Deva (2025) | Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati | Full Film Facts, Review, Explanation.

Deva is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Rosshan Andrrews, marking his Hindi directorial debut. It is a remake of his own 2013 acclaimed Malayalam film, Mumbai Police, though with some significant changes to the climax and core plot points. The film stars Shahid Kapoor as the titular character, Dev Ambre, a defiant police officer, with Pooja Hegde as the leading lady and Pavail Gulati in a pivotal role. Plot Summary The film opens with Dev Ambre (Shahid Kapoor), a high-ranking and highly competent but often reckless ACP in the Mumbai Police, involved in a road accident that causes him to lose his memory. This happens immediately after he makes a crucial phone call, stating "case closed." The central mystery of the film revolves around the murder of Dev's best friend and fellow police officer, ACP Rohan D'Silva (Pavail Gulati). Despite his amnesia, Dev is tasked by DCP Farhan Khan (Pravessh Rana) to re-investigate Rohan's murder, forcing him to confront a past he cannot remember and a truth that might be horrifying. As Dev pieces together clues from his forgotten life, he discovers that he himself was involved in the murder, leading to a shocking revelation that he was the actual killer of his best friend. The film's non-linear narrative constantly jumps between Dev's present investigation and flashbacks to his past, revealing the complex circumstances that led to the murder. Unlike the original Mumbai Police, where the protagonist's motive for murder was his hidden homosexuality (which his friend accidentally discovered), Deva creates a new motive. In this version, Rohan discovers that Dev was a mole for a dreaded gangster, Prabhat Jadhav (Manish Wadhwa). Fearing exposure, Dev orchestrates Rohan's murder, later faking his own amnesia to escape consequences. The film's climax reveals this elaborate setup by Farhan to make Dev confront his own culpability. Pooja Hegde plays Diya Sathaye, a journalist and Dev's girlfriend, who becomes involved in his complex life. The film explores themes of memory, identity, morality, and the thin line between justice and personal vengeance. Key Themes Amnesia and Identity: The protagonist's struggle to reclaim his memory and understand who he truly is, especially when his past self is revealed to be a killer. Betrayal and Deceit: A core element of the plot, involving deep betrayal within friendships and professional relationships. Police Procedural / Thriller: A suspenseful investigation into a high-profile murder case. Justice vs. Morality: Explores whether extreme or unconventional methods are justified in the pursuit of justice, and the moral compromises made by characters. Consequences of Actions: The film delves into how past actions, even when forgotten, ultimately catch up to individuals. Cast Shahid Kapoor as Dev Ambre Pooja Hegde as Diya Sathaye Pavail Gulati as ACP Rohan D'Silva Pravessh Rana as DCP Farhan Khan Girish Kulkarni as Minister Jairaj Apte Kubbra Sait as Sub Inspector Dipti Singh Manish Wadhwa as Prabhat Jadhav (gangster) Upendra Limaye as Sharp-shooter Production and Release Director: Rosshan Andrrews Producers: Siddharth Roy Kapur (Roy Kapur Films) and Zee Studios Writers: Bobby–Sanjay (story and screenplay), Sumit Arora, Hussain Dalal, Arshad Syed (Hindi dialogues) Music: Jakes Bejoy (background score), Vishal Mishra (songs) Release Date: January 31, 2025 (Theatrical, India). It was released strategically for the Republic Day weekend. OTT Release: March 28, 2025 on Netflix. Budget: Reportedly around ₹60-70 crore. Review and Reception "Deva" received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Praise: Shahid Kapoor's performance was largely lauded, with many critics highlighting his intensity, physical transformation, and ability to portray a complex, conflicted character. His "beast mode" and "swag" were appreciated. The film's action sequences were also noted. Criticism: The film was heavily compared to its Malayalam original, Mumbai Police. Many critics found that "Deva" failed to capture the nuance and cleverness of the original's plot and twists, particularly the change in the core motive for the murder. The screenplay was often criticized for being convoluted or inconsistent in the second half. Some reviewers pointed out issues with CGI in early scenes and a lack of emotional depth for Pooja Hegde's character. The attempt to make it a more "macho hero" film to suit Shahid Kapoor's star image was seen by some as diluting the original's strengths. Despite the mixed critical reception, Deva had a moderate box office performance, opening to around ₹5-10 crore on its first day. It competed with other major releases during its run. Its success on OTT platforms like Netflix, where it reportedly performed well, also contributed to its overall reach.