In his directorial debut, Vir Das shakes up the traditional Bollywood spy genre, crafting a comedic masterpiece. Typically, Bollywood spies like Salman Khan in the Tiger series or Shah Rukh Khan in Pathan are depicted as rugged, hyper-masculine heroes with impressive physiques, sharp minds, and melodramatic romances. Enter Happy Paisley-Smith (played by Vir Das), the adopted son of two legendary British spies, who hilariously fails at being a spy in every possible way. Happy has a passion for cooking and ballet, performing a quirky dance to ‘I am an Alpha Male’ while whipping up his favorite dishes, completely flipping the script on what a Bollywood spy should be. He’s failed the MI-6 test a staggering seven times and only discovers his Indian heritage after eavesdropping on his fathers.
The film kicks off with a flashback in Panjore, Goa, where Jimmy (Aamir Khan), the local Don, is in hot pursuit of British spies (named Agents Tea and Crumpets—yes, you read that right). A chaotic shootout ensues, resulting in Aamir’s character and a maid, Sakhubai (Sumukhi Suresh), getting caught in the crossfire. As Aamir’s character succumbs to his injuries, his daughter (Mona Singh) vows to uphold his legacy, while the spies take in Sakhubai’s infant son (Vir Das) to raise in the UK.
The plot unfolds as Happy, yearning to explore his Indian roots, volunteers for a high-stakes rescue mission back in Goa. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that this film is a wild ride, seamlessly blending elements of gangster action, romantic comedy, and the poignant journey of an NRI reconnecting with his heritage.
Vir Das embodies this absurd world effortlessly. His character, Happy, is only ‘Khatarank’ in name—clumsy and easily distracted, yet he charms audiences with his genuine spirit. He navigates both British-accented English and Hindi with flair, often mispronouncing words that elicit chuckles. Mona Singh, as the fierce lady Don Mama, craves revenge against Happy, though her character feels underdeveloped; still, she delivers the ruthlessness required for her role, from firing guns to dishing out poisoned snacks.
Mithila Palkar shines as Rupa, a dancer whose playful romance with Happy adds a delightful spark to the film. Rapper Srushti Tawade makes a memorable debut as Roxy, a savvy tech whiz, providing some of the film’s funniest reactions to Happy’s cluelessness.
Imran Khan makes a cameo as the international supermodel Milind Morea—a clever nod to Milind Soman and Dino Morea. His appearance brings laughter, especially during a scene where he and Vir share a hilarious encounter.
However, not all comedic attempts hit the mark, particularly in the latter half, where many of Happy’s jokes rely on puns and his fractured Hindi, leading to some eye-rolling moments. His parody of Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic DDLJ becomes tiresome after a while, and the film’s setting blurs the lines between Mumbai and Goa. Additionally, Mona Singh’s character, the stereotypical Goan, often ends her lines with ‘Man,’ while three stern Marathi policewomen awkwardly high-five after each line, failing to elicit laughs. There’s also a thinly veiled jab at fairness creams that feels out of place.
Despite these shortcomings, the film is unapologetically a comedy, meant to be enjoyed without overthinking. It zips along, delivering one gag after another, culminating in a delightfully zany climax filled with unexpected cameos and spoofs. While it may not reach the experimental heights of Delhi Belly, Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos is quirky enough to keep viewers entertained.