Tere Ishk Mein

Tere Ishk Mein (transl. In Your Love) is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Aanand L. Rai from a screenplay written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav. A spiritual sequel to Raanjhanaa (2013), the film stars Dhanush and Kriti Sanon in lead roles. It follows Shankar, who develops a relationship with Mukti while she conducts her PhD research on him. After she ends the relationship and moves on, Shankar joins the Indian Air Force, and years later their unresolved past resurfaces when they meet again.

Produced by Colour Yellow Productions and T-Series Films,^[5][6] the film was officially announced in June 2023, coinciding with the 10th year anniversary of Raanjhanaa. Principal photography took place from October 2024 to July 2025, with filming taking place in Delhi, Varanasi, Leh, and Mumbai. The film has music composed by A. R. Rahman, cinematography handled by Tushar Kanti Ray and editing by Hemal Kothari.

Tere Ishk Mein was released on 28 November 2025 in theatres. It was also screened at the Gala Premiere section at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa on the same date.^[7] The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Dhanush and Sanon's performances and the music, but criticism for the story and screenplay.^[8] It was a commercial success, grossing ₹146 crore worldwide.^[9][10]

The movie starts with Shankar flying his fighter jet where he suspects a foreign airplane coming inside Indian territory with suspected intentions to attack. Being fearless and stubborn, he doesn’t follow the protocol and instructions and intimidates the suspected airplane. Appauled by this behaviour, his senior grounds him until he clears his psychology test. The file comes to the psychology department in defense ministry where Mukti works. She is pregnant and is seen throwing up in the washroom while having a glass of alcohol along with medication. As soon as she sees file on Shankar, she decides to go to Leh. She reaches Leh airforce office where she sees Shankar and the flashback takes them to 7 years back, and the film unfolds.

Shankar, the president of the Delhi University Students Union, is a hot-headed young man. Mukti, a calm and brilliant psychology research scholar, believes that aggressive behaviour can be transformed. She chooses Shankar as the subject of her PhD thesis, convinced that studying him will validate her belief and research. A complicated relationship forms between them. Shankar falls in love with her, not realising how conflicted she is inside.

When Mukti prepares to submit her thesis, she becomes overwhelmed with guilt. She is unable to tell Shankar that their relationship began as a research experiment; she also fears the intensity of his emotions and his rage. She gets her father to set a condition for marriage which she believes Shankar can't fulfill - that he clear the UPSC exam.

While Shankar dedicates himself to preparing for the UPSC, Mukti moves to the United States for further studies. Just as Shankar clears the UPSC prelims with an excellent score, Mukti announces her wedding to Jasjeet, whom she had met in the USA. Shankar burns her house by throwing Molotov Cocktails.

The shattered Shankar redirects his efforts towards his childhood dream of becoming a pilot. Mukti runs away from the wedding but still ends up marrying Jasjeet. She slips into alcoholism.

A few years later, Shankar has now become a flight lieutenant in the Indian Air Force. Jasjeet is in the Indian Navy, Mukti is a head counselor for the military and the two are expecting a child. Shankar disobeys orders during a Chinese attack and gets suspended. When he is ordered to undergo psychological evaluation, Mukti takes it upon herself. Shankar wants Mukti to pass his evaluation so he can join combat again. Mukti refuses, believing she won't survive her liver cirrhosis and wants Shankar to take care of her baby. Shankar agrees and also convinces her to sign his papers.

Returning to combat, Shankar refuses orders to eject and crashes his jet into a Chinese ship which was attacking the ship Jasjeet was on. Mukti dies during childbirth, weakened by her illness.

• Dhanush as Flight Lieutenant Shankar Gurukkal^[11]
• Kriti Sanon as Mukti Beniwal^[12]
• Prakash Raj as Raghav Gurukkal^[13]
• Priyanshu Painyuli as Ved
• Tota Roy Chowdhury as Yashwant Beniwal
• Paramvir Singh Cheema as Jasjeet Singh Shergill, navy officer at INS Vijay
• Chittaranjan Tripathy as Professor Mathur
• Jaya Bhattacharya as Professor
• Vineet Kumar Singh as V. Shekhawat
• Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Murari
• Sushil Dahiya as Inspector
• Maahir Mohiuddin as Rana

Rai revealed the idea of making Tere Ishk Mein was to put forward the sensibilities of Raanjhanaa keeping the Gen Z audience in mind.^[14] The film marks the third collaboration between Rai and Dhanush.^[a] Rai cast Dhanush once again because the actor falls within his creative "comfort zone".^{[15] [16]} Kriti Sanon was cast as the female lead, replacing Sonam Kapoor in January 2025.^[17][18] The film's story, screenplay and dialogues were co-written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav. The film is described as a spiritual sequel to Raanjhanaa.^[19][20] Dhanush and Sanon were officially confirmed as the lead cast.^[21] Tere Ishk Mein was first announced on June 2023 but did not begin filming until October 2024 due to Dhanush’s scheduling conflicts except for a promo shoot.^[22]

