seen before. The second half also feels unconvincing because of its jarring shift in tonality from intense drama to comedy. At crucial moments, Ally and Diya squabble like teenagers, which takes away from the emotional depth of the issue being discussed.
The third act gains some momentum when Kunal gives his take on responsibility not being a burden, comfort not meaning boredom, and habits meaning consistency. Much of the film's charm can be owed to Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran, whose cinematography keeps you mesmerised as he takes you through Sicily's beaches, vineyards and nightlife. Pritam's music, especially Mashooqa and Jab Talak, fits the moodboard, but almost back-to-back songs disrupt the narrative.
Performances
Shahid Kapoor shines as Kunal, bringing charm to the part while handling his character's conflicted emotions with ease. Kriti Sanon stands out as the bohemian livewire and free-spirited Ally, while Rashmika Mandanna is endearing in her role.
Verdict
If you enjoy relationship dramas that keep things light, musical and easy on the eyes, Cocktail 2 makes for a fun watch.
Cast & Crew
- Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Kriti Sanon
- Director: Homi Adajania
- Producers: Dinesh Vijan, Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg
- Music: Pritam
- Cinematography: Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran
Rating
3.0 Critic's Rating | 3.0 Users' Rating
