The Teaser: AI Babies and the "Sandwich" Connection
The 1-minute-7-second teaser takes a unique (and polarizing) approach to storytelling:
The Intro: The teaser opens with two AI-generated toddlers having a funny conversation. They realize that while their mothers are named Baani and Preet, their fathers share the same name—Jass.
The Cast: The clip introduces the lead trio:
Varun Dhawan as the chaotic and charming Jass.
Mrunal Thakur as the sophisticated Baani.
Pooja Hegde as the vibrant Preet.
The Comparison: Fans were quick to notice plot similarities to the 2006 Govinda starrer Sandwich, suggesting that David Dhawan might be revisiting the "one man, two wives" comedy trope that he and Govinda perfected in the 90s.
The Music: The teaser is set to a peppy, remastered version of the chartbuster "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai" from David Dhawan’s 1999 hit Biwi No. 1.
Preponed Release: May 22, 2026
Along with the first look, the makers dropped a major scheduling bombshell:
New Date: The film has been preponed by three weeks and will now release on Friday, May 22, 2026.
The Reasoning: With the film nearing completion, the producers at Tips Films decided to capitalize on the summer holiday window and avoid a crowded June schedule.
The Clash: This move sets up a massive box office face-off on May 22 against Ananya Panday and Lakshya’s Chand Mera Dil and Anurag Kashyap’s Bandar.
'HJTIHA' Project Snapshot
Feature Details Director David Dhawan (his 4th collab with Varun) Producer Ramesh Taurani (Tips Films) Lead Cast Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde Supporting Cast Chunky Pandey, Maniesh Paul, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mouni Roy Release Date May 22, 2026
Reactions: From "Sultry" to "Scary"
The teaser has received a polarizing "mixed bag" of reviews within the first 24 hours:
The "Sultry" Avatars: Fans on X (formerly Twitter) have been praising the fresh pairing of Varun with Mrunal and Pooja, particularly their "sizzling" chemistry.
The AI Backlash: A significant portion of the audience has criticized the "uncanny valley" look of the AI-generated babies, with some calling the visual choice "creepy" and others wondering why real child actors weren't used.
Varun’s Rebuttal: An influencer recently accused Varun of "faking reviews" for the first look, to which the actor quickly and humorously responded, defending the film's organic buzz.
SantaBanta Verdict:
David Dhawan is leaning heavily into his signature "colorful chaos" style for Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. While the AI toddlers are a bold (and perhaps miscalculated) experimental step, the core appeal remains the Varun-Mrunal-Pooja love triangle. By moving the release to May 22, the makers are betting on "Dhawan Power" to dominate the summer vacation footfalls.
