As Pati Patni Aur Woh Do releases to controversy, the cast's real views on infidelity — and why this debate is bigger than the film itself.
There's a reason Bollywood's promotional circuit has become its own spectacle. In the lead-up to Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, one question kept surfacing in interview after interview — one that no amount of PR scripting could fully deflect: Is this film normalising cheating? And somewhere in the middle of that chaos, Sara Ali Khan said exactly what audiences were thinking. "Once a cheater, always a cheater." The room, reportedly, went quiet for a beat — and then broke into laughter. But the sentiment lingered.
What makes this moment stand out isn't just the phrase itself — it's the sharp contrast it creates with Ayushmann Khurrana's measured, carefully crafted defence of the film. One actor drawing blood. The other offering diplomatic cover. And together, they've accidentally turned the film's press tour into a genuine conversation about loyalty, comedy, and what Bollywood is really saying when it dresses up infidelity as a punchline.
What Is Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, Exactly?
Directed by Mudassar Aziz — the same filmmaker behind the 2019 hit Pati Patni Aur Woh — the sequel is a standalone spiritual follow-up, not a direct continuation. Ayushmann Khurrana steps into the role of Prajapati Pandey, a married man whose personal life descends into a spiral involving not one, but two other women. The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Renu Ravi Chopra, and Krishan Kumar under the T-Series banner.
Ayushmann KhurranaPrajapati Pandey – the "chosen sufferer"
Sara Ali KhanChanchal – the bold, no-nonsense character
Rakul Preet SinghThe "sigma / alpha" character
Wamiqa GabbiReturns to work with Ayushmann again
The film released on May 15, 2026, and has already sparked more conversation outside the cinema hall than inside it — which, depending on who you ask, is either a marketing triumph or a creative miscalculation.
Sara Ali Khan's "Once A Cheater, Always A Cheater" Moment — What Really Happened
Sara Ali Khan's candid remarks about infidelity during the film's promotional run weren't a scripted soundbite — they emerged organically from a press interaction where the cast was being quizzed on their personal takes on loyalty. Sara, playing the character Chanchal in the film, stayed firmly in character — and out of it — by refusing to sugarcoat what cheating actually means.
Her position, expressed across multiple interactions, reflects a generational shift in how younger actors engage with the content they sign on for. Rather than simply defending the film's premise, Sara acknowledged the real-world stakes of infidelity, lending her words a sincerity that went beyond promotion. Fans on social media latched onto the statement almost immediately, with the phrase trending as a standalone declaration of relationship values.
"Once a cheater, always a cheater."— Sara Ali Khan, during Pati Patni Aur Woh Do promotions, May 2026
The statement landed with particular weight given the film's subject matter. It also created an interesting dynamic — here was a lead actress seemingly undercutting the premise of the film she was actively promoting. But looked at differently, it was actually a clever piece of audience engagement: Sara wasn't apologising for the film; she was signalling to viewers that the women in the story aren't doormats, and neither is she.
Where Does Ayushmann Actually Stand?
Ayushmann Khurrana's response to the backlash has been characteristically measured. When pressed on whether the film uses comedy to normalise cheating, Ayushmann pushed back on the framing entirely — arguing that critics are reading the trailer's surface rather than the story's soul.
"Women in the film have the most agency. I am the one — the chosen sufferer. We are not glorifying cheating. It's not about infidelity. It's a comedy of errors. And in the end, you will never say it isn't progressive, or that it isn't a 2026 value film."— Ayushmann Khurrana, interview with Outlook India, May 2026
Ayushmann's defence rests on three pillars: that the film's ending brings everyone together, that the female characters hold narrative power, and that the comedy genre has always used exaggerated scenarios to illuminate truths rather than endorse them. He also stressed that he would never associate himself with a regressive project given his carefully curated filmography — one that includes Vicky Donor, Badhaai Ho, and Dream Girl.
So does Ayushmann agree with Sara's "once a cheater" stance? Not directly. But he also doesn't disagree with it in spirit. His position is more nuanced: the character Prajapati Pandey gets his comeuppance, and the film uses his situation as a mirror, not a manual. Whether audiences buy that distinction is what the box office will ultimately tell us.
