Cocktail 2 (2026) Review: A Love Triangle Gone Flat

Is Cocktail 2 worth watching?

Mostly no. Cocktail 2 is a handsome, expensive-looking romance that never gives its love triangle enough bite to justify two and a half hours. Its three leads work hard, and Rashmika Mandanna in particular brings a spark the script cannot match. But the emotional turns arrive exactly where you expect them, and the film’s gorgeous locations end up filling the space where complications should be.

What is Cocktail 2 about?

Cocktail 2 opens with a long-established couple, played by Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, on holiday in Sicily. There they meet a free-spirited dance instructor (Rashmika Mandanna), who is initially drawn into a plan to test the boyfriend’s loyalty, only to find herself falling for him.

When the wedding festivities move back to India, the three of them are caught in the fallout, as old history and new feelings collide amid family pressure and celebration. Tiku Talsania, Neelu Kohli and Pulkit Samrat appear in supporting roles.

Homi Adajania, who directed the original Cocktail in 2012, returns for this spiritual sequel. It is an Indian production in Hindi, running 150 minutes, released in June 2026.

Three stars working harder than the script

The performances are the film’s most reliable pleasure. Mandanna plays the outsider with a restless, mischievous energy that lifts every scene she is in, and even reviews that pan the film have singled her out. She gives the character an unpredictability that the story itself lacks.

Shahid Kapoor plays the man at the centre of the triangle with a soft-eyed patience that suits the character, though the dialogue rarely gives him much to work with. Kriti Sanon is asked to play both the security and the insecurity of a long relationship, and while she brings conviction to her big moments, the script does not give her enough quiet scenes to make her doubts land. The chemistry between all three is pleasant rather than combustible.

Postcard romance without friction

Adajania clearly relishes the Sicilian setting. Sun-baked piazzas, coastlines and villas are shot with a glossy, travel-brochure sheen, and the production design, singled out by several critics, is elegant throughout. The early holiday stretch has a breezy charm, with the loyalty-test premise briefly promising a sharper, more playful comedy.

The problem is that the film keeps choosing scenery over tension. Moments that should be uncomfortable are cut short by montages, and the move to India brings a familiar parade of wedding set pieces rather than genuine escalation. The original Cocktail drew much of its appeal from the messiness of its characters; this one is oddly tidy.

Where the pour runs thin

At 150 minutes, the film simply outstays its welcome. The central triangle develops in predictable stages, with jealousy, confessions and reconciliations arriving on schedule, and the second half repeats emotional beats rather than deepening them. Supporting characters are underused, and the comic elements rarely rise above mild. By the final stretch, even the lovely locations feel like padding.

Who should watch Cocktail 2?

It will appeal most to devoted fans of Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon or Rashmika Mandanna, and to viewers who enjoy glossy, travel-heavy Hindi romance and are happy to watch it for the scenery. Anyone expecting the edge of the 2012 film, or a love triangle with real stakes, is likely to be disappointed. It contains some drinking and mild romantic content, making it suitable for most teenagers.

If you want better Hindi romance, try these instead:

• Tamasha, another Hindi romance that begins on a European holiday, with far more emotional daring.
• Queen, a funny, heartfelt Hindi film about a wedding gone wrong and a journey across Europe.
• Kapoor & Sons, for complicated relationships and family tensions written with real sharpness.

The verdict

Cocktail 2 looks lovely and has three appealing leads, but its love triangle lacks the friction and surprise to sustain its length. Rashmika Mandanna’s energy and the Sicilian setting offer scattered pleasures; otherwise, it is a soft, forgettable sequel.