Kunal Kemmu returns to the director’s chair for the second time with Vibe, a spy-comedy that throws two hopelessly unqualified best friends into the middle of a national-security mission. Releasing in theatres on September 18, 2026, the Amazon MGM Studios film reunites the anarchic, friendship-first comic energy of Kemmu’s 2024 hit Madgaon Express with a starrier canvas — marking Preity Zinta’s much-awaited return to the big screen. Backed by a colourful ensemble and an overstuffed but big-hearted screenplay, Vibe asks a simple question: what happens when two men who have no business anywhere near a spy operation are handed one anyway?
Vibe follows Hardik (Kunal Kemmu) and Bugs (Sparsh Shrivastava), two ordinary friends whose romance-fuelled bad decisions accidentally pull them into a high-stakes spy mission led by intelligence operative Madam H (Preity Zinta). Kemmu, who also writes and directs, is less interested in slick espionage mechanics than in mining comedy from two chaotic men dropped into a world that demands precision they simply don’t have. The film’s biggest strength is the easy, lived-in chemistry between its leads, while its main weakness is a screenplay that keeps piling gag over gag instead of letting the funniest moments breathe. Backed by a colourful supporting cast including Sharmila Tagore, Yashpal Sharma, Dinesh Lal Yadav and debutant Vanshika Dhir, Vibe is messy, indulgent and occasionally too much — but its comic voice and warmth make it a thoroughly enjoyable watch.
Cast and Crew
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Kunal Kemmu |
| Writer | Kunal Kemmu |
| Producers | Kunal Kemmu, Chirag Nihalani (Drongo Films) |
| Studio | Amazon MGM Studios |
| Lead Cast | Kunal Kemmu, Sparsh Shrivastava, Preity Zinta |
| Supporting Cast | Sharmila Tagore, Yashpal Sharma, Dinesh Lal Yadav, Vanshika Dhir |
| Genre | Spy Comedy / Action Comedy |
| Release Date | September 18, 2026 |
| Release Format | Theatrical |
Plot Summary
Hardik and Bugs are two friends whose lives are far more ordinary than the world of espionage they eventually stumble into. Hardik is impulsive and instinct-driven, while Bugs is the comparatively sensible one — though his proximity to Hardik rarely lets that sensibility matter much. What starts as romance and a string of bad decisions eventually pulls the duo into a larger mission involving intelligence operative Madam H. Kemmu is far less concerned with the nuts and bolts of spy-thriller plotting than with the comic possibilities of dropping two chaotic, unprepared men into a high-stakes world that expects precision from them — and it’s this mismatch that fuels the film from start to finish.
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Actor Performances
Kunal Kemmu as Hardik: Kemmu is thoroughly enjoyable playing Hardik as a lovable nuisance. Rather than smoothing out the character’s rough edges to make him more heroic, he leans fully into Hardik’s immaturity and impulsiveness, and that commitment is exactly what keeps the comedy grounded and believable.
Sparsh Shrivastava as Bugs: Shrivastava is a wonderful counterpoint to Kemmu’s chaos. His relative restraint as Bugs gives the film a much-needed anchor of reality even as everything around him spirals, and his easy chemistry with Kemmu forms the true emotional core of Vibe.
Preity Zinta as Madam H: Marking her big-screen comeback, Zinta is terrific as the composed, authoritative intelligence operative tasked with turning two hopeless amateurs into spies. She plays the straight woman to the madness with real command, never once feeling reduced to a purely functional role.
Sharmila Tagore: Tagore brings gravitas and a touch of old-world charm to the ensemble, adding texture to a world that Kemmu deliberately makes feel bigger and stranger than the plot strictly requires.
Yashpal Sharma: As one of the agency’s operatives, Sharma slots comfortably into the film’s comic universe, lending experienced support to the espionage backdrop the two friends are thrown into.
Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua): Yadav brings his own distinct energy to the ensemble, contributing to the film’s unpredictable, larger-than-life comic tone.
Vanshika Dhir: In her debut role, Dhir makes a genuine impression, holding her own alongside a far more experienced cast.
Technical Analysis
Direction
Kunal Kemmu’s direction carries forward the loose, lived-in humour that made Madgaon Express work, this time on a considerably bigger canvas. He finds comedy in awkward pauses, escalating misunderstandings and characters who commit completely to absurd situations — a directorial instinct that remains Vibe’s greatest strength even when the plotting around it gets busy.
Cinematography
Specific cinematography credits for Vibe were not available from public sources at the time of writing.
Music/Score
The film has been promoted with an “infectious” soundtrack and songs such as “Raaton Mein Aana” ahead of release; a formal music director credit was not confirmed in publicly available sources at the time of writing.
Editing
Specific editing credits for Vibe were not available from public sources at the time of writing. The screenplay’s pacing — piling one gag or twist over another rather than letting scenes breathe — is where the film’s rhythm most visibly strains.
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Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- The chemistry between Hardik and Bugs is the film’s emotional and comic anchor
- Kemmu’s direction finds genuine comedy in escalating chaos and absurd commitment
- Preity Zinta’s composed comic-foil performance elevates every scene she’s in
- A colourful, committed ensemble cast adds unpredictable energy throughout
- A refreshing, non-reverential take on the spy genre
Weaknesses:
- The screenplay overloads scenes with one gag or twist too many
- Emotional stakes get diluted as the plot escalates louder rather than deeper
- Some sequences feel like they belong in a different, tighter cut of the film
Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5/5 Stars
Vibe is messy, occasionally overstuffed and undeniably indulgent — but it’s also got a distinct comic voice and a warm, beating heart in Hardik and Bugs’ friendship. Kemmu proves once again that he doesn’t need his characters to be competent to make them entertaining; he just needs them to fully commit to the chaos. Backed by a strong ensemble led by Kemmu, Shrivastava and a wonderful Preity Zinta, Vibe earns a well-deserved 4.5/5 stars as one of the most fun, feel-good watches of the year.
