Bollywood’s latest spy comedy, Udta Teer, is attracting attention for its unusual storyline, which has prompted comparisons with Dhurandhar. However, director Aakash Kaushik has clarified that his directorial debut is not intended to be a spoof of the spy thriller. Instead, he describes it as a “patriotic comedy” that blends espionage, humour and unexpected twists.
Starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan, the film revolves around an undercover Pakistani spy who loses his memory and begins believing that he is an Indian patriot. The unusual premise turns a conventional espionage story into a comedy of mistaken identity, confusion and conflicting loyalties. <Cite refs={[“turn647263news13″,”turn647263search2”]}/>
Why Is Udta Teer Being Compared to Dhurandhar?
Since the release of its trailer, Udta Teer has been described by some viewers as a “reverse Dhurandhar”. While Dhurandhar explores espionage and covert operations through a serious action-driven narrative, Udta Teer approaches the spy genre through comedy and absurd situations.
In the film, Ayushmann Khurrana plays Bilal Ahmad, a Pakistani operative working undercover in India. Following an accident that leaves him with amnesia, Bilal forgets his original identity and becomes convinced that he is an Indian counter-terrorism agent.
His sudden change of allegiance creates chaos for his Pakistani handlers while generating comic situations on the Indian side.
The contrast between the two films has fuelled online discussions, with audiences curious about how Udta Teer will handle the themes of patriotism, national identity and espionage. <Cite refs={[“turn647263news6″,”turn647263search1”]}/>
Aakash Kaushik Calls It a ‘Patriotic Comedy’
Rejecting the idea that his film is simply a spoof of Dhurandhar, Kaushik has described Udta Teer as a patriotic comedy with its own identity.
The director also revealed that he and Dhurandhar filmmaker Aditya Dhar were aware of each other’s projects while developing their respective films. According to Kaushik, the two share a close friendship, and Dhar knew about Udta Teer from its early stages.
Kaushik explained that his approach to comedy involves taking real-world situations and revealing their unusual or absurd aspects. He believes humour works when characters respond to bizarre circumstances in ways that feel natural to them.
This approach shapes the film’s portrayal of espionage and terrorism, using exaggerated characters and unexpected reactions to create comic moments. <Cite refs={[“turn647263news13″,”turn647263search2”]}/>
Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan Lead the Cast
The film features Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead role, with Sara Ali Khan playing the female lead. Their characters operate within a story filled with mistaken identities, secret missions and shifting loyalties.
The supporting cast includes Rahul Bose, Ram Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar, Gulshan Grover, Raghubir Yadav and Mukul Dev.
For Kaushik, the film also marks an important career milestone. After spending approximately 15 years writing for Bollywood films, including Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Thank God, he has stepped behind the camera for his directorial debut.
The project was developed with producers Guneet Monga Kapoor and Karan Johar, bringing together commercial Hindi cinema and the independent filmmaking experience of Sikhya Entertainment. <Cite refs={[“turn647263news13″,”turn647263search2”]}/>
Comedy Meets Patriotism and Geopolitics
Kaushik’s interest in geopolitics plays a significant role in the film’s narrative. Rather than presenting a conventional spy thriller, Udta Teer uses the protagonist’s confusion about his own identity to explore patriotism through humour.
The trailer features exaggerated portrayals of intelligence operations and terrorist characters, creating situations in which serious subjects become sources of comedy.
However, the film’s premise also raises questions about how far a patriotic comedy can go in balancing satire with conventional nationalistic storytelling. Some early reviews have noted that the film shifts towards a more serious patriotic tone as the story progresses. <Cite refs={[“turn647263search1″,”turn647263news3”]}/>
Udta Teer Hits Theatres
Udta Teer arrived in cinemas on October 23, 2026, following promotional discussions that highlighted its unconventional premise and the performances of its lead actors.
With its combination of spy thriller elements, mistaken identity and patriotic humour, the film offers a different approach to a genre that has recently attracted considerable attention in Hindi cinema.
Whether audiences ultimately view it as a “reverse Dhurandhar” or as a standalone comedy, Kaushik’s film has generated conversation by turning a familiar espionage setup into an unusual story about a spy who forgets his identity but retains his sense of patriotism.
