De De Pyaar De 2, the sequel to the 2019 romantic comedy hit, opened at the Indian box office on November 14, 2025, with a disappointing Rs 8.50-8.75 crore India net collection on its first day, falling below both its predecessor’s opening and audience expectations despite featuring the original franchise’s stars plus significant new additions. Directed by newcomer Anshul Sharma and written by Luv Ranjan and Tarun Jain, the film reunites Ajay Devgn as Ashish Malhotra (a 52-year-old London-based NRI investor) and Rakul Preet Singh as Ayesha (his 28-year-old girlfriend), while introducing R Madhavan as Ayesha’s protective father Rajji—a strategic casting choice that adds emotional complexity to the family comedy narrative. Critical reception has been mixed-to-positive, with Bollywood Hungama awarding 4.0/5 stars, praising the ensemble chemistry, witty dialogue exchanges, and Devgn’s vulnerable performance as the “aashiq” (lover), though critics noted formulaic structures and occasional excessive volume in dramatic sequences. The film’s underwhelming opening—falling short of the original’s Rs 10.41 crore Day 1 collection and ideal Rs 10 crore expectation—signals franchise fatigue despite strong performances from the lead cast, with box office prospects dependent on weekend growth and family audience momentum.
Plot and Premise: Age-Defying Love Meets Family Approval
The narrative of De De Pyaar De 2 picks up from the first film, exploring whether love can transcend societal expectations, family approval, and generational differences. Ashish, now 52 years old, continues his relationship with Ayesha (28), navigating cultural dynamics as he attempts to meet her family and gain their acceptance, while simultaneously managing his own family’s reactions to the unconventional age-gap romance.
The sequel introduces fresh emotional stakes through R Madhavan’s character Rajji, Ayesha’s protective father torn between love for his daughter and concerns about her future with a significantly older man. The plot balances comedy, romance, and family drama, leveraging witty banter between Ashish and Rajji alongside unexpected humorous situations arising from the age-gap narrative while maintaining the original film’s essential charm and comedic essence.
Cast and Characters
Ajay Devgn as Ashish Malhotra (Returning Lead): Devgn reprises his iconic role with “vulnerability and deadpan humour,” seamlessly embodying Ashish’s character evolution as a 52-year-old navigating romantic complexities. Koimoi praised Devgn’s performance, noting he “syncs in seamlessly with Ashish and excels as the vulnerable aashiq, his deadpan humour intact.” The actor brings maturity and charm to the character, balancing comedic timing with genuine emotional moments that resonate with audiences.
Rakul Preet Singh as Ayesha (Returning Lead): Singh reprises her role with infectious energy, bringing warmth and charm to Ayesha’s character. Audiences particularly praised her chemistry with both Devgn and newcomer Madhavan, establishing genuine romantic connections across generational boundaries. Social media reviews highlighted: “Rakul Preet Singh lighting up the screen with her infectious energy.”
R Madhavan as Rajji (New Addition): Madhavan delivers what Bollywood Hungama described as a “perfectly at home” performance as Ayesha’s protective father, “torn between love for his daughter and his view of her future.” His witty face-offs with Devgn’s character generate substantial comedic moments while adding emotional depth to the narrative. Social media consensus praised the “epic face-off” between Devgn and Madhavan, with audiences rating their on-screen chemistry as a film highlight.
Supporting Cast: Meezaan Jafri, Jaaved Jafri, Ishita Dutta (described as “effectively restrained and cute”), Gautami Kapoor, and Suhasini Mulay (who “steals the show in her special sequence”).
Director and Screenwriter: Anshul Sharma’s Promising Debut
Director: Anshul Sharma (Directorial Debut) | Previous Experience: Background in advertising and creative direction | Directorial Approach: Commendable grasp of entertaining sequences and dramatic moments, blending comedy with subtle messages on family values
Screenwriters: Luv Ranjan (original creator, story), Tarun Jain | Previous Work (Luv Ranjan): Pyaar Ka Punchnama franchise, Bobby Jasoos | Production Companies: AA Films, Luv Films
Koimoi noted: “Anshul Sharma makes a very promising beginning as a director. His grasp of fun sequences, serious scenes, and everything else is commendable, and he smoothly brings in the naughty element into the narration, blending it with subtle messages on family ties, father-daughter bonding, relationships, and values in general.” However, critics suggested the director could have maintained lower volume levels in dramatic sequences featuring Madhavan and Singh.
Critical Reception and Ratings
Bollywood Hungama: 4.0/5 stars (Mixed to Positive) | Koimoi: “Perfect blend of comedy and emotions” | General Critical Consensus: “Breezy and entertaining family rom-com” despite formulaic structure and uneven pacing
Positive Reception Highlights: Critics praised the ensemble chemistry, witty dialogue exchanges, sharp situational humour, lead performances, R Madhavan’s standout contribution, and the film’s blend of comedy, romance, and family drama. Moneycontrol noted the film “leans into its strengths, witty exchanges, sharp situational humour, and the undeniable charm of its leads.” Social media reviews praised the film as “a charming rollercoaster of emotions” and “a 100% family entertainer made for the big screens.”
Critical Reservations: Reviewers noted formulaic narrative structure, occasionally uneven pacing, excessive volume in dramatic sequences, and predictable comedic scenarios. The general consensus acknowledged mixed reviews while recognizing the film’s entertainment value for family audiences.
Release Information
Release Date: November 14, 2025 (India) | Language Availability: Hindi | Format: 2D | MPAA-Equivalent Rating: UA (Unrestricted Public Exhibition) | Runtime: Approximately 145 minutes
Box Office Collection and Performance
Day 1 (Friday, November 14) Collection: Rs 8.50-8.75 crore India net (Early Estimates) | Day 1 Occupancy: 14.05% overall (Morning: 7.46%, Afternoon: 10.66%, Evening: 12.80%, Night: 25.26%) | Advance Bookings: Rs 2.79 crore from 91,111 tickets across 12,947 shows
Day 1 Worldwide Collection: Rs 14.50 crore (Rs 10.50 crore India Gross + Rs 4.00 crore Overseas) | Key Markets Performance: Mumbai (16% occupancy), NCR (14.50%), Bengaluru (19.25%)
Opening Day Comparison: Below the original De De Pyaar De (2019) which earned Rs 10.41 crore (including Thursday previews) on Day 1 | Better than Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar 2 (Rs 7.25 crore) but significantly lower than Raid 2 (Rs 19.25 crore)
Weekend Outlook: Industry analysts expect Rs 10-11 crore on Saturday (Day 2) based on morning occupancy trends showing limited growth. Strong family appeal and limited theatrical competition present opportunities for weekend recovery, though initial momentum appears modest. Observers note that the film “opened flat with no visible jump,” requiring family audience support to achieve respectable weekend collections.
Franchise Context
The original De De Pyaar De (2019) achieved a domestic total collection of over Rs 104 crore, establishing successful franchise credentials. However, the sequel’s underwhelming opening signals potential audience fatigue despite the film’s entertainment value and critical acceptance. Success will depend on word-of-mouth momentum and family audience engagement across the weekend and beyond.
