Kunal Kemmu’s latest directorial VIBE has received a high-profile endorsement from former India cricketer Virender Sehwag, who praised the film after watching it in a theatre.
Speaking in a recent interview, Sehwag said he tries to watch a movie with his children on weekends and revealed that VIBE was one of his recent theatrical outings. The former opening batter, who had also watched Kemmu’s previous directorial Madgaon Express, described the new film as good and particularly appreciated its concept.
His comments arrive days after VIBE opened in cinemas on September 18, 2026, with early audience reactions showing considerable appreciation for its humour and performances, although not every response was equally positive.
What Virender Sehwag Said About ‘VIBE’
Sehwag spoke about the film while discussing his movie-watching habits with his children.
“Recently I watched Kunal Kemmu’s movie VIBE in the theatres. I try that i go with my children on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and watch a movie once. I had watched his previous movies also, like Madgaon Express. VIBE is also good, the concept is very great.”
His remarks indicate that VIBE was not Sehwag’s first encounter with Kemmu’s work as a filmmaker. He specifically referenced Madgaon Express, Kemmu’s 2024 directorial debut, while discussing the new release.
What Is Kunal Kemmu’s ‘VIBE’ About?
VIBE is an action-comedy written and directed by Kunal Kemmu. The story follows two friends whose lives are pulled into a dangerous and increasingly unpredictable situation, blending action with character-driven comedy.
Kemmu also stars in the film alongside Preity Zinta, Sparsh Shrivastava and Vanshika Dhir, while Yashpal Sharma and Dinesh Lal Yadav feature in supporting roles.
The film marks Kemmu’s second directorial project following Madgaon Express.
‘VIBE’ Marks Kunal Kemmu’s Return as Writer-Director
Kemmu's role in VIBE extends beyond appearing in front of the camera: he has both written and directed the film.
That makes the project an important follow-up to Madgaon Express, which marked his transition into feature-film direction in 2024.
Ahead of VIBE’s release, Kemmu also discussed the realities of theatrical filmmaking and how box-office performance affects future opportunities.
“Whether you like it or not, box office is your barometer and your report card,” Kemmu said at the film’s trailer launch, explaining that commercial performance influences the budgets and opportunities filmmakers receive for subsequent projects.
Preity Zinta Returns to the Big Screen
Another major point of interest surrounding VIBE is Preity Zinta’s presence in the ensemble.
The actor appears alongside Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastava, and her performance was among the aspects highlighted positively in some of the early social-media reactions following the film's release.
The film therefore combines Kemmu’s second outing as a writer-director with Zinta’s return to a prominent Hindi-film role, giving the project appeal beyond its action-comedy premise.
Early Audience Response Has Been Largely Positive — but Mixed in Parts
Sehwag's comments add to a wave of public discussion surrounding the film since its release.
India Today reported that early reactions on X were largely positive, with viewers particularly praising the comedy, performances and Kemmu’s work as both actor and director. Some viewers described the humour as “organic” and argued that the film deserved a theatrical watch.
However, the response has not been universally enthusiastic. Some early viewers felt that the film worked better in parts, while the Hindustan Times review praised its first half but argued that it lost momentum later.
That distinction is important: social-media praise and Sehwag’s appreciation represent individual reactions rather than a uniform critical consensus.
Rohit Sharma Had Earlier Joined the ‘VIBE’ Conversation
Sehwag is not the only prominent cricketer whose name has become associated with the film’s promotional cycle.
Earlier this month, Rohit Sharma was seen grooving to the song “Aisi Meri Vibe”, prompting a reaction from Kemmu. Cinema Express reported the interaction on September 11, a week before the film reached theatres.
Sehwag’s response is different in one important respect: his comments followed his experience of actually watching the film in a theatre.
Why Sehwag’s Praise Matters for ‘VIBE’
Celebrity endorsements do not establish the commercial or critical success of a movie, but they can extend its visibility after release—particularly when the reaction comes organically from a well-known figure discussing a personal viewing experience.
In Sehwag’s case, the former cricketer did more than simply mention the film. He connected VIBE with Kemmu’s earlier directorial work and highlighted the new movie's concept.
For Kemmu, that adds another notable reaction as VIBE continues its theatrical run following its September 18 release.
Whether the film sustains its momentum will ultimately be determined by its theatrical performance and longer-term audience reception, but Sehwag’s comments give the film another moment of attention beyond its initial release-week conversation.
