Deva Movie Review and Release LIVE Updates: Shahid Kapoor starrer off to poor start at the box office

Compared to Shahid Kapoor’s previous film Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, which debuted with ₹6.7 crore, Deva has had a weaker start. However, with multiple films competing at the box office—Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force, Ram Charan’s Game Changer, and Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency—experts consider it a reasonable opening. In fact, while Deva earned around Rs 5 crore on Friday, Sky Force collected nearly half of that, at Rs 2.75 crore.

Shahid Kapoor has responded to the recent edits made by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to his upcoming film Deva, which included trimming a kissing scene with Pooja Hegde. Speaking to News24, the actor downplayed the impact of the changes, stating that only "three minor modifications" were made and that they do not alter the essence of the action-thriller. Kapoor further emphasised that director Rosshan Andrrews has incorporated the suggested edits without compromising the film’s vision. Despite the CBFC’s intervention, he reassured fans that Deva remains intact in its core storytelling and high-octane action sequences.

Although the film managed to generate buzz online, it recorded an earning of just Rs1.69 crore from advance ticket sales for its 2D Hindi shows and an additional Rs 64,140 from its ICE format screenings.

Shahid Kapoor’s much-anticipated action thriller Deva has become the latest Bollywood film to fall victim to online piracy.The movie that marks the actor's return to the big screen after nearly a year, was reportedly leaked online with pirated sites offering high definition (HD) prints within just of its theatrical release.The leak poses as a significant challenge for the makers and the movie's box office run. This comes shortly after box office tracking sites reported a low advance booking for the film estimated between Rs 1-3 crore. While the film is poised to gain momentum over the weekend, relying heavily on word of mouth and favourable reviews, the leak could just affect its overall performance.

In a journey spanning over two decades, Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor has never shied away from experimenting with his looks to transform into the characters he has played-whether it's Tommy Singh in Udta Punjab, Haider Meer in Haider, or Dev Ambre in the upcoming film Deva.

Shahid strongly believes that nothing is too much to invest in a character especially for those who love what they do.

Asked how much is too much to invest in a character, Shahid told IANS: "Nothing is too much, you know, if you love what you do, then why is anything too much?"

The 43-year-old star added: "So I would say whatever it takes to get the job done, but of course we are professional actors, you know, you don't need to actually do something. I think that's something sometimes people think that an actor should prep like that."

"Some actors also think like that, but I don't at all prescribe to that kind of a mindset. I think it's a job and you should know professionally how to do it. But you should give everything that you have to make it the best that it can be."

Ever since his debut in 2003 with "Ishq Vishk", Shahid has given memorable characters with films such as "Vivah", "Phata Poster Nikhla Hero", "Jab We Met", "Haider", "Udta Punjab", "Kabir Singh" and "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya".

Shahid, who effortlessly embraces different roles each with a spoonful of his signature swag, has upped his own ante with every performance on screen.

Talking about how he does it, Shahid said: "I think it's a journey that you have, which is very personal as an actor with yourself. And of course, there is a strong element of wanting to give the audience a great experience when they come into the theater."

"I think with time and post-COVID, all of us actors have recognized the fact that it's not that easy to get the audience in the theaters like how it used to be before COVID. They like to watch stuff at home and stuff. So we are aware of that. And we want to really give you an amazing experience because the love of cinema is always watching something on the big screen. So that would always be the charm of filmmaking for all of us.

Talking about his upcoming film, he said that Deva is a film that he feels should definitely be watched on the big screen.

"It's a big screen experience. And not just the character, but the world of the film is something that should be experienced in the theater. And it's now out on the 31st of Jan. So yes, a lot of effort, a lot of work, a lot of heart has gone into Deva."

Shahid Kapoor has received acclaim for his role in the action thriller 'Deva', which has been labeled an "absolute banger." However, some viewers have pointed out that its opening scene shares similarities with the Malayalam film 'Mumbai Police', also directed by Rosshan Andrrews. This resemblance has sparked discussions about the film's originality. Despite this, 'Deva' has managed to keep audiences engaged with its captivating story and powerful performances.

