Jaat Movie Review: Sunny Deol Roars Back With a Massy Action Drama That Aims Big
In a time when Bollywood seems to be struggling to craft impactful action dramas, Sunny Deol, at the age of 67, storms back onto the big screen with Jaat, proving once again why he’s one of the original action legends of Indian cinema. With his signature dhai kilo ka haath and an aura of unshakable strength, Deol breathes life into a film that rides high on his charisma, even if the storytelling doesn’t always stay on course.
Table of Contents
An Old-School Actioner with a Modern Twist: Jaat Movie Review
Let’s dive into the Jaat movie review by first talking about its core—the story. The plot isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s effective. Randeep Hooda plays Tunga Rana, a menacing villain who, along with his brother Somulu (Viineet Kumar Singh), has long tormented villages in rural India. His tyranny is even enabled by his own wife, Bharathi (Regina Cassandra), and mother. Just when hope seems lost, in walks Sunny Deol, whose name remains a mystery until the second half—classic mass hero style. And from there, the film gears up for an intense face-off.
Director Gopichand Malineni, making his Hindi film debut, leans heavily on the tried-and-tested South Indian masala template—and for the most part, it works. The first half is a solid mix of high-octane action, punchy dialogues, and moments of surprising humor. Gopichand seems to understand how to present a star like Sunny Deol, and it shows. The film feels polished and intentional in its storytelling, especially in its early segments.
A particularly fun moment? When Sunny growls, “Is dhai kilo ke haath ki goonj North ne suni hai, ab South sunega.” It’s cheesy, sure, but it lands—and the audience in the theater erupts.
Where Jaat Stumbles
However, as the second half rolls in, Jaat begins to lose its grip. The film tries to juggle too many themes—social justice, women’s empowerment, real-life references—and while commendable in intent, it ends up muddying the narrative. There are also quite a few censored yet graphic beheading scenes, which may not be for everyone.
The pace slackens, subplots meander, and what starts as a tightly packaged entertainer begins to feel stretched. That said, the performances from the supporting cast—especially Randeep Hooda and Saiyami Kher—do help in keeping the momentum from completely stalling.
Jaat Box Office Opening: A Solid Start Amid Mixed Reactions
The buzz around Jaat was significant, thanks to Sunny’s triumphant return after the blockbuster Gadar 2. And while Jaat may not have matched the ₹41 crore opening of Gadar 2, it still managed a respectable ₹6.93 crore on Day 1, according to early estimates from Sacnilk. Some predictions even suggest that the film might touch the ₹10 crore mark by the end of the day.
Jaat was released on over 5600 screens across India, with a fairly wide reach into tier-two and tier-three cities—an area where Sunny’s fan base remains rock solid. While morning and afternoon shows had a modest 12.49% occupancy, cities like Jaipur posted impressive numbers with a 29.50% occupancy, followed by NCR at 17.5% and Chandigarh and Hyderabad holding steady. Metro cities like Mumbai and Pune, however, lagged behind with only 10% and 7.5%, respectively.
The pre-sales were also not spectacular—just ₹2.37 crore—but word of mouth from single screens and smaller towns could boost weekend figures.
A Pan-India Attempt That Mostly Lands
It’s clear that Jaat is Sunny Deol’s answer to pan-India blockbusters like Jawan and Sikandar. Backed by Mythri Movie Makers (yes, the same producers behind Pushpa), the film attempts to bridge the North-South cinema gap. With prominent South Indian actors like Ramya Krishnan and Jagapathi Babu in the cast, Jaat marks a bold move in expanding Sunny’s appeal beyond his traditional Hindi-speaking audience.
It’s also a strategic project—reportedly made on a ₹100 crore budget, the film clearly aims to be a large-scale spectacle. And while not all of it lands, the attempt is commendable. With slick production values, well-shot action sequences, and a strong background score, Jaat ticks many of the boxes that fans of the genre look for.
Final Verdict: Should You Watch It?
If you’re a fan of Sunny Deol or just miss the unapologetic action entertainers of yesteryear, Jaat will likely hit the spot. It may not be perfect—and yes, the second half could’ve used a trim—but it delivers what it promises: a throwback action film powered by an old-school hero still willing to punch hard, roar louder, and stand tall.
In a landscape increasingly dominated by high-concept thrillers and remakes, Jaat reminds us of the magic that a well-executed mass film can still bring to the table. And for that alone, it deserves a watch.