Cocktail 2 opened in theatres across India today, but for Rashmika Mandanna, the day has brought uncomfortable attention. The pan-India actress — who plays lead character Diya opposite Shahid Kapoor — has drawn pointed criticism from both trade observers and early audience reviewers, specifically over her Hindi diction and the limited scope her character receives in the screenplay.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, while broadly positive about the film, noted that Mandanna needs to work on her Hindi pronunciation and that her character was not given adequate material to make an impression. Social media responses echoed the concern, with several posts noting that her character lacked enough scope to leave a lasting impression.
A Recurring Conversation
Audiences pointed out Rashmika Mandanna's Telugu accent, with some calling her "miscast" in the role. This is not the first time the criticism has surfaced. One social media post stated that Rashmika "continues to struggle with her accent" — and specifically referenced her previous Bollywood outings as part of an ongoing pattern.
Cocktail 2 marks Rashmika Mandanna's fourth Bollywood outing. The language question has followed her across those films, and Cocktail 2's mixed opening-day response suggests it has not yet been resolved to audience satisfaction.
The debate touches on a wider industry tension: as South Indian stars cross over into Hindi cinema at an accelerating pace, the question of language authenticity versus star power has become a genuine editorial flashpoint. Mandanna's notices today are the latest chapter in that conversation.
What the Film Gives Her — and Doesn't
In Cocktail 2, Mandanna plays Diya, one half of a couple who have been together for a decade. The relationship is disrupted when Diya's college friend Ally (Kriti Sanon) re-enters their lives.
On paper, Diya is the film's emotional anchor — the character whose relationship is at stake. In practice, reviewers suggest the script distributes its sympathy unevenly, with Ally drawing the richer material. Among critics and early viewers, many described the film as the "Kriti Sanon show," with Mandanna and Shahid Kapoor both assessed as not leaving a lasting impact.
That dynamic — being the nominal lead while being outshone by a co-star — raises a structural question about whether the screenplay fully utilised its casting.
The Wider Opening-Day Picture
Despite the criticism directed at Mandanna, the film has struck a chord with a section of audiences who welcomed a Hindi romantic drama at a time when action-heavy entertainers dominate the box office. Some viewers gave Cocktail 2 four stars, calling it a film that "more than lives up to expectations" with solid performances, superb music, and stunning visuals.
The film faces competition on its opening weekend from Maa Inti Bangaaram, Toy Story 5, Colony, and several other releases. Advance booking figures ahead of release stood at approximately 85,868 tickets, translating to roughly ₹3.01 crore — a modest start that makes sustained word-of-mouth essential.
For Rashmika Mandanna, how the film performs commercially may matter less than what it signals about her trajectory in Hindi cinema. The opening-day notices represent a moment of reckoning that her team will need to address going forward.