Why The Backlash Is More Nuanced Than It Looks
The criticism directed at Pati Patni Aur Woh Do isn't unprecedented in Hindi cinema, but its timing says something important about where audience sensibilities are in 2026. The original Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978) was a product of its time — broad, bawdy, and built on the assumption that a man's wandering eye was, at worst, a lovable character flaw. The 2019 remake with Kartik Aaryan tried to update that premise but still caught flak for a dialogue that trivialised marital rape, ultimately leading to an edited re-release.
This sequel arrives at a moment when social media holds Bollywood to a far higher standard of accountability — and where audiences aren't willing to laugh past problematic premises simply because the packaging is glossy. The debate isn't really about whether the film is funny. It's about what stories we choose to tell, who gets to be the butt of the joke, and whether labelling something "a comedy of errors" is sufficient moral cover.
Sara Ali Khan Believes Cheaters Never Change; Ayushmann Khurrana, Rakul Preet Singh Disagree. We Say, Once Cheater… - https://t.co/XTlhlucrIN #AyushmannKhurrana #Cheating #RakulPreetSingh #SaraAliKhan pic.twitter.com/73a9PVXi6P
— Hauterrfly (@thehauterrfly) May 18, 2026
Timeline: From Announcement to Controversy
- October 2024
Film officially announced with Ayushmann Khurrana headlining, joined by Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, and Wamiqa Gabbi. Mudassar Aziz returns to direct under T-Series and B.R. Studios.
- August 2025
Crew faces assault incident during Prayagraj shoot, drawing early media attention to the production.
- Early 2026
Release date shifted from original Holi 2026 (March 4) to May 15, 2026, to allow for post-production polishing.
- May 2, 2026
Trailer released. Immediate backlash on social media accusing the film of promoting or normalising infidelity.
- May 13–14, 2026
Promotional interviews intensify. Sara Ali Khan's "once a cheater, always a cheater" statement goes viral. Ayushmann defends the film as "a comedy of errors" and insists women have the most agency.
- May 15, 2026
Film releases nationwide across 6,800+ shows. Opens to a ₹4.80 crore first-day net collection.
- May 17–18, 2026
Weekend numbers climb steadily. Film crosses ₹21 crore 3-day net and enters the top 10 Bollywood grossers of 2026.
What Happens Next: The Road Ahead For The Film — And The Debate
Whether Pati Patni Aur Woh Do holds through its second weekend will depend on two things: how quickly new viewers, persuaded by positive word-of-mouth, replace opening-weekend crowds; and whether the "cheating" debate amplifies or subsides in mainstream conversation. Typically, a clean, family-friendly comedy with strong Day 3 numbers signals the potential for a solid extended run — especially in summer, when school holidays drive family footfalls.
More broadly, the infidelity debate this film has sparked is unlikely to fade with the film itself. Ayushmann and Sara — who are also set to co-star in the spy-comedy Udta Teer later in 2026 — have established themselves as a pairing with genuine on-screen chemistry and off-screen candour. Sara's willingness to say the quiet part loudly, even at the risk of undercutting her own film, is exactly the kind of thing that builds long-term credibility with audiences who are tired of rehearsed promotional talking points.
And Ayushmann? His track record of choosing "conversation-starter" films means he's unlikely to feel the critical heat long-term, even if the box office doesn't match the 2019 benchmark. The real measure of this film's legacy will be whether the conversation it accidentally started — about comedy, accountability, and the agency of women in stories built around their pain — outlasts its theatrical run.
Other Articles to Read:
- Welcome To The Jungle Title Track Reveals The Ultimate Comedy Madness Of 2026
- Aamir Khan: Thugs of Hindostan Could Have Been Sholay – Real Reason It Failed
- RJ Mahvash Reveals What Actually Happened Between Her And Yuzvendra Chahal
- Why Did Salman Khan Post Shirtless 'Alone & Lonely' Pic? Reactions Pour In
