Jackie Shroff shines in a delightful, nostalgic children entertainer
Jackie Shroff returns to the silver screen in a heartwarming role that brings pure childhood fantasy back to Indian cinema. Released on May 29, 2026, the Manish Saini directorial project shifts focus away from the typical action blockbusters ruling the box office, offering instead a story dedicated entirely to young audiences.
The plot centers on an 11-year-old boy named Dipu, played by Mihir Godbole, who moves to a new town. To impress his new schoolmates, Dipu invents a wild story claiming his aging grandfather is a secret saviour preparing for an extraterrestrial battle. Things take an amusing turn when two costumed men enter the scene, blurring the lines between fiction and reality for the local children. Historically, Indian cinema has rarely produced dedicated content for children, often blending family dramas with adult themes rather than focusing on pure youthful imagination.
This project succeeds because it embraces a scrappy, comic-book style rather than trying to replicate high-budget Hollywood visual effects. The narrative relies heavily on the natural bond between grandparents and children, capitalising on the universal experience of listening to exaggerated bedtime stories. Jackie Shroff delivers an endearing performance, balancing heroic mystery with comedic moments, such as being terrified of a simple household lizard.
The young supporting cast, including Shivansh Chorge and Jihan Hodar, keeps the energy high with authentic playground chemistry. Prateik Babbar, credited here as Prateik Smita Patil, delivers a charming performance as the central extraterrestrial figure, avoiding the usual sci-fi clichés. Memorable appearances by Bhagyashree Patwardhan and Durgesh Kumar add layers of humor to the unfolding drama.
While the film runs under two hours, it occasionally struggles with pacing and an uneven shift toward environmental messaging in the later half. Older viewers looking for complex science fiction might find certain scenes repetitive. However, the production succeeds in its core mission by delivering a refreshing, innocent, and joyful cinematic experience.