As 'Deva' captivates audiences with its engaging storyline and intense performances, many users on X (formerly Twitter) have declared the film a “must-watch.” Early reactions emphasize Shahid's compelling portrayal of a rebellious cop, with fans praising the film's thrilling action sequences and gripping narrative. Viewers are calling it one of Kapoor's finest performances.

A user said, “MASTERPIECE ALERT! Shahid Kapoor delivers a career-defining performance as the fierce & unhinged cop, and Rosshan Andrrews crafts an absolute banger of an action thriller! The intensity, Deva a must-watch".

“Deva Fantastic movie love the action of Shahid Kapoor,” another added.

A film lover wrote, “Undisputed Winner. Crackling Performance and Hard hitting Climax. Shahid Kapoor nailed it".

Another person wrote, “Deva Shahid Kapoor's artistry carries a depth that resonates with the soul. Every role he takes on unveils a new dimension of life, as if he’s presenting a philosophy through cinema. Wishing him all the best for his upcoming film!”.

'Deva' is the first Hindi film directed by well-known Malayalam director Rosshan Andrrews. Produced by Zee Studios and Siddharth Roy Kapur, the movie tells the story of a brilliant but rebellious police officer named Dev Ambre, played by Shahid. As he investigates a high-profile case, he discovers layers of deceit and betrayal. This is Kapoor's first time playing a uniformed cop, bringing new energy to the role. The film also stars Pooja Hegde, along with Pavail Gulati, Pravessh Rana, Kubbra Sait, Girish Kulkarni, and Aditi Sandhya Sharma in supporting roles.

The movie that marks the actor's return to the big screen after nearly a year was reportedly leaked online, with pirated sites offering high-definition (HD) prints within just a few days of its theatrical release.

The leak poses as a significant challenge for the makers and the movie's box office run. This comes shortly after box office tracking sites reported a low advance booking for the film estimated between Rs 1-3 crore. While the film is poised to gain momentum over the weekend, relying heavily on word of mouth and favourable reviews, the leak could just affect its overall performance.

A Bollywood Hungama report highlights that 'Deva' underwent three key edits before its release. One of the changes involved trimming a kiss scene between Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde by six seconds. Additionally, a scene featuring a "foul gesture" was removed, and certain crude words in dialogues and subtitles were replaced with milder alternatives to ensure a more viewer-friendly version of the film.

Earlier this month, Pooja said that the fact that she has been loved, accepted and appreciated in all the industries that she has worked in is a privilege and an honour.

When asked what she thought about being called the ‘Queen of Crossovers’, Pooja said, "I just felt that I was at that point in my career where the roles I do now will define me who I am as an actor. I just want to take versatile roles. There is this other film of mine in which I play a very different character as compared to this.”

She had added, “I am working in many languages. I've always believed in going wherever the content is good. I've gone by my gut feeling. My journey has always been like… It’s not just been that one pan Indian film.”

“I have worked in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, and I have been loved, appreciated, and accepted, which is a privilege I feel. It's an honour. It's truly humbling and it makes me work harder.”

Pooja will also be seen starring opposite Suriya in director Karthik Subbaraj’s much-awaited Tamil film ‘Retro’, which has now been scheduled to hit screens on May 1 this year.

Pooja Hegde, whose latest release is the action thriller “Deva”, has spoken about what makes cop films universally loved so much. The actress also shared that she has always been fascinated by people in uniform.

Asked why cop films with a spoonful of action and thrill is loved universally across all age groups, Pooja told IANS: “I think a good film is a good film and you can't keep a good film down. Maybe it's the flavor of the season, I don't know. Like maybe it's the mysteriousness of what they do and, you know, we're fascinated by them.”

She then mentioned how she has always been intrigued by people in uniform.

