Director: Raghav Juyal, Niharika NM, Sanjay Kapoor, Barkha Singh, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Niki Aneja Walia, Vikalp Mehta, Tina Desai
Rating: *½
Released in theaters today, July 30, 2026, Bhai Tera Star Hai lands as an ambitious, high-decibel attempt to recreate the nostalgic, chaotic 90s slapstick humour of Govinda-style comedies. Written and directed by Vivek B. Agrawal, this 121-minute madcap comedy attempts to capture lightning in a bottle by aiming for a full-throttle, one-night chaos narrative—yet it ends up severely testing the audience's patience due to a thin, undercooked script.
The Story & Script
Set in London, the narrative follows Ajay Singh (Raghav Juyal), an overly confident, struggling actor convinced he is Bollywood’s next big superstar. Ajay’s life spirals into complete chaos when he loses £10,000 in a cricket betting gamble and is given just one single night to repay a dangerous local gangster.
To wriggle out of the tight corner, Ajay concocts a desperate lie regarding his sister's personal life. Predictably, the lie snowballs into a chaotic house of cards involving a botched robbery, angry mobsters, confused cops, and his exasperated girlfriend Roshni (Niharika NM). The script attempts to build an escalating comedy of errors, but the writing quickly loses its way under the weight of repetitive gags and frantic pacing.
Direction & Screenplay
Director Vivek B. Agrawal relies heavily on the assumption that if characters talk loudly enough, scream, and run frantically across the screen, it will automatically translate into comedy. Unfortunately, the screenplay lacks the sharp situational setup, clever misunderstandings, or tight dialogue delivery required to pull off a successful farce.
The film relies on meta-jokes—including self-referential roasts about Bollywood blockbusters—and loud comic-book-style editing, but the gags rapidly lose steam after the first half-hour. At just over two hours, the narrative begins to drag significantly, turning what should have been a breezy comedy into an exhausting experience.
Performances
Raghav Juyal: Stepping into his first solo lead role following impressive dramatic turns in Kill and The Bads of Bollywood, Raghav brings undeniable kinetic energy and physical comedy skills to the screen. However, his character is written with so little restraint that his performance frequently crosses into overacting.
Sanjay Kapoor & Niki Aneja Walia: Playing Fatty and Mandy, the veteran duo easily delivers the film's most effortless moments. Their natural screen chemistry and comedic timing provide a brief, refreshing breather from the surrounding noise.
Niharika NM & Barkha Singh: Digital creator Niharika NM makes a spirited appearance, though her role is largely confined to reacting angrily to her boyfriend's bad choices. Barkha Singh and Vikalp Mehta add decent supporting color, though their characters lack meaningful depth.
Chandan Roy Sanyal & Tina Desai: Sanyal brings his usual commitment to an eccentric mobster role, while Tina Desai does what she can with a thin, possessive-girlfriend archetype.
Technical Craft
Production & Visuals: Shot across London, the film boasts clean production values, though the visual design relies on bright, cartoonish color choices and quirky text pop-ups that occasionally feel like a long-form YouTube sketch rather than a theatrical film.
Final Verdict
Bhai Tera Star Hai has its heart in the right place, attempting to bring back carefree 90s farce, but it forgets that slapstick requires razor-sharp writing to work. While Raghav Juyal demonstrates flashes of comedic talent, the film is weighed down by an exhausting screenplay and relentless noise. It remains a strictly skippable affair unless you are a die-hard fan of Raghav's physical comedy.
