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.
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 film Bunty Aur Babli 2 is a crime comedy sequel that follows retired con artists Rakesh (Saif Ali Khan) and Vimmy (Rani Mukerji) as they emerge from domestic life to track down a younger pair of scammers who are using their legendary name. Directed by Varun V. Sharma and produced by Yash Raj Films, the movie attempts to blend nostalgia with millennial themes like social media, unemployment, and startup culture. Key Production Features
Here’s a concise review of Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021): bunty aur babli 2 -2021-
The premise of Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- is actually quite clever—at least on paper. We are reintroduced to Rakesh (Abhishek Bachchan) and Vimmi (Rani Mukerji), now middle-aged and living a quiet, retired life in a dusty small town. They have a teenage son who is oblivious to his parents' criminal past. Their days of pulling off elaborate railway and jewelry scams are long behind them.
However, trouble arrives when a series of high-profile heists begin occurring across India. The police assume the original "Bunty aur Babli" have returned. The modus operandi is flashier, younger, and digital. To clear their names and protect their family, the original duo must come out of retirement.
Enter the new Bunty and Babli: Kunal (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Sonia (Sharvari Wagh). These two are the opposite of the original pair. Where Rakesh and Vimmi relied on costumes, physical props, and railway station sleight-of-hand, the new generation uses QR codes, Bluetooth skimmers, and crypto-wallets. The film sets up an interesting generational conflict: Old school analog con vs. New school digital con. The plot then follows four con artists trying to out-con each other in a race across iconic Indian tourist spots.
The narrative of Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- picks up years after the original. Rakesh (Abhishek Bachchan) and Vimmi (Rani Mukerji) are no longer the young, hungry fugitives. They have settled down, married each other, and are living a quiet, mundane life in a small town with their teenage son. They have retired their iconic alter egos—until a series of spectacular, high-tech heists rock the nation, all signed with their calling card: a lipstick kiss and a white bunny.
The twist? The original B&B are innocent. The crimes are being committed by a younger, slicker duo: Kunal (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Monica (Sharvari Wagh). These new-gen cons are digital natives, using cryptocurrency, social media algorithms, and drone technology to outsmart the police. They mock the old school’s "physical" cons as outdated. The irony of Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021-
Forced out of retirement, the original Bunty and Babli team up with the police officer who once hunted them (played by Rajpal Yadav) to catch their imitators. The film sets up a fascinating generational clash: Old school charm vs. New age savvy. The first half involves the original duo failing hilariously at modern scams, while the second half attempts a grand unification heist.
If you are looking for a serious heist drama, skip Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021-. However, if you want a mildly entertaining, one-time weekend watch with the family (skip for kids under 10 due to mild innuendo), it serves its purpose. Watch it for Siddhant and Sharvari’s debut chemistry and a nostalgic peek at Rani Mukerji doing what she does best—stealing the scene even with mediocre lines.
Ultimately, Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- proves that some cons are best left in the past. The original Bunty and Babli conned the world with charm. The sequel only manages to con you out of two hours of your time. But for die-hard fans of the franchise, seeing the duo back together—even in a flawed vehicle—is a bittersweet treat.
Final Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video & Netflix (as of 2022)
Aggregate Score: ~4.5/10 on IMDb | ~35% on Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score). Bonus Trivia:
| 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 film reintroduces us to the original con couple, now middle-aged, retired, and bored out of their minds in a tiny town. Vimmy (Rani Mukerji) longs for the thrill of a high-speed chase; Rakesh (Saif Ali Khan, stepping into Abhishek Bachchan’s shoes) just wants to enjoy his pension of peace and quiet. Their banter retains a flicker of the old magic—Mukerji, in particular, is a force, her eyes still sparkling with mischief. Saif does his trademark weary-royal act, which works in fits and starts.
Their quiet life is upended when a series of flashy, impossible cons—robbing a moving train, duping a diamond dealer—are committed under the "Bunty aur Babli" moniker. The only problem? They’re innocent. The culprits are two restless, tech-savvy youngsters from their own hometown: the brilliant but insecure Bunty (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and the ambitious, fiery Babli (Sharvari Wagh).
What follows is a generational chase: the original con artists are roped in by a beleaguered cop (a woefully underused Pankaj Tripathi) to catch their imitators. The film’s central premise—analog cons vs. digital heists—is brilliant on paper. The veterans rely on sleight of hand and human psychology; the rookies use drones, deepfakes, and cryptocurrency.
The gap between the original and Bunty Aur Babli 2 -2021- is a case study in Bollywood’s development hell. The sequel was announced as early as 2006, then scrapped. Writers struggled to modernize the con-game genre without losing the innocence of the first film. The rise of real-life digital scams (like the Jamtara phishing racket) made the premise more relevant, but the script failed to capitalize on that gritty realism. Instead, the film oscillates between slapstick comedy and a "kids are alright" moral lecture.