'Bandhu 2.0': Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon And Rashmika Mandanna Serve Pure Nostalgia In 'Cocktail 2' Track. Watch
‘Bandhu 2.0’ from ‘Cocktail 2’ reimagines the beloved ‘Tum Hi Ho Bandhu’ with a playful meta twist, featuring Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna in a vibrant celebration of music and nostalgia.
The highly anticipated music video for ‘Bandhu 2.0’ from the upcoming romantic comedy ‘Cocktail 2’ has officially hit the airwaves, and it is every bit the vibrant, chaotic, and nostalgic ride fans were hoping for. Released via Sony Music India, the track serves as a modern reincarnation of the iconic 2012 chartbuster ‘Tum Hi Ho Bandhu’, bringing back the free-spirited energy of the original film but with a fresh, contemporary twist.
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The music video takes a refreshingly self-aware and comedic approach right from the start, setting it apart from standard Bollywood dance tracks. Instead of immediately launching into heavy choreography, the video opens in a bustling vanity room where Kriti Sanon is seen enthusiastically clapping along to the original 2012 ‘Tum Hi Ho Bandhu’ on her tablet. When she exclaims how good the song is, a doubtful Shahid Kapoor cuts in to call her crazy, warning that remaking such an iconic track will inevitably get them heavily trolled on the internet.
Check out the music video of ‘Bandhu 2.0’ here:
While Kriti defends the classic as “iconic,” Shahid points out that since ‘Cocktail 2’ already boasts an entirely original soundtrack, there is no need to trigger a sensitive online audience. The turning point comes when Rashmika Mandanna playfully chimes in, urging them to imagine what the anthem would look like if their characters – Ally, Kunal, and Diya – gave it their own spin. With the girls teaming up, a reluctant Shahid offers them an “audition,” setting up a hilarious narrative frame that carries through the entire video.
Once the iconic beat drops, the video transitions into a brilliant, meta video-within-a-video format that strips away the polished illusion of filmmaking. Rather than pretending they are on a real tropical island, the trio performs on an indoor studio stage complete with giant blue screens, massive lighting rigs, track-and-trolley camera systems, and crew members actively moving around them.
Rashmika Mandanna brings an infectious, high-octane energy to the frame, dancing in a playful boho crop top and striped skirt, while Kriti Sanon radiates effortless glamour in a green patterned dress with a bright pink underlay. Shahid Kapoor joins the duo in a breezy, open white linen shirt, matching their steps with the seasoned ease of a dancer who hasn't lost a step. The choreography seamlessly shifts through three distinct, visibly constructed sets: a sun-drenched artificial beach, a colourful retro street reminiscent of old Havana, and a packed indoor club bathed in moody red neon lights.
What makes the visual presentation truly captivating is its celebration of filmmaking chaos. The video openly showcases the mechanics behind Bollywood glamour – showing crew members using handheld leaf blowers to create dramatic hair flips, the actors laughing between takes, and the trio dancing on a spinning circular camera platform.
The narrative comes full circle in the final moments of the video. After wrapping the shoot, a thrilled Shahid looks at the monitor playbacks, shouting in celebration that they completely killed it. In a hilarious twist, Kriti and Rashmika turn his own words back on him, deadpanning, "Are you crazy? We will get trolled," before walking right off the set. Left alone with the footage, Shahid smiles directly at the camera and delivers a defiant final line, telling producer Dinesh Vijan to upload the track anyway: “Dino, daal de. Troll hue to ho jayenge!”
Musically, composer Pritam Chakraborty balances nostalgia with modern club beats perfectly. By retaining the original, unmistakable vocals of Kavita Seth and Neeraj Shridhar alongside Irshad Kamil's lyrics, the track honours its roots while delivering a fresh summer anthem that safely distances itself from lazy remixes.
‘Cocktail 2’ is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about romantic comedies of the season. Directed by Homi Adajania, the film is produced by Dinesh Vijan, Luv Ranjan, and Ankur Garg under the Maddock Films and Luv Films banners. The movie introduces a fresh love triangle starring Shahid Kapoor as Kunal, Kriti Sanon as Ally, and Rashmika Mandanna as Diya. ‘Cocktail 2’ is scheduled to hit theatres nationwide this Friday, June 19.
