Reels, Reptiles, And Resistance: Shanaya Kapoor’s ‘Tu Yaa Main’ Bites Into Theatres

MUMBAI — Bollywood’s latest genre-bender, Tu Yaa Main, arrived in cinemas on Friday, February 13, 2026, marking a bold departure from typical Valentine’s Week romances. An official remake of the 2018 Thai thriller The Pool, the film is a high-stakes “creature feature” that trades red roses for reptilian jump scares.+1

The film follows the socio-economic collision of Avani Shah (Shanaya Kapoor), an elite “Juhu diva” influencer known as Miss Vanity, and Maruti Kadam (Adarsh Gourav), a “Nalasopara rapper” fighting for digital fame as Aala Flowpara.

1. The Plot: From Viral Collabs to Lethal Traps

What starts as a slick, “Gully Boy-coded” romance quickly descends into a nightmare. While on a trip to the Konkan region, the couple takes refuge in an abandoned scuba center.

• The Setting: A 20-foot-deep, drained-out swimming pool.
• The Threat: They find themselves trapped at the bottom with no way out—and a large crocodile as an uninvited guest.
• The Twist: Stripped of their filters and followers, the duo must rely on raw instinct to survive a “deadly game” where ego and class divide are just as dangerous as the predator.

2. Early Box Office & Reception

Despite facing a clash with Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo, the film saw a steady start, particularly in urban centers like Mumbai and Delhi.

3. Critics’ Corner: Style vs. Substance

The “Bejoy Nambiar touch”—known for technical flair and atmospheric cinematography—is on full display.

• The Positives: Critics at media praised the “natural chemistry” between the leads. Adarsh Gourav is being hailed as the standout performer for his intense, grounded portrayal, while Shanaya Kapoor is earning kudos for handling the physically demanding survival sequences with “surprising sincerity.”
• The Negatives: Some reviewers felt the 145-minute runtime was stretched, noting that the first-half buildup (the romance) felt a bit long before the “croc action” kicked in. A few logic-bending moments in the second half also drew minor criticism.+1
• Celebrity Endorsement: Karan Johar reportedly called the film a “traumatizing survival ride” on Instagram, joking that it made him take an extra dose of BP medication.

4. Cast & Crew at a Glance

• Director: Bejoy Nambiar (Shaitan, Taish)
• Producers: Aanand L. Rai, Himanshu Sharma, Vinod Bhanushali
• Lead Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Shanaya Kapoor
• Supporting Cast: Parul Gulati (Manager Lyra), Ansh Chopra (Maruti’s best friend), Amrutha Srinivasan
• OTT Partner: Netflix (Expected release: April 2026)