For cinephiles who grew up on Abbas-Mustan’s taut thrillers like Khiladi, Baazigar, Soldier, Ajnabee, and Humraaz, it is nothing short of heartbreaking to see the duo associated with films like Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon. The bigger mystery, however, is what compelled them to revisit the same formula with Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2.

This is the same directing pair that once reshaped the careers of various today's stalwarts. Khiladi catapulted Akshay Kumar into stardom. Baazigar gave Shah Rukh Khan the ruthless edge that made him unstoppable. Soldier remains Bobby Deol’s defining moment. And, Humraaz showcased Akshaye Khanna’s screen aura at its peak. These films were not just hits—they were cultural milestones.

Read in Hindi: क्या रही होगी 'किस किसको प्यार करूं2' के पीछे की मजबूरी...!

Against that backdrop, their association with Kapil Sharma’s comedy vehicle feels like a betrayal of their own legacy. No matter how many times they attempt it, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon will never measure up—it’s the proverbial “same old story”.

To their credit, Abbas-Mustan did not direct the sequel themselves. The responsibility was handed over to Anukalp Goswami, who both wrote and directed the film. Yet the result remains uninspired. Kapil Sharma’s screen presence pales in comparison to even Yo Yo Honey Singh’s cameo-like impact.

There are, however, flashes of memorability. Tridha Choudhury, playing the sanskari bahu, and veteran Asrani as a bahubhashi paadri, linger in the audience’s mind long after the credits roll. Choudhury, who made waves with the web series Aashram, deserves stronger projects; her potential is evident.

The real plea, though, is to Abbas-Mustan themselves. Bollywood’s current landscape is ripe for the kind of stylish thrillers they once mastered. If nothing else, they should consider revisiting Humraaz with a sequel with the same old Bobby Deol and Akshay Khanna. That would be a return to form worth celebrating.