VIBE has arrived in cinemas, bringing together Kunal Kemmu and Preity Zinta for a spy comedy that many hoped would become the year’s biggest laugh riot. The film, written and directed by Kunal Kemmu, opened on September 18, 2026, and while the first half has won over audiences with its sharp humour and effortless chemistry, the second half has left many feeling that the film loses the very vibe it worked so hard to build.
VIBE Release Info and Where to Watch
VIBE hit theatres nationwide on September 18, 2026, as an Amazon MGM Studios film produced by Kunal Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani under the banner of Drongo Films. The film carries an A certificate from the CBFC and runs for approximately 2 hours and 26 minutes. It released alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Daayra, making it a busy Friday at the box office for Hindi cinema fans.
For those wondering about streaming, an OTT release date has not been officially announced yet. The film is currently playing exclusively in cinemas.
The Plot: Two Friends, One Mission, Endless Chaos
The story follows Hardik Sharma (Kunal Kemmu), a man who has just returned from drug rehab and is trying to get his life back on track. His best friend Bhagirath “Bugs” Bhargav (Sparsh Shrivastava), a sincere software engineer, helps him land a job at his company, Next Phase Technologies. Hardik soon falls for a company intern named Kareena (Vanshika Dhir), and just when things seem to be looking up, everything falls apart.
A fiery national security agent known as Madam H (Preity Zinta) and her team abduct Hardik and Bugs and force them into a top-secret mission to track down a wanted terrorist. The two friends are completely unprepared for the job, and that is exactly where the comedy comes from.
A First Half Packed With Laughs
The opening hour of VIBE has been widely praised as a laugh riot. The dialogues, also written by Kunal Kemmu, land consistently, and the pacing keeps viewers engaged. The chemistry between Kunal Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastava has been singled out as one of the film’s strongest assets, with their contrasting personalities creating some genuinely funny moments.
“The first half excels as a comedy, driven by Kemmu’s sharp comic timing and the chemistry between his character Hardik and Sparsh Shrivastava’s Bhagirath,” noted a review from News18.
Audiences on social media echoed this sentiment. Several viewers described the film as “the most entertaining” movie they had seen in recent times and called it “the best comedy film of this year till date”. One viewer mentioned that the entire theatre was laughing during the first half.
The Second Half Loses Steam
After the interval, the film undergoes a noticeable shift in tone. The comedy begins to dry up as the plot moves into more serious territory involving a terrorist conspiracy, a super-strength serum, and action sequences. Many critics and viewers feel that the film becomes a different, less enjoyable experience in its latter half.
“After the interval, the comedy slowly disappears, and the film gets bogged down by action that does little to engage the audience,” wrote Moneycontrol.
Film critic Sumit Kadel described the film as having an “entertaining start” but a “disappointing finish,” awarding it two stars. The sudden change in tone, a stretched Bangkok sequence, and action scenes that feel out of place for Preity Zinta’s character have been cited as the main issues.
Performances That Keep the Film Afloat
Kunal Kemmu delivers a standout performance as Hardik, proving once again why he is considered one of the finest comic actors in Hindi cinema today. Even when the film begins to lose momentum, his comic timing and effortless screen presence keep viewers invested.
Sparsh Shrivastava as Bugs complements Kunal perfectly, and his performance has been praised as one of the film’s highlights. Vanshika Dhir, making her debut as Kareena, looks promising on screen.
Preity Zinta as Madam H has received mixed feedback. While some critics found her performance convincing, others felt her delivery lacked naturalness. Film Information noted that she plays the role “with understanding and convincingly”, but Hindustan Times observed a “certain mechanical quality to her delivery” in some scenes.
“Preity Zinta Goodenough, as Madam H, has something peculiar about her performance. At times, it feels as though she is reading her lines off a teleprompter,” wrote Hindustan Times.
The supporting cast, including Yashpal Sharma and Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua) as officers in Madam H’s team, deliver solid performances that add to the film’s comedic moments.
Box Office Performance on Day One
On its opening day, VIBE recorded a slow start at the box office. Early estimates put the film’s net collection at around Rs 0.73 crore, with a gross collection of approximately Rs 0.86 crore. The film is running across 2,536 shows with a Day 1 occupancy of about 10 per cent.
The film clashed with Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Daayra, and both movies opened with similar morning occupancy numbers. Trade analysts expected VIBE to earn between Rs 90 lakh and Rs 1 crore on its first day.
What Kunal Kemmu Says About the Film
Kunal Kemmu has been open about his approach to making VIBE. Speaking about the film, he described it as a theatrical entertainer that combines comedy, action, romance, and music, with much of the humour coming from watching ordinary characters deal with situations they cannot control.
The director also shared his experience of working with Preity Zinta, revealing that he was “too shy” to talk to her in the past. “I had no idea what Preity was like in real life, so that was a discovery on its own. She’s a vibe — very entertaining to talk to, and you get lost in her stories,” he said.
VIBE also features a special cameo by Sharmila Tagore, Kunal Kemmu’s mother-in-law. He recalled how Soha Ali Khan told him, “Amma said there better be a cameo for her in the film.” He added that directing a legend like her was not even on his checklist, and she was “extremely professional” on set.
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Audience Reactions on Social Media
Early reactions on X (formerly Twitter) have been largely positive, though opinions are divided on the second half. Many viewers praised the film’s humour, performances, and the entertaining first half. One viewer called it “a fun theatrical watch” and recommended watching it in theatres, particularly for its writing.
However, some viewers felt the film would have been better suited for an OTT release, given its uneven second half and the stretched action sequences. The debate over whether VIBE deserves a theatrical outing continues among fans.
VIBE is now playing in cinemas across India.
Also Read: Preity Zinta Says Watching Herself on Screen Feels Very Awkward, Talks Vibe and Action Scenes
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