Kriti Sanon and Dhanush’s Tere Ishq Mein off to a promising start

Bollywood’s late November release Tere Ishq Mein has made a confident start at the ticket counters, giving both its lead stars and makers plenty to celebrate on opening day. The romantic drama, directed by Anand L Rai, earned INR 16.5 crore in its first 24 hours, industry tracking reports suggested on Friday.

The film brings together Kriti Sanon and Dhanush for the first time in Indian cinema, and early audience reactions point to their natural chemistry as one of the film’s biggest draws. Sanon, whose collaboration with Rai begins with this project, portrays a layered emotional arc in the story, while Dhanush shines in a character that blends quiet intensity with raw vulnerability.

Dhanush, returning to Hindi films after four years, last appeared in Atrangi Re (2021), which was also helmed by Rai. His comeback performance has received warm praise from film critics and viewers alike, many calling it one of his most memorable roles in recent years. Trade analysts noted that the actor’s opening-day numbers have now overtaken his previous Hindi film debut benchmark set by Raanjhanaa, which opened at INR 5.03 crore in 2013.

While the start is being seen as robust, Tere Ishq Mein could not outpace 2025’s highest romantic-drama opener, Saiyaara, which reportedly collected INR 21.5 crore on its release day. Saiyaara, featuring fresh faces Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday, has continued to dominate conversation among young moviegoers through the year.

Still, industry voices pointed out that Rai’s latest secured the second-highest opening for a romantic drama so far in 2025, keeping the genre alive in a box-office climate increasingly tilted towards action titles.

Cinema owners in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad reported steady footfall in evening shows, particularly among couples and families, despite winter setting in across large parts of Pakistan. Several viewers shared their thoughts outside cinemas, saying the film’s music, emotional beats and scenic storytelling stood out more than the usual opening-day hype.

The director’s long-running working partnership with Dhanush, now in its third Hindi outing, appears to be striking a chord again. For now, attention turns to the first weekend, where the film’s word-of-mouth momentum will decide if the love story has the legs to chase bigger milestones. The big question being asked in trade circles is whether it can hold pace to eventually cross INR 150 crore in the coming weeks, with new films queuing up for December.

Early signs suggest a promising road ahead, but box office journeys are rarely predictable, especially for heartfelt romances competing in a loud, fast-paced release calendar.