Rishu (Vikrant Massey) goes by the name Ravi Varma, and Rani (Taapsee Pannu) now resides in Agra as a paying guest. Amidst the city's problems—a broken barrage, heavy floods, and the sudden invasion of crocodiles in the Yamuna River—Rani and Rishu are doing their best to get by, stay out of trouble, and eventually flee together. Will they be able to evade the authorities once more?

When Netflix released Haseen Dillruba three years ago, its pulpy content captivated me, drawing me into a world where betrayal was the norm. I recall being engrossed in guessing what could be the ultimate reveal and how the story progressed, rather than enjoying the process of the plot's unfolding at regular intervals. This did spoil the play for me, as even Taapsee Pannu, in her role as a femme fatale, left a lasting impression with her performance. However, the story itself didn't hold my interest.

When it comes to the Haseen Dillruba franchise, Kanika Dhillon stands out as one of the screenwriters who has truly transcended the role of the director. The prolific writer is definitely the Dinesh Pandit of the story; for those who are unfamiliar, he is a fictional pulp fiction writer, of whom Rani is a fan and bases her life on his intriguing novels.

Meanwhile, Dinesh Pandit's craze continues in the second installment, as Rani and Rishu flee to Agra to escape the police's shackles after murdering Neel (Harshvardhan Rane) in a fit of rage. However, when a criminal act occurs, the escape path narrows and becomes clogged with numerous barriers. Crocodiles swimming in the Yamuna River, facing the Taj Mahal, metaphorically illustrate this. The couple remains apart as Rani, a widow for the world, transitions into a beautician and stays as a paying guest. However, Rani's unique charm draws attention, and this time, Abhimanyu (Sunny Kaushal) develops a deep affection for her. Abhimanyu, a compounder by profession, relentlessly pursues her attention, while Rani remains receptive due to her love for Rishu, who is always present and just a short distance away.

Once again, Dhillon cooks up a story with too many twists and turns, which come out minute by minute. Once again, I found myself preoccupied with predicting the ultimate reveal and how the story would unfold. In all honesty, we already know the outcome, and the viewers receive it directly.

The inclusion of crocodiles in a film after such a long absence is a testament to the popularity of Khoon Bhari Maang, a reptile that has become a social media favourite. Indeed, the pandemic has undoubtedly influenced the incorporation of social media trends into films and series, but a comeback of this magnitude for crocodiles is truly remarkable. Well, even they deserved better! 

If I can sum up Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba in a few words, I would say it's Khoon Bhari Maang meets You. The Netflix series, starring Penn Badgley, shook the world by portraying a crazy stalker in the lead role. However, the second season elevated the series by revealing his love interest, Victoria Pedretti, to be just as insane as he was. Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba also follows a similar suit to You Season 2, and, to be honest, it was so on the face that there was no shock value.

Haseen Dillruba possessed some unique value back then, even with its haphazard storyline of bringing pulpy thrillers back to Bollywood. However, the sequel was a mash-up of everything we've seen before, even incorporating elements from the Burari Deaths documentary. Indeed, upon viewing it, you will discover that the film weaves a multitude of references into a single narrative.

There are a few scenes in the film where Rani and Abhimanyu, who are Dinesh Pandit fans, discuss how they brought the fictional world of the novels into reality by plotting the crimes they have committed in real life. Is it enough to know that Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba is about a lack of originality?

It seems like Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba had more than three acts with multiple intervals, as two hours and 18 minutes felt like a miniseries where every episode ends with a cliffhanger that you have to wait for another one to start. Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, on the other hand, is not a long film, but it has many twists and turns, which can be frustrating at times.

Despite the constant surprises, I believe I correctly predicted over half of them, considering each performer's unique character arc. With Jimmy Sheirgill's character Monty Chacha, the uncle to Rishu and Neel, who is investigating the case, and an engaging plot, it's natural to expect entertaining interactions between the characters and the viewers' minds. However, as I previously mentioned, the overabundance of cooks ultimately spoilt the broth, prompting Dhillon to add all the necessary ingredients, despite feeling that more was still not enough.

Even as the end credits rolled, I anticipated an additional twist to enhance the effect, but unfortunately, the creators failed to meet my expectations. If there is a third installment, I would have definitely sat down if this one hadn't distracted me so much.

To be honest, "Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba" primarily focusses on the plot and its twists, with characters seemingly hanging by a string. Even here, Taapsee and Vikrant, with no surprises, deliver the performances like we would expect of them. However, their performances in Dunki and 12th Fail, respectively, have significantly impressed us all over the past year. Sunny was a new addition, and I must say he did bring that devilish innocent charm, which worked for him and the character he played. The actor became the story's anchor, and to be honest, it was all about him and how he ran the company with his simple presence. Sheirgill, being a terrific performer, does bring that demeanour that we have seen in his previous works, including the Netflix series, Choona. 

Phir "Kyu" Aayi Hasseen Dillruba? The answer lies in the millions of minutes spent on Netflix by viewers around the world. It certainly didn't indicate that the first part was great, but it did pave the way for the sequel, which is equally frustrating for everyone, including crocodiles!

Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba attempts at weaving together twists, turns, and a dash of nostalgia with those crocodiles! But it feels more like a storm in a teacup—a chaotic flood of ideas that ultimately struggles to stay afloat. It’s a love story that crocs the boat but doesn’t quite sink it.

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