Principal photography began in October 2024, following the release of a promotional video that had been shot in June 2023 to mark the 10th anniversary of Raanjhanaa.^[23] The film was shot in Delhi and Benaras with Kriti Sanon joining the schedule in February 2025.^[24] Filming was completed in July 2025.^[25] Some scenes were shot at the Shri Ram College of Commerce.^[26] In April 2025, the Leh schedule of the film was completed.^[27] The final leg of shooting was completed in Mumbai.^[28] The climax scene was shot over a week, it left the actress Kriti Sanon emotionally drained. ^[29]

The film's soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics written by Irshad Kamil.^[30] The audio rights were acquired by T-Series.^[31] The film's title track "Tere Ishk Mein" was released on 18 October 2025.^[32] The second song "Usey Kehna" was released on 2 November 2025.^[33] The Tamil version of the film's title track "O Kadhale" was sung by Aditya RK, with the lyrics written by Mashook Rahman the song was released on 29 October 2025. ^[34]

An initial teaser was released on YouTube on 27 January 2025. A full teaser was released on 1 October 2025.^[35][36] The latter was screened with Kantara: Chapter 1 and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari as part of the producers’ strategy to capitalize on the Dusshera and Diwali theatrical periods.^[37] As a promotional event, the complete soundtrack album was launched at an event in Mumbai attended by the film’s cast and crew.^[38][39] The official trailer was released on 14 November 2025.^[40][41]

The official trailer received coverage from several media outlets. The Times of India noted its focus on themes of grief and unfulfilled desire.^[42] Hindustan Times noted the strong audience response and compared the narrative intensity to Raanjhanaa.^[43] NDTV also reviewed the trailer, commenting on the dramatic stakes and visual boldness.^[44]

The film was released on 28 November 2025 worldwide in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages.^[45] The film was also screened at the Gala Premiere section at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa on the same date.^[46] The film was released as Amara Kavyam in Telugu, ^[47] but released under same title in Tamil. ^[48] The film was distributed by T-Series Films all over India. The film received an U/A certificate suitable for above 16 years from CBFC on 24 November 2025 without any cuts. ^{[49] [50]} The film was distributed by AA Films all over India. The distributors asked single-screen theatres to agree to allot 4 shows in the opening week and 2 shows next week; only then will they get to screen the film. ^[51] The film was released in over 5100 screens across India in all 3 languages of Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.^[52]

As of 27 November 2025 the film made nearly ₹5.5 crore from advance booking that started on 24 November 2025.^[53][54] The film registered maximum advance booking in multiplex chains of Cinepolis and PVR INOX.^[55][56]

In India, Tere Ishk Mein opened to ₹17.93 crore (US$2.1 million) on its opening day, with an additional ₹1.34 crore (US$160,000) from overseas markets. The worldwide collection total as of Wednesday stood at approximately ₹94.78 crore (US$11 million).^[57]

Tere Ishk Mein equalled a lifetime domestic box-office total of its spiritual predecessor, Raanjhanaa after four days, which had collected approximately ₹60.25 crore in India.^[58]

As of 14 December 2025, Tere Ishk Mein has grossed ₹131.6 crore (US$16 million) domestically and ₹14.3 crore (US$1.7 million) overseas for a worldwide gross of ₹145.9 crore (US$17 million).^[4]

In Malaysia, the film opened at ninth place at the box office ahead of Indonesian movie Klepet, with the majority of its earnings attributed to the Tamil-language version of the film. ^[59]

Kiran Jain of Amar Ujala gave 3/5 stars and wrote "Overall, the film is must watch, especially for those who like to watch 'love stories".^[60]

Bollywood Hungama gave 3/5 stars and wrote "an intense love saga" supported by memorable dramatic moments and strong performances by the lead actors, though it critiqued the "overlong runtime and a weak second half" as factors that "severely curb its impact".^[61]

Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times gave 3/5 stars and wrote "A turbulent, uneven romance by Aanand L Rai, elevated by Dhanush, Kriti Sanon's powerful act".^[62]

Sana Farzeen of India Today gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Tere Ishq Mein attempts to portray a complex story of toxic love and obsession. Despite powerful performances, the film's problematic narrative leaves audiences unsettled and triggered".^[63]

Yatamanyu Narain of News18 gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Dhanush, Kriti Sanon Film Is An Angry Love Letter Written In Blood, Sprinkled With Petrol"^[64]

Dhaval Roy of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Dhanush and Kriti Sanon shine in this intense but inconsistent love drama".^[65]

Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 2/5 stars and wrote "It is a love story that is an advertisement that love can do without".^[66]

Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Aanand L Rai should have understood that films that work for Tamil audiences may not work nationally. Toxic masculinity or misogyny is a very accepted fact in South films and even in some Bollywood films, but that doesn’t really work for today’s evolved, educated and cultured audience!".^[67]

Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave 1/5 and wrote "Dhanush, Kriti Sanon star in a film which ends up being a confused, heavy-on-melodrama-and-glycerine mish-mash of genres that glorifies an 'aggressive, angry, alpha’ man".^[68]

• Tere Ishk Mein at IMDb
• Tere Ishk Mein at Bollywood Hungama
• Tere Ishk Mein at Rotten Tomatoes