The Baaghi franchise has long been Bollywood’s thrilling recipe of high-octane action, raw stunts, and emotion wrapped in masala flourishes. With Baaghi 4, the makers attempt to push the envelope—leaning darker, messier, more emotionally fraught. The question: does this installment expand the franchise’s horizons, or is it a chaotic rehash?
Background and Production
Baaghi 4 is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language action thriller directed by A. Harsha, marking his Hindi debut. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, it stars Tiger Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Harnaaz Sandhu (in her Hindi film debut), and Sonam Bajwa.
It is the fourth installment of the Baaghi series, and is reportedly an unofficial remake of the 2013 Tamil film Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu. The film was released theatrically on 5 September 2025.
According to reports, the film had a budget of approximately ₹80 crore. Its global box office collection is estimated near ₹79.14 crore. The film has already been picked by Prime Video for OTT release — set to be available for rent from 17 October 2025, and for free streaming from 31 October 2025.
The film’s certification was a matter of note: it received an ‘A’ certificate from CBFC (Adult rating), and underwent multiple cuts. Some reports mention that 23 cuts were mandated.
Plot Synopsis
Spoiler alert: This section delves into the narrative twists. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you might want to skip.
The film centers on Ranveer “Ronny” Pratap Singh, who was involved in a catastrophic accident seven months prior to the events of the film. He survived but is left physically and mentally scarred.
Ronny claims that during the accident, he was with his girlfriend Alisha, who he believes died. But strangely, no one else seems to know or acknowledge Alisha’s existence — there is no record, no memory.
Haunted by guilt, grief, and confusion, Ronny begins to hallucinate, slipping between reality and illusion. As his mental state deteriorates, he lashes out — even physically attacking his elder brother Jeetu in one episode, which leads to Jeetu’s arrest.
Eventually, Ronny’s world fractures further as hidden truths emerge — about who Alisha really was, whether she ever existed, and what parts of his memories are fabricated. The investigation into his past, his relationships, and his own psyche form the crux of the story.
Themes, Style & Execution
1. Psychological vs Action
One of the more ambitious things Baaghi 4 attempts is to straddle psychological thriller elements while staying true to its masala action roots. The hero is not just a punching machine but someone wrestling with internal demons. Unfortunately, critics argue that this balance is only partly successful.
In places, the film overreaches — the transitions between hallucination and reality are abrupt, and the narrative loses coherence. The action segments, meant as catharsis or release, often feel disconnected from the emotional core.
2. Violence and Censorship
Promoted as the “bloodiest Baaghi yet,” the film’s marketing pushed a gritty, visceral version of action. But in practice, the violence is often diluted or sanitized due to censorship. Critics note that many fight sequences look edited or truncated, undermining the punch they should deliver.
Furthermore, the cuts prescribed by CBFC resulted in jarring edits — scenes inserted or stitched, dialogues overdubbed, pacing disturbed.
3. Emotional Core and Stakes
The emotional stake is Ronny’s love for Alisha, but the film struggles to make the audience believe in it. Alisha’s character is thinly sketched; her presence is often more symbolic than real. The side characters — family, investigators, villains — largely serve as plot devices rather than fully fleshed personalities.
In some moments, Tiger Shroff’s earnestness provides emotional gravitas. Indeed, some critics acknowledge his performance as one of the film’s saving graces. But the writing doesn’t always provide him much to work with.
4. Comparisons, Influences & Originality
Right from its trailer, Baaghi 4 drew comparisons to the Bollywood blockbuster Animal — critics and netizens accused it of borrowing visual and narrative motifs. Some scenes, they argue, feel derivative. The makers do not shy away from overt homages, but the resemblance borders on imitation in places.
Even within the Baaghi franchise, there is a sense of fatigue. Earlier films leaned more on straightforward revenge/action tropes; here, the attempt to inject psychological depth sometimes feels like forcing a new layer over an existing mold.
Performances & Technical Aspects
Tiger Shroff as Ronny is tasked with a complex role: broken, intense, deluded, and action-oriented. Despite script limitations, he portrays vulnerability and physical ferocity with dedication. Some critics praise his work as a step up from previous Baaghis.
Sanjay Dutt, as the antagonist, brings a commanding presence. But his late arrival in the narrative means he isn’t always given enough room to dominate.
Harnaaz Sandhu (as Alisha) and Sonam Bajwa have limited screen time and emotional arcs. Their roles are more symbolic than driving force. Critics call this a missed opportunity given Harnaaz’s Bollywood debut.
Technically:
The film has slick cinematography in many sequences, especially action setups.
- Editing, however, is inconsistent . transitions feel choppy, and some scenes seem stitched.
Music and songs appear abruptly, breaking the mood at times. Some sequences insert songs out of nowhere, undermining narrative flow.
The sound design, effects, and stunt work fulfill expectations for a mass action film, though not all fight scenes land with equal impact
Strengths & Highlights
The ambition is commendable: Baaghi 4 tries to expand the franchise’s emotional and psychological terrain.
Tiger Shroff holds the film together in many stretches; his action sequences remain a crowd pull.
Some set pieces, when fully realized, deliver visceral thrills.
For fans of the franchise, there is enough of the old Baaghi DNA fights, heroism, and spectacle to satisfy.
Weaknesses & Limitations
The narrative is uneven, with logical gaps and pacing issues.
The psychological elements feel underdeveloped or inconsistently applied.
Censorship cuts blunt many scenes, making them feel disjointed.
Female characters are underwritten; emotional stakes are often shallow.
Comparisons to better films (e.g. Animal) work against it, highlighting similarity rather than originality.
Critical Reception & Box Office
Critics’ response has been mixed to negative.
The Hindustan Times review calls it a film that “could’ve been a roller coaster” but ends up an “underwhelming merry-go-round.”
India Forums calls it “a hallucination you’ll wish you never had,” pointing to disjointed editing and diluted action.
On social media, fans praise certain action and emotional scenes, but many also complain about the predictable plot and lack of depth.
At the box office, the opening was modest. Advance bookings suggested a strong start, predicting collections of around ₹9–10 crore on Day 1. However, ultimately, its total collection landed short of huge blockbuster status.
On OTT, as previously mentioned, the film will be available on Prime Video rent from 17 October 2025, free streaming from 31 October 2025.
Final Verdict
Baaghi 4 is a bold attempt to push the Baaghi franchise into darker, more psychologically invested territory. Its ambition is worthy, and there are flashes of the core appeal Tiger Shroff’s action, spectacle, emotion. But the balance is precarious. The film is often unruly: logic gaps, abrupt transitions, undercooked emotional arcs, and overdependence on spectacle.
For fans of the franchise, or of Tiger Shroff’s brand of high-octane cinema, Baaghi 4 may still be an entertaining watch especially for its stunts and larger-than-life moments. But for viewers seeking narrative coherence or deeper character work, it may leave a feeling of “almost there, but not quite
