Deva review: Shahid Kapoor is exceptional but at what cost?

New Delhi: Shahid Kapoor’s Deva is the kind of film that swaggers into the room with all the confidence of a Bollywood masala entertainer, only to trip over its own storytelling. Directed by Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews, this cop thriller looks fantastic and boasts a gritty premise. Needless to say, Shahid Kapoor’s power-packed avatar takes the cake. But beneath all that style lies a film that doesn’t quite know how to handle its own narrative.

For those who do not know, Deva is a Hindi reworking of Rosshan’s 2013 film Mumbai Police starring Prithviraj Sukumaran—a fact the makers insist on denying. However, the similarities stare right at us. Scroll down to read the full review!

Deva story

Dev Ambre (Shahid Kapoor) is the classic “rowdy in uniform” officer who bends the rules but is still celebrated for his heroics. When his friend and fellow cop, Roshan D’Silva (Pavail Gulati) is murdered, Dev is on the case— until he meets with a suspicious accident that wipes out his memory. With no recollection of the case or even his own past, he’s forced to retrace his steps in a bid to solve the murder.

So far, so gripping, right? Well, not quite. The first half is a sluggish, over-stylised build-up that leans too hard on Shahid Kapoor’s rugged charm. It’s in the second half that things finally gain momentum, only to be let down by a climax that swaps emotional depth for some “mass appeal” moment.

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Deva review: The Good

Deva’s visual aesthetic will impress if you love French crime thrillers or stylish noir. Cinematographer Amit Roy crafts a sleek, moody Mumbai that looks straight out of a graphic novel. Shahid Kapoor is ever a committed performer and does his best to elevate the material. His brooding intensity is sharp, and he sells Dev’s transformation from an arrogant officer to a confused, fractured man. After Kabir Singh and Bloody Daddy, this kind of tough-guy-with-a-dark-past act is starting to feel like a comfortable space for him.

Parvessh Rana as Deva’s brother-in-law is a surprising standout, offering one of the film’s few genuinely gripping performances. Emotional Atyachaar fandom will be blown away! Pavail Gulati’s impactful presence and sincerity shine right through the movie.

WTF: Where’s the Flaw?

The problem of Deva? The script is frustratingly hollow. Written by a crowded team of writers (Sumit Arora, Bobby, Abbas Dalal, Hussain Dalal, and more), the plot tries to be an engaging whodunnit but fails to explore its most promising themes—memory loss, guilt and identity. Instead, it rushes through emotional beats and leans on action sequences that feel more choreographed than thrilling. The film also nods to Amitabh Bachchan’s Deewaar, but sadly, the homage never quite materialises beyond a couple of strategically placed posters.

Moreover, Pooja Hegde is reduced to a blink-and-miss role. Her character is meant to be Dev’s love interest and is so underwritten that she might as well have been edited out altogether. Even Kubbra Sait, who could have been another solid performer, gets minimal screen time.

Deva final verdict

Deva has all the ingredients for a knockout thriller—a gripping setup, a star-powered lead and stylish cinematography. But instead of pushing boundaries, it plays it safe. The plot feels overcooked yet underdeveloped, the emotional stakes never quite land and the final reveal is disappointingly twisted.

It’s not a terrible film, but it’s also not the gripping neo-noir thriller it aspires to be. Watch Deva if you’re a die-hard Shahid Kapoor fan.