Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Review: Niether the Jawani Peaks nor does the Ishq!

Widely regarded as the Manmohan Desai of 90s entertainers, David Dhawan steps behind the camera for his 46th directorial effort: Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Starring the charismatic Varun Dhawan alongside the magnetic Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde, the film delivers exactly what you would expect from the veteran filmmaker—a trademark David Dhawan entertainer with classic comedy of errors, high-energy dance numbers, and glorious chaos.

While David Dhawan films are known for being non-stop laugh riots, the humour in Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai (HJTIHH) lands only in patches. That said, Varun Dhawan delivers a fantastic comedic performance, backed by seasoned pros like Rakesh Bedi, Jimmy Sheirgill, and Maniesh Paul. While the signature chaos is present, the film feels like iconic David Dhawan tropes thrown into a blender. A few jokes land genuinely while others feel forced, which is very unlike the veteran director who chooses to play safe and in his territory - the 90s-style slapstick humour which in today's time, won't sit well with a certain section of the audience. 

Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai could have been a lot more fun than it ultimately is. The soundtrack is decent, if mostly forgettable. However, as a daily listener of the original "Chunari Chunari", the fact that the remake didn't make my ears bleed is a testament to Tanishk Bagchi’s restrained effort not to ruin an iconic track! Overall, HJTIHH makes for a light, easygoing Sunday watch. The Bollywood Elephant rates it 3 elephants. 

Now Streaming on Zee5.