Vadh 2 (2026) Movie: Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta’s Prison Drama Deserves Your Time
Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta return in a crime drama that takes a different path from typical Bollywood fare. Vadh 2, directed by Jaspal Singh Sandhu and backed by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg, sets its story inside a prison in Madhya Pradesh. The supporting cast features Kumud Mishra, Yogita Bihani, Amitt K Singh, Akshay Dogra, and Shilpa Shukla.
The film hit screens on February 6, 2026. Unlike most sequels, this one doesn’t continue where the first film ended. Instead, it uses the same lead actors in completely different roles. This allows fresh storytelling while maintaining the serious mood that defined the original.
The Story Unfolds Behind Bars
Manju Singh has spent 28 years locked in Shivpuri Jail for crimes she never committed. Over those years, she’s built a friendship with Shambhunath Mishra, who works as a prison guard. They share conversations after dark, separated by a prison wall but connected by years of knowing each other.
Everything shifts when a new boss arrives. Prakash Singh runs things differently than before. He won’t ignore the shady dealings that everyone else has accepted as normal. When an inmate named Keshav attacks an elderly prisoner, Prakash acts against him even though Keshav has political protection. Days later, Keshav disappears without a trace.
What follows is a search for truth that reveals how people survive when systems fail them. The film moves slowly, giving characters space to breathe. Some viewers might lose patience, but I found it worked because relationships develop naturally rather than feeling rushed.
The Performances Stand Out
Sanjay Mishra proves again why he’s considered one of our finest actors. He doesn’t shout or overact. Instead, he communicates through stillness and small expressions. Watching him play a man who finds companionship in the most unlikely place felt genuine throughout. His restraint is his power.
Neena Gupta brings equal weight as someone who has learned to endure an unjust situation with her dignity intact. She embodies strength without making it obvious or theatrical. The way she and Mishra play off each other convinced me these two people really have shared decades together, even though we know they haven’t.
Kumud Mishra makes his character believable in the beginning, though his role loses steam as things progress. Akshay Dogra creates a villain you immediately dislike, which is exactly what the story needs. The others in the cast do their jobs well enough, though Amitt K Singh deserved better material considering how much he appears on screen.
The Craft Behind The Camera
Jaspal Singh Sandhu handles the direction with purpose. He knows what story he wants to tell and sticks to it without wavering. I appreciated that he didn’t try cramming in songs, romance, or comedy to attract wider audiences. The film demands your attention through whispers rather than screams.
The camera work keeps things straightforward. It shows prison life as it is, finding moments of connection between people stuck in grim circumstances. Nothing fancy, just effective visual storytelling.
Advait Nemlekar composed music that enhances tension without overwhelming scenes. The score understands when silence speaks louder than sound. There’s one song that doesn’t really add much, but at least it doesn’t hurt the flow too badly.
What Grabbed Me
The film refuses to bend toward commercial expectations. It stays serious from start to finish. That takes courage in an industry that usually plays it safe. The themes about justice and morality run deeper than surface-level entertainment.
I connected with how the film portrays the bond between Shambhunath and Manju. Their relationship shows that meaningful connections can form anywhere, even in the most restrictive environments. The film handles this with care, never cheapening it for easy sentiment.
Social issues like caste bias and institutional rot get woven into the narrative without feeling like lectures. These elements affect what characters do and why, making them part of the story rather than just messages tacked on.
The ending caught me off guard. Going back, I could see the hints scattered earlier, but the revelation still landed with impact. Not everything gets explained, and honestly, I liked that choice. Real life rarely wraps up neatly.
Where It Stumbles
The pacing drags in spots where tighter editing would have helped. Parts of the second half lose momentum, especially when Neena Gupta vanishes from the screen for long stretches. Given her importance, those absences hurt the film.
If you’ve seen your share of thrillers, you’ll spot several plot developments before they happen. The investigation doesn’t break new ground. I expected more tension and surprise than what ultimately came. It’s competent but not gripping.
Certain story choices strain belief. The bit about the ring that becomes crucial later felt convenient rather than clever. Would a sharp officer really forget about it? Would someone else bank on it being noticed years down the line? These moments pulled me out of the experience.
How Critics Responded
Reviews landed all over the map. The Indian Express awarded 2.5 stars, praising performances while questioning narrative decisions. Bollywood Hungama went with 2 stars, acknowledging intrigue but noting limited appeal. India Today also settled on 2.5, appreciating the setting and acting but calling out familiar plotting.
Others saw more to like. The Hollywood Reporter India found it moving and well-made. Koimoi called it a lesson in how to handle sequels properly. The Live Nagpur gave 4 stars for its story and performances. Firstpost also went with 4 stars, arguing that quality content deserves cinema screens.
What Regular Viewers Thought
People watching the film shared mostly positive reactions online. Many described it as quietly affecting, the kind of film that lingers after you leave the theatre. Some praised the final twist as outstanding. Others appreciated seeing experienced actors given substantial roles.
Comments about Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta’s work came up repeatedly. Viewers felt they inhabited their characters completely. The film’s approach to showing connection between older people resonated with audiences tired of youth-obsessed stories. Though some admitted the deliberate pace wouldn’t suit everyone’s taste.
Both the actors and audiences pushed for theatrical viewing, saying it deserves the big screen. The leads even requested that people avoid spoiling the mystery for others.
Rating: 3/5
