Nikita Roy Review: Sonakshi Sinha’s battle against superstition in this psycho-thriller falls flat, fades fast

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* Name: Nikita Roy
* Director: Kush Sinha
* Actors: Sonakshi Sinha, Paresh Rawal, Suhail Nayyar
* Screenwriters: Belal Khalique, Pavan Kirpalani, Neel Mohanty
* Rating: 2 out of 5 stars (or points)

In this version, I’ve used “actors” instead of “cast”, and “screenwriters” instead of “writers”. Additionally, I’ve changed the rating to use “stars” or “points” to make it more common and easy to understand.

In the bustling city of London, Nikita Roy (Sonakshi Sinha) embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind her brother Sanal Roy’s (Arjun Rampal) mysterious murder. They are members of a community dedicated to challenging superstitions and exposing the profitable ventures that rely on such beliefs. Their investigation leads them towards the enigmatic figure, Amar Dev (Paresh Rawal), a powerful spiritual leader. With no allies in this struggle, Nikita’s journey revolves around unveiling Amar Dev’s hidden identity.

For Nikita Roy, what works particularly well is avoiding a preachy or overly dramatic tone. Some haunting scenes paired with an ominous soundtrack effectively create shivers. The editing is sharp, and the real tension doesn’t fully unfold until after the interval, so be patient during the first half’s gradual development.

The movie initially appears to be a mystery, then attempts to scare you, eventually shifting into a suspenseful genre – and yes, it’s as perplexing as it seems. There are distinct reminders of Saurabh Shukla’s narrative from PK, but setting the supernatural tale in London doesn’t quite resonate. Indian viewers generally associate superstition with rural areas nestled in coastal or desert regions. With films like Bramayugam and Tumbbad setting new standards for suspense, Nikita Roy seems misplaced. If the comparisons appear unusual, it’s because the plot itself is, too.

Delivers Solid Acting when Motivated, Sonakshi Sinha has demonstrated this in Lootera and Dahaad. However, in her role as Nikita Roy, she falls a bit short. I anticipated a powerful, emotional outburst or intense display of anger, but it seemed too subdued for the circumstances.

Suhail Nayyar, known as Jolly on social media and smitten with Nikita, presents an intriguing picture. It’s debatable whether his British accent was deliberate or not, but it becomes grating over time. I found myself growing weary of how often he used the term “alright” in such an exaggerated manner.

In a different world, instead of Nikita Roy being the movie that highlights Paresh Rawal’s exceptional acting skills, an engaging dialogue between characters Amar Dev and Kaanji Bhai from Oh My God would make a much more entertaining spectacle, undoubtedly causing people to consume more popcorn.

In a visually appealing cameo, Arjun Rampal plays Sanal Roy, while Freya (Kalliroi Tziafeta) impressively showcases her acting skills in limited screen time.

A more streamlined and unified screenplay might have better served Kush Sinha’s direction, according to Nikita Roy. If you’re an ardent fan of Sonakshi Sinha, it could be worth watching. Otherwise, a single viewing should pose no significant issue.

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2025-07-18 15:07