Ghayal: Once Again

Sunny Deol returns to the vigilante thriller that made him iconic, and while "Ghayal: Once Again" carries the spirit of righteous anger that defined the original, it struggles under the weight of its own ambitions. The film wants to be a commentary on systemic corruption, a personal redemption arc, and a high-stakes thriller all at once—but in trying to do everything, it dilutes the emotional core that could have made it resonate. Deol's performance has gravitas; there's a weariness in his eyes that speaks to trauma and survival. Yet the screenplay doesn't always honor that complexity, veering instead into melodramatic beats that feel borrowed from other, better films. The supporting cast, particularly the young blogger protagonist, deserves more nuance than the script allows, and some action sequences, while energetic, lack the brutal authenticity that made the original so visceral.

What does work is the film's genuine attempt to grapple with power structures—how wealth and influence can turn justice into a game only the connected can win. There are moments where this resonates deeply, where you feel the helplessness of ordinary people fighting invisible systems. Director Brij Mohan's intentions are clear, and his direction occasionally finds poetry in the rage. But the execution falters; the pacing drags, key emotional moments are rushed, and the narrative becomes predictable long before its climax. The romance subplot with Ajay's girlfriend feels obligatory rather than ea