Saif Ali Khan’s latest Netflix release Kartavya has started getting mixed but largely positive reactions on X, formerly Twitter, soon after its release on May 15. The crime drama, directed by Pulkit and backed by Red Chillies Entertainment, sees Saif returning to a serious cop role once again, something many viewers compared to his performances in Sacred Games and Vikram Vedha.
Unlike commercial action films that depend heavily on dramatic action scenes, songs and exaggerated hero moments, Kartavya takes a slower and more grounded route. The film focuses on corruption, caste politics, abuse of power and the emotional pressure faced by an honest police officer trapped in a broken system. Many viewers on social media appreciated that realistic approach, though several also felt the screenplay did not fully deliver on the strong setup.
The parallel conflicts form the emotional core of the film. While many viewers found the climax predictable, Saif’s restrained acting received praise across social media platforms.
One X user wrote, “Real, raw and engaging, but predictability holds it back.” Another viewer compared the film’s atmosphere to Netflix series Sacred Games and posted, “SACRED GAMES vibes… but darker. If Sartaj Singh had to survive in a corrupt North Indian village filled with caste politics, betrayal & bloodshed… you’d get #Kartavya. The film carries that same grounded realism but adds raw emotional brutality.”
A different reaction focused on the climax and Saif’s transformation in the film. The post read, “THE FINAL ACT GOES FULL THROTTLE. Once the betrayals start unfolding, ‘Kartavya’ becomes relentless. Bullets fly. Loyalties collapse. Emotions explode. And Saif’s final transformation from restrained officer to furious avenger is MASSIVE.”
The same review also criticised the antagonist and added, “However, the villain lacks impact, making the conflict weak and less exciting. Overall, the movie turns out to be disappointing and fails to deliver the gripping content viewers expect from Netflix originals.”
Another X user shared, “Saif Deserved Better. #Kartavya has an interesting premise, compelling social themes and a sincere performance by Saif Ali Khan, but weak writing and surface-level execution stop it from becoming the impactful crime drama it wanted to be.”
The film, which runs for around 147 minutes, is currently streaming on Netflix. While reactions remain divided over the screenplay and pacing, many viewers agree that Saif Ali Khan’s performance and the film’s grounded treatment make Kartavya worth watching for fans of gritty crime thrillers.
Unlike commercial action films that depend heavily on dramatic action scenes, songs and exaggerated hero moments, Kartavya takes a slower and more grounded route. The film focuses on corruption, caste politics, abuse of power and the emotional pressure faced by an honest police officer trapped in a broken system. Many viewers on social media appreciated that realistic approach, though several also felt the screenplay did not fully deliver on the strong setup.
Saif Ali Khan’s performance becomes big talking point
In the film, Saif Ali Khan plays Pawan, an honest police officer posted in the village of Jhamli. The story begins after a journalist investigating a child abuse racket linked to a spiritual cult is murdered. Suspicion points towards Anand Shri, played by Saurabh Dwivedi, while a teenager connected to the crime suddenly disappears. At the same time, Pawan also finds himself dealing with tension inside his own family after his brother elopes with a girl from another caste.The parallel conflicts form the emotional core of the film. While many viewers found the climax predictable, Saif’s restrained acting received praise across social media platforms.
One X user wrote, “Real, raw and engaging, but predictability holds it back.” Another viewer compared the film’s atmosphere to Netflix series Sacred Games and posted, “SACRED GAMES vibes… but darker. If Sartaj Singh had to survive in a corrupt North Indian village filled with caste politics, betrayal & bloodshed… you’d get #Kartavya. The film carries that same grounded realism but adds raw emotional brutality.”
A different reaction focused on the climax and Saif’s transformation in the film. The post read, “THE FINAL ACT GOES FULL THROTTLE. Once the betrayals start unfolding, ‘Kartavya’ becomes relentless. Bullets fly. Loyalties collapse. Emotions explode. And Saif’s final transformation from restrained officer to furious avenger is MASSIVE.”
Performances praised but screenplay criticised
Several reviews on X mentioned that the performances helped keep the film engaging despite flaws in the writing. One user wrote, “Kartavya feels outdated with its old-school police, mafia, and honour killing storyline. The film struggles to keep the audience engaged despite having a strong cast. Saif Ali Khan is the biggest highlight and perfectly fits the desi character with an impressive performance.”The same review also criticised the antagonist and added, “However, the villain lacks impact, making the conflict weak and less exciting. Overall, the movie turns out to be disappointing and fails to deliver the gripping content viewers expect from Netflix originals.”
Another X user shared, “Saif Deserved Better. #Kartavya has an interesting premise, compelling social themes and a sincere performance by Saif Ali Khan, but weak writing and surface-level execution stop it from becoming the impactful crime drama it wanted to be.”
Supporting cast also gets noticed
Apart from Saif Ali Khan, viewers also praised performances by Rasika Dugal and Sanjay Mishra. Some viewers felt Rasika had limited screen time but still left an impact in emotional scenes opposite Saif. Sanjay Mishra’s supporting role as Ashok also received positive mentions online.The film, which runs for around 147 minutes, is currently streaming on Netflix. While reactions remain divided over the screenplay and pacing, many viewers agree that Saif Ali Khan’s performance and the film’s grounded treatment make Kartavya worth watching for fans of gritty crime thrillers.
