Son of Sardaar 2 review: An India-Pak match made in Scotland – Beyond Bollywood

Director Vijay Kumar Arora’s madcap comedy has the same effect as a Russell Peters show – it makes you laugh at yourself and not take life too seriously. Ajay Devgn headlines the cast, but it’s Ravi Kishan, Sharat Saxena, and Vindoo Dara Singh who end up amusing you the most.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 / 5)

By Mayur Lookhar

Thirteen years ago, Ashwini Dhir delivered the family comedy Son of Sardaar (2012). Now, a standalone sequel returns with Ajay Devgn, Vindoo Dara Singh, and the late Mukul Dev reprising their roles. This new chapter is directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, a veteran cinematographer who began his career with the Marathi film Aai (1995) and later transitioned to direction through Punjabi cinema. Son of Sardaar 2 marks his first Hindi directorial, with the story written by Jagdeep Singh Sidhu and Mohit Jain.

Story

Jaswinder Singh Randhawa, better known as Jassi (Ajay Devgn), is missing his wife Dimple (Neeru Bajwa), who left for England soon after their wedding to focus on her career. A simple, supportive man, Jassi didn’t want to stand in her way. But since she moved abroad, Dimple has barely kept in touch. One night, she suddenly calls and urges him to come to England immediately.

When Jassi arrives, he’s hit with a rude shock, Dimple tells him she’s seeing someone else and wants a divorce. Heartbroken and confused, Jassi is advised by a fellow Punjabi to consult a lawyer. At a café in Scotland, he mistakes Rabia, a Pakistani woman, for the lawyer. Soon, he ends up becoming her tenant.

Rabia’s husband Danish (Chunky Panday) has walked out on the family, and her home is anything but calm. Most of the tension comes from her stepdaughter Saba (Roshni Walia), who’s dating an Indian man but fears his family would never accept a Pakistani bride. To help her out, Jassi reluctantly agrees to pretend to be Rabia’s husband, hoping it will help win over the groom’s family. But neither of them is prepared for the chaos that follows, especially when Raja (Ravi Kishan) and his unpredictable family enter the picture.

Screenplay & Direction

After a patchy run, Bollywood has recently seen some success by going back to its roots – stories built around romance, family, and light-hearted drama. The Indo-Pak mix in Son of Sardaar 2 is a surprise, but the chaos in Vijay Kumar Arora’s film brings back the unmistakable vibe of Bollywood’s ’80s and ’90s era.

With India-Pakistan relations rarely smooth, even including Pakistani characters in a Bollywood film can be seen as a risky move. Diljit Dosanjh faced backlash for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji (2025), and Ajay Devgn drew criticism for inviting Pakistani players to a private T20 legends tournament. At a time when many Indians prefer to distance themselves from anything related to Pakistan, having Indian actors portray Pakistani characters would be deemed anti-national by some.

To be fair to director Vijay Kumar Arora and writer Jagdeep Sidhu, Son of Sardaar 2 doesn’t push a preachy ‘Aman Ki Asha’ message. If anything, it leans into Pakistan-bashing. When Jassi discovers that Rabia and her family are Pakistani, he awkwardly points out that their country bombs innocent civilians in his. Jassi’s no warmonger, but the Singh family in Scotland takes pride in their anti-Pakistan stance.

Pretending to be an Indian Army colonel is one thing, keeping up the act is another. Raja Singh and his men, Tony (Mukul Dev) and Tuttu (Vindoo Dara Singh), are eager to hear war stories. (This is also the point where Son of Sardaar 2 finally grabs your attention after a sluggish first 30–40 minutes that nearly put you to sleep). Stuck for answers, Jassi begins narrating scenes straight from J.P. Dutta’s Border (1997). He delivers Sunny Deol and Suniel Shetty’s lines from memory, and the film hilariously visualizes him in those iconic battlefield moments. Tony and Tuttu quickly catch on that the tales sound too familiar. But the sheer joy on Vindoo Dara Singh’s face, thinking he’s about to hear some good old Pakistan-bashing, is straight out of a jingoistic factory.