“I've always been fascinated by people in uniform, you know, there's just something about it that is so intriguing and it's, it's always like you see someone in uniform and you always just want to emulate them or you, there is this mystery. So maybe that's why.”

The much-awaited action-thriller 'Deva', starring Shahid Kapoor, hits theatres today. Ahead of the film's release, Shahid shared an emotional note on social media, as he looked back at the hard work and dedication he put into the project.

Taking to Instagram, the 'Jab We Met' actor posted a series of behind-the-scenes pictures from the making of Deva. Along with the pictures, he wrote, "One year of blood, sweat, and tears. 2024 was all DEVA!!! MERA DIL MERI JAAN. MERA KAAM MERI SHIDDAT. MERA ACTING KE LIYE PYAAR. MERI AUDIENCE KE LIYE MOHOBBAT. MERA SAALON KA EXPERIENCE MERA ANDAR KA CREATIVE BACHHA. SAB HAI IS DEVA MEIN... (My heart, my soul. My work, my dedication. My love for acting. My affection for my audience. My years of experience, my inner creative child--everything is in this DEVA). "Till today he was mine. From tomorrow he is yours."

With the perfect blend of acting talent and beauty, Pooja Hegde has worked with some of the finest filmmakers and biggest stars. However, the sought-after actress feels that while she has come a long way, she still has a long way to go.

Pooja started her acting journey in 2012 with the Tamil film Mugamoodi directed by Mysskin. She made her Bollywood debut opposite Hrithik Roshan in the 2016 film “Mohenjo Daro”.

Ever since then she has worked with big names such as Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, Ram Charan and Ranveer Singh. She will next be seen in “Deva” starring Shahid Kapoor.

Asked with a filmography filled with great directors and co-stars, does she feel she has made it?

Pooja told IANS: “I mean, I've made it far, quite far, but a long way to go in my mind. I don't think I want to put that pressure in my mind of making it or not. But yes, I have been here and still standing going strong.”

Pooja Hegde, who is one of the few actors to have made a name for herself in both South Indian and Hindi films, recently opened up about the challenges of managing her busy schedule and travelling between cities while working in both film industries.
When asked if she finds it difficult to work in both industries at the same time, Pooja admitted that "managing travel" and balancing everything together could be "challenging."

"Some days it is, I mean, the traveling part. I have to travel, so I always like jumping between two things. But also, for example, when I was shooting for Deva, I was also shooting for my film Retro, and they both are really different characters. So being able to snap out of one and go back into the other, balancing everything together, is challenging," Pooja told ANI.

The 'Retro' actress also shared that she chooses her projects based on the quality of the work rather than the language of the film.

"I have always gone with what the work is, and where I feel my role is good or if the film is good. I think that is more important to me than the language. I think if the work is good, it will reach people," she added.

The climax of the upcoming film ‘Deva’, which stars Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles, has an interesting story.

As per a source in the production, all the actors didn’t get the script for the climax scene as the director wanted the actors to have a sense of intrigue and as to what’s coming next to them. The film also stars Kubbra Sait and Pavail Gulati.

The director Rosshan Andrrews ensured that the final scene of the film was kept a complete mystery.

The source said, “The scripts shared with Shahid, Pooja, Kubbra, Pavail, and others didn’t have the climax scene written. The director wanted to create the same sense of intrigue and anticipation among the cast that the audience will feel when the film releases”.

This decision was part of Rosshan Andrrews’ strategy to maintain the element of surprise during the shoot and to ensure genuine, unfiltered performances from the cast. By keeping everyone in suspense, the director aimed to preserve the authenticity of their reactions and heighten the thrill of the narrative.

Shahid Kapoor recently featured on Raj Shamani’s popular podcast "Figuring Out". During their insightful conversation, the 'Kabir Singh' actor talked about his forthcoming release "Deva", his experience growing up with a single parent, and his views on parenting.
The actor revealed that he does not want his kids to do his job. He stated, “Kaafi saari cheeze hai, that I do not want them to take from me, I want them to be more confident inherently, which I think they both are. I wasn't inherently that confident. Ideally, I wouldn't want them to do my job, picture mein mat aana yaar. Kuch aur karo, Bohot up and down hota hai yaar, bohot rough hai. (Don’t get into acting. Do something else. There are many ups and downs, it’s very rough) If they want to, it's their choice, but I would be like choose something simple, this is too complex.”

