Despite moments of candour, the recycled anecdotes, lukewarm debates, and uninspired games leave this star-studded premiere underwhelming
Prime Video’s latest talk show, Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle, arrived with an irresistible promise – two of Bollywood’s wittiest, most unfiltered women taking over a genre long monopolized by Karan Johar. With Kajol’s irreverence and Twinkle Khanna’s razor-sharp wit at the helm, the show seemed poised to deliver a storm of sass, satire, and scandal.
Adding to the intrigue was the reunion of Salman Khan and Aamir Khan – a pairing that instantly evokes nostalgia for Andaz Apna Apna fans. On paper, it had all the makings of an explosive premiere. In reality, it played out more like a laid-back, self-conscious podcast that forgot it was being filmed for television.
Star power, diminished charge
The visual of Salman and Aamir entering together is, by all accounts, an event. Two of Bollywood’s most elusive superstars on the same couch should’ve been dynamite. The episode opens with a food tasting segment – featuring vada pavs, dabelis, and fresh juices – but the flavours, much like the conversation, never quite pop. A cheeky opening quip by Kajol about initially denying them the couch promises mischief, but the momentum never really takes off.
Tales we’ve already been told
The conversation soon veers into overly familiar terrain: Aamir’s obsession with perfection versus Salman’s spontaneous style, their camaraderie during Andaz Apna Apna, financial struggles in youth, and Aamir’s emotional turmoil during his divorce from Reena Dutta. Though these stories are heartfelt, they’ve been told and retold across interviews, biographies, and promotional rounds. For a show titled Too Much, the content is frustratingly too little.Even their discussion on marketing – Aamir the strategist, Salman the instinct-driven star – feels like a dated magazine feature rehashed for screen. These are legends of the industry, but here they’re reduced to safe, well-worn scripts.
When the masks slip
It’s only much later that the conversation finally strikes a chord. Salman opens up about a debilitating nerve condition – a painful ordeal he describes as a “suicidal disease” – and his grueling eight-hour surgery that eventually brought relief. The moment is raw, human, and refreshingly unguarded. Aamir’s reflections on therapy and mental well-being follow, though Salman’s preference for confiding in friends provides a contrasting, old-school masculinity.
One of the episode’s most memorable moments comes when Salman – with startling honesty – admits to frequently delivering “mediocre or below-average performances,” attributing his superstardom squarely to audience affection. It’s a rare flash of vulnerability, and perhaps the only line that lingers after the credits roll.
Hot topics, lukewarm takeaways
The hosts attempt to stir deeper conversation, nudging the guests toward thornier themes – gender disparity in casting, the age gap between male and female leads, the burden of fame. But these segments feel cursory and dated, more like tick-box inclusions than passionate debate. The discussions lack urgency or nuance, echoing panel chats from a college symposium circa 2010. Even the oft-recycled “men gossip more than women” trope makes an obligatory appearance, without any new spin.
Games that fizzle, not sizzle
To inject levity, Kajol and Twinkle introduce a couple of games – a “green or red circle” morality dilemma and a fishbowl challenge where guests tag each other with quirky labels. There are polite chuckles – Salman reveals he’s often seen as intimidating, and everyone agrees Kajol is a lovable bully – but the segments fall flat. Absent is the electric tension of a well-executed rapid-fire round, the very thing that made Koffee with Karan a guilty pleasure.
Ironically, the most spontaneous moment arrives right at the end when Aamir and Salman break into song. It’s charming, unrehearsed, and hints at the show that could have been.
Final verdict
Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle enters the chat-show arena with a title that teases chaos, chemistry, and candidness. But its debut episode settles instead for controlled politeness, nostalgia-laced storytelling, and flashes of emotional sincerity. Kajol and Twinkle undoubtedly have the charisma to lead a talk show that’s bold and blistering. But in this premiere, they play it safe – allowing two iconic guests to coast on autopilot.
Unless future episodes – featuring younger, perhaps more uninhibited stars – inject the necessary edge, Two Much runs the risk of being yet another glossy podcast masquerading as primetime entertainment.
