For a franchise that gave the world "Kajra Re" and "Dharma Productions," the soundtrack of Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- was a letdown. The album, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, lacked a memorable anthem.
In a music-driven industry, the film’s lack of a repeatable chartbuster hurt its longevity.
The biggest selling point of Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- was the return of the golden pair. Both actors have matured significantly. Abhishek, coming off critically acclaimed performances in Manmarziyaan and Bob Biswas, brings a world-weary exhaustion to Rakesh. Rani, as always, is a powerhouse. Her comic timing remains impeccable, especially in scenes where the aging Vimmi tries to fit into a skimpy con-artist costume. However, the script gives them surprisingly little to do. Their chemistry is still electric, but the "middle-aged couple bickering" trope wears thin quickly.
| Actor | Role | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | Saif Ali Khan | Bunty (real name: Rakesh Trivedi) | The original Bunty, now a retired, bored small-town cop. | | Rani Mukerji | Babli (real name: Vimmi Saluja) | The original Babli, now a restless housewife/mother. | | Siddhant Chaturvedi | New Bunty (Kunal Singh) | A small-town dreamer with big cons. | | Sharvari Wagh | New Babli (Sonia Rawat) | An ambitious girl from a strict family who wants to escape. | | Pankaj Tripathi | Jatayu Singh | A quirky, astrologer-turned-cop chasing the con artists. |
Cameo: Amitabh Bachchan reprises his iconic narrator role (voice only) from the first film.
The irony of Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- is that it becomes the very thing the original characters rebelled against: a formulaic, predictable product. The original Bunty and Babli wanted to "do something big." The sequel seems content to just do something safe.
While it fails to reach the heights of its predecessor, it is not an unwatchable disaster. It is a nostalgic trip that proves that while con games evolve, the rules of comedy remain the same: if Rani Mukerji is smiling, you are probably smiling too. bunty aur babli 2 -2021-
Bonus Trivia:
For fans of Bollywood heist comedies, Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- is a decent time-pass, but don't expect the original magic. Sometimes, you can’t go home again—especially if you’ve sold your home for a quick con.
The 2021 sequel to the iconic 2005 caper, Bunty Aur Babli 2 , attempts to blend nostalgia with modern digital-age cons but largely struggled to recapture the "magic" of the original. The Core Conflict Set 16 years after the original, the film finds Rakesh (Saif Ali Khan) Vimmi (Rani Mukerji)
living a quiet, middle-class life in Phursatganj. They are forced out of retirement when a new, tech-savvy couple— Kunal (Siddhant Chaturvedi) Sonia (Sharvari Wagh)
—starts pulling off elaborate scams using their legendary "Bunty and Babli" brand. Cast and Characters
Rani Mukerji reprises her role as the loud and vibrant Vimmi, while Saif Ali Khan replaces Abhishek Bachchan as the now-retired Bunty. The New Gen: For a franchise that gave the world "Kajra
Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharvari Wagh (in her film debut) portray the millennial duo who use social media and modern tech to stay ahead of the law. Pankaj Tripathi
takes over the role of the chasing cop, Inspector Jatayu Singh, though many critics felt his performance lacked the gravitas of Amitabh Bachchan's original character. Critical and Box Office Reception
The Great Con-Back: Is Bunty Aur Babli 2 Worth the Watch? Released in November 2021, Bunty Aur Babli 2
attempted to revive the magic of the 2005 cult classic by pitting the original con artists against a tech-savvy new generation. While it brought back the nostalgic charm of seeing Rani Mukerji as the fiery Vimmi, the film struggled to live up to the sky-high legacy of its predecessor. The Plot: Old School vs. New School
Set 15 years after the original, Rakesh (Saif Ali Khan, replacing Abhishek Bachchan) and Vimmi are living a quiet, middle-class life in Phursatganj. Their peace is shattered when Inspector Jatayu Singh (Pankaj Tripathi) arrives to arrest them for a new string of robberies bearing their signature sigil.
The catch? The crimes are actually being pulled off by Kunal (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Sonia (Sharvari Wagh), a pair of brilliant but unemployed engineers acting as modern-day Robin Hoods. To clear their names, the "OG" Bunty and Babli must come out of retirement to hunt down their successors. The Cast: Hits and Misses In a music-driven industry, the film’s lack of
In 2005, Bunty Aur Babli felt like a shot of aged whisky with a sugary cola chaser—a charming, chaotic ride through small-town dreams and big-city cons. It gave us two lovable rogues from nowhere, Uttar Pradesh, who decided that if the system wouldn’t let them win, they’d simply rig the game. Sixteen years later, the sequel arrived with a new tagline—“The con is back”—but with none of the original’s reckless, underdog soul.
Bunty Aur Babli 2, released in November 2021, was a film caught in a crisis of identity. It wanted to be a nostalgia trip, a passing-the-torch story, and a zany heist comedy all at once. In trying to be everything, it ended up being surprisingly little.
The new pair is the film’s true energy source. Siddhant, fresh off Gully Boy, plays Kunal with a swaggering, meta-awareness of the first film. He breaks the fourth wall, referencing the “original” Bunty as a legend. Sharvari, making her debut, is a revelation—equal parts cunning and glamorous. Their dance numbers are energetic, and their cons are genuinely creative. The problem is that the film seems confused whether they are villains or heroes. By the end, you almost root for the kids over the veterans.
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Compared to the 2005 classic, Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- is a significant downgrade. The original had heart, a rebellious streak, and a tragic undertone (the death of a child was a gut punch). The sequel is fluffy, safe, and commercial to a fault.
However, judged purely as a one-time OTT watch (it is available on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix across different regions), it is harmless fun. If you lower your expectations and treat it as a Sunday afternoon popcorn flick, you will enjoy the Bachchan-Mukerji chemistry and a few laugh-out-loud moments.
Rating: 2.5/5
Watch it for: Rani Mukerji’s comic genius, the nostalgic music, and the first 45 minutes. Skip it if: You are a purist of the original film or expect a smart heist thriller.