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor hinted on Tuesday at a connection between his upcoming film "Deva" and the classic 1975 movie 'Deewaar,' noting the significance of Amitabh Bachchan's legendary character, Vijay, in his new project.

In 'Deva,' Kapoor portrays a brilliant yet rebellious police officer. The action thriller is directed by Rosshan Andrrews and also features Pooja Hegde and Pavail Gulati.

Earlier this year, the movie's teaser poster was released, showcasing Shahid smoking a cigarette in front of a mural depicting Bachchan as Vijay, the spirited dockworker with a beedi hanging from his lips.

When asked about the connection between 'Deva' and 'Deewaar', Shahid told PTI: "This question should be for Rosshan because he was the one who chose that. There is a relevance within the film."

'Deewaar,' which celebrated its 50th anniversary on January 21, is regarded as one of the greatest Hindi films ever made. Directed by Yash Chopra and written by the duo Salim-Javed, this action drama from 1975 tells the story of two brothers, Vijay and Ravi, who grew up in the slums of Mumbai. As they age, Vijay chooses a life of crime, while Ravi opts to become a principled police officer.

As reported by News24, while promoting Deva, Pooja Hegde was inquired about the highest-earning actress. She said, “I mean I don’t think I wanna talk about money. But, I hope, I am the most loved actress.”

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor is once again facing scrutiny from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding his upcoming film.

Ahead of the release of 'Deva' on Friday, January 31, it has been reported that a steamy scene had to be edited to secure a U/A certificate. The action-drama features Shahid in the lead role alongside Pooja Hegde, and the film underwent three significant modifications according to CBFC recommendations.

Director Rosshan Andrrews was asked to alter a lip-lock sequence, resulting in a reduction of six seconds from the kiss. Additional changes involved replacing "foul gestures" and several profanities with milder alternatives in both the dialogue and subtitles. Furthermore, the CBFC sought clarification from the filmmakers regarding references to Hutatma Chowk, a notable location in Mumbai's Fort area.

The final runtime of the film is now 2 hours, 36 minutes, and 59 seconds.

This isn't the first time Shahid Kapoor has encountered cuts from the CBFC. His 2024 romantic drama, 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya', which features Kriti Sanon, also had a lovemaking scene shortened by nine seconds—down from an original length of 36 seconds to meet CBFC standards ahead of its Valentine's Week release.

Directed by Andrrews, 'Deva' marks Kapoor's return to the action genre, portraying a daring cop who walks the line between justice and rebellion. Pooja Hegde is set to play a journalist and the love interest of Shahid's character in the film.

Ahead of the release of 'Deva,' in an AMA session on X, Shahid Kapoor revealed his favourite cop film. Many anticipated that he might name a recent movie, but he highlighted the one from the past, and it is one of the classics in all sense. Shahid Kapoor shared 'Zanjeer' is his favorite cop movie. Headlined by Amitabh Bachchan, the film was released in 1973 and to date is counted among the timeless gems.

Actress Pooja Hegde, who is considered a top actress in different film industries, says that the fact that she has been loved, accepted and appreciated in all the industries that she has worked in is a privilege and an honour.

Pooja, who is now gearing up for the release of her much-anticipated Hindi film 'Deva', recently participated in the trailer launch event of the film.

When asked what she thought about being called the ‘Queen of Crossovers’, Pooja said, "I just felt that I was at that point in my career where the roles I do now will define me who I am as an actor. I just want to take versatile roles. There is this other film of mine in which I play a very different character as compared to this.”

