Mumbai: The comedy in Udta Teer has viewers laughing, with many calling it a refreshing change from recent Hindi comedies. Across X, Instagram, and Reddit, audiences are praising Ayushmann Khurrana’s performance, the film’s absurd premise, and its unexpected twists.
Udta Teer, directed by Aakash Kaushik, released in theatres Friday. It follows a Pakistani spy, played by Khurrana, who loses his memory after arriving in India and begins believing he is Indian. The cast includes Sara Ali Khan, Rahul Bose, Mukul Dev, Gulshan Grover and Ram Kapoor.
During promotions at the Attari-Wagah border on 21 October, Khurrana and Khan’s address was drowned out by Atif Aslam’s ‘Tajdar-e-Haram’ playing over loudspeakers from the Pakistani side. Videos of the incident went viral.
The film’s humour has been the biggest draw for many viewers.
“Enjoyed Udta Teer!!!! Fun ride and genuinely laughed in a movie after a long time,” one X user wrote.
Another was delighted by the first half, saying it was far more enjoyable than several recent Bollywood comedies.
“The story feels fresh, the situations and ideas created for the comedy are very interesting,” wrote yet another X user, praising Khurrana’s return to comedy.
On Instagram, someone called it the “family entertainer of the year”, saying the first half was so funny that audiences would be clutching their stomachs with laughter.
Recent Hindi comedies have often drawn criticism for forced jokes, recycled humour, and relying on star-studded casts rather than funny writing. The reactions to Udta Teer suggest that, for some viewers, the pleasure is simply in watching a comedy that delivers the laughs it promises.
Reddit users were enthusiastic about the film.
“Awesome watch. Couldn’t stop laughing. Leave your brains at home and have fun,” one user wrote.
Another defended Udta Teer against a two-star review, arguing that while Bollywood frequently made poor, mindless comedies, this film was different.
Many appreciated the acting. They were pleased with Khurrana’s performance, and especially loved Bose.
In the film, Bose plays Burman, the head of India’s Counter Terrorism Squad, who spends much of the film confined to a hospital bed. The character’s largely wordless reactions also attracted attention.
“I totally loved the movie especially the first half and #RahulBose character,” one X user wrote, adding laughter emojis.
The late Mukul Dev, in his final film role, plays Azhar Maqsood, a Pakistani terrorist with a fondness for a dating app. His performance also received a shoutout on Reddit.
The film’s mixture of comedy, suspense, action and patriotism also got viewers talking.
“Comedy, action, thriller, suspense, drama, and a touch of romance — it’s all there,” one X user wrote, calling the film a paisa-vasool experience.
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Comparison with Dhurandhar, Vibe
Some online compared Udta Teer with Dhurandhar (2025), describing it as a combination of spy-thriller elements and “the chaos of a comedy of errors”.
One X user had a different take. “Udta teer is subtle mocking of dhurandar.”
Another joked that Khurrana’s character might actually be an Indian spy pretending to be Pakistani, whose memory loss simply causes him to revert to his Indian identity.
One viewer appreciated the film’s attempt to address tensions between India and Pakistan through dry humour while maintaining a patriotic message. The user praised Khurrana’s portrayal of a confused spy but wished Khan had more screen time.
Not everyone, however, was convinced by the film’s screenplay and twists.
“Avg screenplay hinders an otherwise fresh concept,” one X user wrote, calling the climax illogical but admitting that the film was still fun.
Another was considerably harsher.
“A couple of comedy scenes work, but overall, it’s been a snoozefest,” they wrote, criticising the forced jokes and Khurrana’s performance.
A Reddit user thought the film was trying to do too much. “The romance plot for one, doesn’t land,” the viewer wrote, arguing that it should have committed to comedy, action, or thriller rather than combining all three.
The second half proved particularly divisive.
“Interval ke baad thodi downhill mere liye still not bad (The film went downhill for me after the interval, but not bad),” one X user wrote.
Others questioned the enthusiasm itself.
One Reddit user sarcastically wondered whether those praising the film had watched a movie after a very long time or had themselves woken up with amnesia, like the protagonist.
When another user asked whether Udta Teer was better than Kunal Kemmu’s Vibe, the response was emphatic: “Absolutely.”
But one Instagram comedian had a rather different experience watching it with his parents.
“I went to watch Udta Teer with my family last night, and it was a huge mistake,” he said.
Although Udta Teer has a UA 13+ certificate, the comedian’s objection was to a dark-comedy scene involving a corpse, which made for an awkward viewing experience with his parents. He was amused by the thought of his parents becoming a little too comfortable with the kind of adult humour he enjoyed himself.
“I want my parents to open up to modern humour,” he joked, “but not so much that I have to keep an eye on them to make sure they haven’t fallen into bad company.”
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)