Baaghi 4 Review: Tiger Shroff’s Stunts Can’t Save This Confused Action Mess
The fourth film in the Baaghi series brings back Tiger Shroff in his signature role, this time with director A. Harsha steering the action. Released on September 5, 2025, this Sajid Nadiadwala production pairs Tiger with heavyweight Sanjay Dutt playing the antagonist, while Sonam Bajwa and Harnaaz Sandhu round out the main cast.
This time around, the makers promised a darker, grittier experience compared to previous films. The Central Board gave it an A rating for intense violence, making cuts to 23 scenes. With Tiger’s physical abilities and Sanjay’s commanding screen presence, expectations were high for an action-packed ride.
The Plot Goes Dark and Messy
The film opens with Ronnie surviving a train suicide attempt, establishing a psychological angle early on. As a Navy officer haunted by his past, he begins experiencing visions that blur his grip on reality. Those around him question what’s happening versus what’s imagined.
His journey takes him across borders when a shadowy organization recruits him for anti-terrorism work. While chasing down threats globally, Ronnie confronts personal demons that refuse to stay buried. The screenplay attempts juggling thriller elements with emotional drama but never finds its footing.
The opening hour builds momentum with solid action and intriguing drama. However, things shift dramatically after intermission, veering into typical commercial territory. Songs appear randomly, emotional moments feel manufactured, and the psychological complexity promised early on gets abandoned for generic revenge plotting.
Performances Hit and Miss
Tiger Shroff excels at what he does best , delivering breathtaking physical sequences that few actors can match. His martial arts skills, parkour abilities, and willingness to perform dangerous moves create genuinely exciting moments. When the camera captures him in action mode, the film comes alive.
Where Tiger struggles is bringing emotional complexity to Ronnie’s fractured mental state. Scenes requiring vulnerability or psychological depth expose his limitations as a performer. I found myself wishing someone with stronger dramatic chops had this role to fully explore the character’s inner turmoil.
Sanjay Dutt brings gravitas simply through his presence. His villain radiates menace in every frame, making you believe he’s a genuine threat. Unfortunately, the writing gives him nothing beyond threatening stares and generic bad-guy dialogue. It’s frustrating watching a talented actor reduced to just looking intimidating.
Sonam Bajwa tries making something of her underwritten part. She brings warmth to her scenes but the script treats her character as decorative rather than essential. The romantic track feels obligatory rather than organic, with no real chemistry building between the leads.
Harnaaz Sandhu shows promise in her brief appearances. Like others in the supporting cast, she’s given little opportunity to create a memorable character. Everyone exists to prop up Tiger’s character rather than having their own meaningful arcs.
What Works in This Mess
The action choreography deserves real credit for creativity and execution. Fight sequences blend different martial arts styles smoothly, creating visually striking combat that keeps you engaged. The stunt team clearly worked hard designing memorable set pieces that showcase Tiger’s abilities.
Technical quality stays consistently high throughout. Cinematographer captures both intimate moments and large-scale action effectively. International locations provide visual variety, shot composition stays dynamic, and the overall production design feels expensive and polished.
Sound mixing during action sequences creates genuine impact. Every punch lands with force, gunshots feel powerful, and the sound design pulls you into the chaos effectively. The background score amplifies tension though it occasionally drowns out dialogue unnecessarily.
Watching Tiger perform his own stunts without obvious doubles adds authenticity that CGI can’t replicate. There’s something thrilling about knowing an actor actually executed those dangerous moves. For action enthusiasts, these moments alone might justify watching the film.
Where Everything Falls Apart
The screenplay is fundamentally broken. It wants to be a psychological thriller, international spy drama, romantic story, and revenge saga simultaneously. None of these elements receive proper development, resulting in a confused narrative that satisfies nobody. The story feels like it was assembled from leftover scripts rather than written as one cohesive piece.
Editing problems plague the entire film. Scenes cut abruptly without proper transitions, pacing lurches between rushed and sluggish, and the second half includes songs that kill any momentum built earlier. A tighter edit removing at least 20 minutes could’ve improved things significantly.
Every dramatic scene rings hollow because the writing relies on tired clichés. Characters speak in exposition rather than natural dialogue. Emotional beats feel calculated rather than earned. I never connected with Ronnie’s pain because the film tells us he’s suffering rather than showing it meaningfully.
The tonal whiplash between halves damages the viewing experience. Starting with a dark psychological premise then shifting to commercial masala feels dishonest. It’s like the makers couldn’t commit to either vision, hoping to please everyone but ultimately satisfying no one.
Character work beyond Ronnie is practically nonexistent. Supporting players have no backstories, unclear motivations, and exist purely as plot devices. The villain’s evil nature gets stated rather than explored. Without developed characters, emotional stakes remain frustratingly low throughout.
How Others Responded
Critical reception landed mostly negative. IMDb users rated it 2.4 out of 10, reflecting widespread disappointment with execution. Common complaints focused on the recycled plot, poor logic, and dialogue that made viewers cringe repeatedly.
Bollywood Hungama offered 3 stars, acknowledging the strong first half before criticizing how the second portion pandered to mass tastes over storytelling quality. They appreciated action sequences but felt the commercial compromises hurt the overall product.
Koimoi similarly awarded 3 stars, calling it a brutal experience for hardcore action lovers. Their review warned it’s not for everyone, praising Tiger’s commitment while noting narrative weaknesses can’t be ignored even by genre fans.
123Telugu went harsher, labeling it a routine disappointment. Their review highlighted that only action, Sonam’s presence, and Sanjay’s looks provided any value. Everything else, particularly editing and writing, received criticism for being below standard.
Public opinion split sharply. Some viewers loved the raw intensity and called it unforgettable, while others described watching it as torture. This division suggests the film works only for a specific audience willing to overlook major flaws for action spectacle alone.
My Final Thoughts
I’ll be honest , I found Baaghi 4 exhausting to sit through. The action impressed me technically and Tiger’s dedication shows clearly. But without a functioning story or developed characters, those thrills felt empty after a while.
The darker setup promised something different from typical Bollywood action films. Instead, we got familiar beats dressed in grimmer clothes. I kept waiting for the psychological elements to pay off meaningfully, but they never did. By the end, I felt like I’d watched a stunt compilation rather than an actual movie.
Rating: 2.5/5