It’s not just about India and Pakistan, Son of Sardaar 2 also weaves in a heartland touch through Sanjay Mishra’s Bantu Pandey, who shares an old connection with Raja Singh and Mrs. Singh (Ashwini Kalsekar). It’s one of many tangled relationships in this chaotic ride. Let’s be honest, no one enjoys drama in their own home, but watching it unfold in someone else’s can be quite entertaining. With its mix of quirky characters and messy relationships, the film builds up to a full-blown madcap comedy. This laughter ride feels a bit like watching a Russell Peters show, where you learn to laugh at yourself and not take things too seriously.

Acting

Thirteen years is a long gap to return to a character. At 56, Ajay Devgn seems a bit stiff trying to play the innocent Sikh early on. But once he slips back into full-on Son of Sardaar mode, both he and the audience start having fun with Jassi again.

Mrunal Thakur impressed early in her career, but has since been found wanting. A Maharashtrian in a Punjabi character, that too a Pakistani Muslim, not many would have fancied this. But Thakur’s the surprise packet, reeling into the madness of her character, navigating through tricky situations and relationships, but eventually coming out strong. The film releasing on her birthday only made it more special for Thakur.

Young Roshni Walia’s bubbly presence is enough to lift your mood, and she fully leans into the impetuosity of her character. The Pakistani women in this household also come with interesting names, Rabiya, Saba, Mehwish (Kubbra Sait), and Gul (Deepak Dobriyal), a trans woman. Don’t those names sound familiar? Many Pakistani actresses share them.

Ravi Kishan’s casting has an interesting backstory. Sanjay Dutt, who was part of the first film, was supposed to return for the sequel, but visa issues ruined that plan. That’s when Ravi Kishan stepped in. A true Bihari, and with Bihar having a long-standing connection with Punjab, it felt only fitting that the ‘Bihari babu’ took on the role of Raja. Director Vijay Kumar Arora smartly avoids giving him a forced Punjabi accent. This is a comedy, and sometimes, it’s the misfits who bring the most charm.

Raja Singh is an interesting character. He grew up without his father Ranjit Singh, who had left the family to marry a pole dancer in England. Despite being cheated on, Raja’s mother didn’t raise him to hate. In fact, Raja finds his English stepmother Kim (Emma Vansittart) surprisingly sweet. But he despises dancers, and he seeks is a sanskari bahu for his son. The Singhs now run a large cattle business in Scotland and that justifies their riches.

Veteran actor Sharat Saxena has never shied away from comedy, and he’s right at home here. His character, Ranjit, once fell for the charms of a pole dancer at the very club he worked at. The same woman, who lived by the pole, tragically dies on it, leaving Ranjit heartbroken. For the record, he was said to be left crippled after his son Raja broke his legs during their first encounter in England.

With his second wife gone, you’d expect Ranjit to be in mourning. And he is, just in his own strange way, quietly staring at the pole he’s now installed at home. Then comes the twist: Jassi slips some poppy juice into his tea, and suddenly the old man is up from his wheelchair. In the very next scene, he’s found himself a new flame, a young French woman named Jeanette. Yes, character thoda dheela hai, but Sharat Saxena has you in splits as Ranjit Singh.

And then there’s Vindoo Dara Singh and the late Mukul Dev. Here’s how our Punjabi studs make their entry, chasing after sheep that have lost their way. Tony and Tuttu are baffled as to why their watchdogs aren’t doing anything. Tuttu starts barking right into a poor dog’s ear, while Tony tries reasoning with them, whispering, “Humans are your owners, you work for us, now go herd the cattle.” Of course, none of it works. But from the moment they show up, you’re instantly hooked to these two.

Music / Technical Aspects

At 147 minutes, the film has limited playback music, but the one that really stands out is the Pehla Tu Duja track, especially with its quirky choreography, where the fingers do more dancing than the feet. Even the local English side dancers seem to enjoy it.

Scotland offers a naturally scenic backdrop, but cinematographer Aseem Bajaj truly earns his stripes by capturing the killer, goofy expressions of the cast, especially Vindoo Dara Singh.

Final word

We haven’t seen Vijay Kumar Arora’s Punjabi films, but Son of Sardaar 2 makes it clear he’s deeply connected to his roots, especially when it comes to humour. It’s funny, slightly edgy, but never crosses the line into insensitivity. The first 35–40 minutes are a bit of a slog, but once you’re past that, the film keeps you laughing throughout. Sure, traditionalists and sanskari types might not be too amused, but SOS 2 packs in enough laughs to keep you entertained. And isn’t that the real test of a good comedy?

Watch the video review below.