Rahu Ketu Review: A Quirky Fantasy Comedy Powered by Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma

There is something instantly tempting about Rahu Ketu on paper. A magical notebook. Two fictional characters who know they are written into existence. Folklore, fantasy, corruption, comedy, and a chaotic road adventure stitched together with pop humour. It sounds like the kind of film that could either be wildly inventive or completely spiral out of control. Vipul Vig’s Rahu Ketu ends up landing somewhere in between. It is watchable, often funny, sometimes clever, but also frustratingly scattered, stretched, and unsure of what it truly wants to be.

At its heart, this is a film that begins with curiosity and ends with confusion. There is fun to be had, no doubt. But there is also a constant feeling that the story is running without a destination, relying heavily on its lead pair’s chemistry to keep things afloat.

A Magical Premise

The central idea revolves around a writer, played by Manu Rishi Chadda, who owns a mystical notebook. Whatever he writes comes alive. From this notebook are born Rahu and Ketu, played by Varun Sharma and Pulkit Samrat. They are not heroes in the traditional sense. They are clueless, chaotic, and almost cursed. Wherever they go, things fall apart. People panic. Situations spiral. And yet, they are oddly endearing.

The writer is pushed into this creation by a saintly figure, Piyush Mishra’s Phoopha Ji, whose presence feels symbolic but underdeveloped. The supposed larger goal behind Rahu and Ketu’s existence is to cleanse society of corruption. The problem is that this motive never quite settles into the narrative properly. It floats in and out, mentioned when convenient, forgotten when not.

Rahu and Ketu randomly bump into corrupt individuals, chant their names like a strange omen, and some misfortune follows. At times, it feels like slapstick justice. At others, it feels morally confused. The film never fully commits to whether these moments are meant to be satire, fantasy punishment, or pure farce. As a result, there is very little tension. Things keep happening, but nothing truly builds.

The search for the lost notebook, stolen by Meenu, should have been the spine of the film. Instead, it becomes just another plot thread in a story bursting with ideas but lacking focus.

Writing, Screenplay, And A Story That Meanders

This is where Rahu Ketu struggles the most. The writing feels like a collection of interesting thoughts that never quite come together. Scenes arrive without proper setup and exit without consequence. Characters exist because the plot needs them, not because the story demands them.

Shalini Pandey’s Meenu is introduced as a game-changer, and for a while, she is. She is seductive, sharp, morally grey, and deeply entangled with a drug mafia run by Chunky Panday. She uses her charm as currency, manipulates police officers, and constantly tries to stay one step ahead of danger. On paper, this could have been a fascinating character. On screen, the writing never allows her emotional depth. She is written more as a device than a person, which makes it hard to invest in her choices.

Chunky Panday’s mafia boss and Amit Sial’s police inspector also feel underwritten. They serve their functions, deliver their lines, and disappear into the chaos. No one truly leaves a lasting impression beyond the two leads.

The screenplay stretches simple beats far too long. The film feels longer than it needs to be. Comedy sequences repeat themselves. The novelty of chaos wears thin after a point. By the time the film reaches its final act, you are still waiting for clarity on what this story is actually trying to say.

Performances And What Keeps The Film Alive

If Rahu Ketu remains engaging despite its flaws, the credit largely goes to Varun Sharma and Pulkit Samrat. Their chemistry is the film’s strongest asset. They are comfortable, playful, and genuinely funny together. Their banter feels natural, their timing sharp. Even when the writing falters, they manage to inject energy into scenes that would otherwise fall flat.

Varun’s Rahu, especially, brings an innocent madness that works well. His one-sided love for Meenu adds humour, even if it lacks emotional grounding. Pulkit’s Ketu balances him with charm and restraint. Together, they carry the film on their shoulders.

Shalini Pandey does what she can with a limiting role. She performs confidently, but the character never allows her to be vulnerable or layered. Piyush Mishra adds gravitas in brief moments, though his character feels more symbolic than impactful.

Visually, the film is packaged decently. The fantasy elements are functional. The music and recurring chants add flavour but also become repetitive. The direction tries to juggle too many tones at once, which results in an uneven rhythm.

Final Thoughts

Rahu Ketu is one of those films that makes you wish it had slowed down and thought things through. The idea is genuinely interesting. The lead pair is enjoyable. There are moments where the film sparks with originality. But somewhere along the way, the story loses control of itself.

It is not a bad film. It is just an unfinished one. You watch it, you smile, you scratch your head, and you move on.