Deva review: Shahid Kapoor shines as this macho cop who breaks rules and goes rogue

Dubai: A cop who operates in the grey zones, with no regard for police brutality, is our titular hero in Deva. Shahid Kapoor embraces the role with undeniable swag.

He’s the kind of cop who shoves a gun into a woman’s mouth for questioning his rough treatment of her husband—who happens to have ties to a local gangster. He’s also the kind of rogue officer who makes vulgar gestures while interrogating a powerful politician. And, naturally, he does it all while serving peak thirst-trap energy—skin-tight khakis, body-hugging white shirts, and an attitude that says rules are for sidekicks.

Deva is what you get if Kabir Singh, the hyper-masculine character from his previous blockbuster, and Kiran Bedi, the real-life fierce cop, were to go insanely rogue. Or, if Singham had a rebellious, no-filter cousin who took the law into his own hands while serving looks, Deva would be it. It’s enjoyable largely due to Shahid Kapoor’s charisma and star power.

The movie opens with him facing a near-fatal accident just as he uncovers the identity of the assassin who killed his best friend and peer, played efficiently by Pavail Gulati. He loses his memory and must retrace his steps to solve the crime again, with the help of his other best friend and brother-in-law, fellow cop Pravessh Rana.

The movie’s story has been culled from Rosshan Andrrews’s Malayalam-language directorial Mumbai Police, starring Prithviraj. How much you enjoy Deva will be directly proportional to how unfamiliar you are with the original work. The motive was superbly compelling in Mumbai Police, but the director and actor seem to have altered the climax in Deva, which comes across as a massive cop-out. But if you aren’t acquainted with the South Indian film, then the payoff is pretty gratuitous.

There’s no denying that Shahid is the spine and soul of this engaging cop actioner. When it comes to playing a hyper-masculine hero and a renegade cop, he nails every obnoxious detail. He isn’t likable, but his appeal lies in his unwavering conviction that he’s right and that his methods are even more virtuous.

The camaraderie between him and his peers, played efficiently by Pravesh and Pavail, is also a strong point. Their kinship shines in scenes where they hunt down a gangster, and Deva, in his own twisted way, generously gives his bestie the credit—securing him a medal to boost his worth in his family’s eyes. It’s controversial, it’s unethical, but hey, that’s just the kind of emotional dude he is.

But redemption isn’t always that simplistic. His controversial methods of law enforcement finally catch up with him. Shahid Kapoor brilliantly brings to life the duality of Deva—the cocky, sharp-witted agent before the accident and the amnesia-ridden cop piecing his past together.

The downside to this taut thriller is that the women are given little room to shine. Pooja Hegde, as a fierce investigative journalist, and Kubbra Sait, as a cop sidelined by her sexist boss, barely get a chance to make an impact.

Hegde plays the proverbial woman who claims she fell in love with Deva because, beneath all his bluster and bravado, there’s an inner child she adores. The tired trope of women acting as saviors to reckless, renegade heroes feels a bit outdated.

But the movie works for the most part. There are enough twists and substance to keep us satiated. The thunderous background score as Shahid obliterates his hapless enemies is also fun to watch. While the payoff at the end might not be as effective as the Malayalam hit, there’s still a lot going for Deva.