Ever since its OTT premiere on Netflix this week, Aanand L Rai’s Tere Ishk Mein has travelled a rollercoaster journey from being an “amazing movie” to a sure “cringefest”, according to audiences. Billed as a spiritual successor to the 2013 cult classic Raanjhanaa, the film reunites the director with Dhanush, this time pairing him with Kriti Sanon.
While the box office numbers (crossing the INR 160 crore mark globally) suggest a certified hit, the social media discourse tells a much more chaotic story. From being hailed as a “masterpiece” to being slammed as “regressively toxic”, here is why Tere Ishk Mein is the most polarising watch on your feed right now.
Viewers are nearly unanimous in their acclaim of Dhanush’s performance as Shankar. His intense, chaotic, and unpredictable take on the protagonist instantly catches our attention, shifting from a grounded and brave Air Force pilot to a man consumed by a haunting, obsessive love.
Tere Ishk Mein further benefits from A. R. Rahman’s soulful music. Tracks like the title song and the climactic “Ussey Kehna” provide the emotional scaffolding for viewers who found themselves moved to tears.
Shot beautifully across Delhi and Varanasi, the film captures a gritty yet poetic atmosphere that Rai is famous for, grounding the larger-than-life emotions in a tangible world.
On the flip side, a vocal segment of the audience, particularly on Reddit and X, is calling out the film for what they see as outdated tropes and a messy screenplay.
Following in the footsteps of Kabir Singh and Animal, Tere Ishk Mein is facing heat for its depiction of alpha-male aggression. A large section of the audience believes that Shankar’s behaviour isn’t romantic, but deeply troubling and toxic.
A major sticking point for viewers is Kriti Sanon’s character, Mukti. Playing a highly qualified psychologist, her 180-degree turn to fall for a man she was meant to treat has left many scratching their heads.
In addition, many have called the film’s ending a bit bizarre. However, plenty of viewers have fallen in love with it as well, so deeply that they believe it has all the makings of a cult classic.
Tere Ishk Mein remains a Rorschach test for audiences on Netflix. Some see a beautiful tragedy. Others see a toxic red flag. Stay tuned for more updates.
Here’s how viewers have reacted to the film.