The actress further added, “I am working in many languages. I've always believed in going wherever the content is good. I've gone by my gut feeling. My journey has always been like… It’s not just been that one pan Indian film. I have worked in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, and I have been loved, appreciated, and accepted, which is a privilege I feel. It's an honour. It's truly humbling and it makes me work harder. I am a Mumbai girl who started my career in Tamil Nadu, got love and appreciation in Telugu but I'm from Karnataka originally, so maybe that helps too!"

Shahid Kapoor on Friday said about his "Rangoon" co-star who was repeatedly stabbed by an intruder in his highrise apartment. Khan, 54, received six stab injuries, including in his neck, in the attack around 2.30 am on Thursday. He was out of danger following an emergency surgery at the Lilavati Hospital where he was rushed, according to doctors treating him.

"We hope Saif's health is better. We hope he is feeling better. We all are shocked with what happened with him in a personal space. It's difficult to absorb (something like this) in a city like Mumbai. I'm sure the police are trying their best..." Kapoor told reporters at the trailer launch of his new movie "Deva".

Such incidents normally don't happen in Mumbai, added Kapoor.

Actor Shahid Kapoor is leaving no stone unturned to create excitement among his fans regarding his upcoming film 'Deva'.
After sharing film's teaser and video of the song 'Bhasad Macha', Shahid on Tuesday shared a picture of his rugged look with a cigarette in his mouth, exuding intensity and charisma.

The film revolves around Shahid Kapoor portraying a rebellious police officer tasked with solving a high-profile case that unravels layers of deceit, betrayal, and a dangerous conspiracy.

Apart from Shahid Kapoor, 'Deva' also stars Pooja Hegde as a journalist in a pivotal role.Directed by Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Zee Studios and Siddharth Roy Kapur, the film has generated immense buzz since its announcement.The film is slated for release on January 31, 2025.

Actor Shahid Kapoor has described his upcoming project, "Deva," as the most challenging film of his career.

The actor shared that this film pushes him in ways he's never experienced before. Shahid also revealed that the film delves deep into the duality of a single character.

Speaking about his character, Shahid shared, “The madness of Mumbai’s Deva reflects the madness of Mumbai itself. The character’s name is Dev, but there’s also an ‘A’ in it, which makes him Deva. All of us have two sides within us—a Deva and an Asur."

He went on to add, “For years, people have been telling me to make a massy film, a film that connects with the masses. This is that next step in my journey—a character crafted for the people. This has been one of the most challenging films for me as an actor, incredibly challenging on so many levels. But I don’t want to reveal too much. Watch it on January 31, and you’ll see that there’s a Deva in all of us. This is a heartfelt, beautiful film, and I can promise that audiences will truly enjoy watching it."

Shahid Kapoor, known for films such as "Haider", "Kabir Singh", "Jersey", and "Jab We Met", said his new film 'Deva' borrows its essence from the city of Mumbai as a character.

"We shot the entire film in Mumbai. Deva's madness is Mumbai's madness. The character's name is Dev but it has an (extra) 'A' (in its name). There are two types of animals within everyone. There is a Deva in us and there is an Asur in us too.

"This film is about seeing two personalities in one character. Mumbai is like that. It's beautiful and there are some edgy things too. That is what makes Mumbai so special," he said.

Actor Shahid Kapoor said that for a long time many people have been urging him to take on a "massy film", and his upcoming project "Deva" marks that next step in his acting journey. In the action thriller, Kapoor is essaying the role of a brilliant but defiant police officer. It is directed by Rosshan Andrrews and also stars Pooja Hegde and Pavail Gulati.

Produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur's Roy Kapur Films in collaboration with Zee Studios, the movie will hit the screens on January 31.

Kapoor unveiled the teaser of the film with fans at the Carter Road Amphitheatre and said, "'Deva' is a piece of my heart. For many years, people were telling me to do a massy film. That you go out there and do it for the masses. So for me, this is that next step in my journey. It's been probably my most challenging film. There is so much in the character which I don't want to reveal. You watch it on January 31."