Dhanush and Kriti Sanon’s romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein collected approximately ₹16-16.5 crore net in India on its opening day Friday, marking the second-biggest debut for a romantic film in 2025.
The Aanand L Rai-directed film trails only Ahaan Panday’s Saiyaara, which opened to ₹21.5 crore earlier this year and set the benchmark for Hindi romances in the post-pandemic era.
The opening also represents Dhanush’s biggest Hindi debut to date, surpassing his 2013 film Raanjhanaa which collected ₹5.03 crore on day one.
“With Tere Ishk Mein, Dhanush has unlocked a massive career milestone,” industry tracker Sacnilk reported, noting he’s become only the second Tamil actor after Rajinikanth to score double-digit opening days across Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu films.
Mixed reviews don’t dampen box office
The film opened to polarized audience reactions. While some praised Dhanush’s intense performance, others criticized the storyline as problematic.
“More toxic than Delhi’s AQI,” wrote one viewer on X, referring to the capital’s severe air pollution. Several social media users called the second half “cringe and unconvincing.”
Despite the mixed word-of-mouth, the film’s opening day occupancy told a different story. Hindi shows recorded 25.77% average occupancy across India, with morning shows at 15.29% jumping to over 20% by afternoon.
Evening and night shows saw further increases, driving the strong day-one total.
Beating major 2025 releases
Tere Ishk Mein’s ₹16 crore opening comfortably surpassed several bigger-budget 2025 releases.
Akshay Kumar’s Jolly LLB 3 opened to ₹12 crore, while Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par collected ₹10.70 crore on day one. The film also topped Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force, which earned ₹12.25 crore.
This positions Tere Ishk Mein in the top 10 biggest Hindi openers of 2025, a remarkable achievement for a romantic drama without franchise backing or holiday release advantage.
The film performed particularly well in major metros. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad showed strong occupancies, with night shows exceeding 40% in several locations.
Advance booking momentum
The film entered Friday with solid pre-sales. According to trade reports, Tere Ishk Mein sold over 2.1 lakh tickets in advance, generating approximately ₹5.3-5.65 crore in pre-sales for Hindi shows alone.
Tamil shows contributed modestly, with about 26,000 tickets sold for ₹34 lakh, reflecting the film’s primarily Hindi-market positioning despite Dhanush’s Tamil superstar status.
The advance booking trend indicated strong interest in the Dhanush-Kriti Sanon pairing, their first on-screen collaboration. The film’s AR Rahman soundtrack also drove pre-release buzz, particularly the title track which trended widely on social media.
Reuniting the Raanjhanaa team
Tere Ishk Mein marks Dhanush’s third collaboration with director Aanand L Rai after Raanjhanaa (2013) and Atrangi Re (2021). The film has been positioned as a spiritual successor to Raanjhanaa, which became a cult classic.
Set against the backdrop of Delhi and Banaras, Tere Ishk Mein follows Shankar (Dhanush), a volatile student leader, and Mukti (Kriti Sanon), a researcher studying human transformation. Their intense romance unfolds against themes of longing, sacrifice, and heartbreak.
The marketing heavily leveraged Raanjhanaa nostalgia, emphasizing Rai’s return to tragic romantic storytelling. This strategy appears to have worked, drawing audiences curious about whether lightning could strike twice.
However, the film’s actual content proved divisive. Several reviews noted that Shankar’s character displays concerning possessive and aggressive behavior that some viewers found uncomfortable.
Career milestone for Dhanush
The opening pushes Dhanush past ₹100 crore cumulative total at the Hindi box office.
His previous two Hindi films, Raanjhanaa and Shamitabh, earned ₹62.75 crore and ₹22.45 crore lifetime respectively, bringing his cumulative total to ₹85.2 crore before Tere Ishk Mein.
With the opening day alone adding ₹16 crore and the weekend ahead, Dhanush has crossed the century mark in Bollywood, a significant achievement for a Tamil actor working primarily in his home industry.
Earlier this year, Dhanush delivered a double-digit Telugu opening with Kubera, cementing his status as a genuine pan-India star. His ability to open films across multiple language markets places him in rare company.
The weekend test
Trade analysts now watch closely to see if Tere Ishk Mein can sustain momentum through the weekend despite mixed word-of-mouth.
If occupancies hold or grow Saturday and Sunday, the film could target a ₹45-50 crore opening weekend. However, the polarized audience reactions create uncertainty about how collections will trend.
Romantic dramas typically depend heavily on positive word-of-mouth for sustained business. Action films and comedies can sometimes succeed despite mixed reviews, but love stories require audiences to emotionally invest and recommend the film to others.
The AR Rahman soundtrack provides an advantage. Strong music can keep a romantic film in public consciousness and drive repeat viewings from music lovers even when the story proves divisive.
Clash casualties
Tere Ishk Mein released alongside Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s Gustaakh Ishq, which opened to negligible numbers and was completely overshadowed.
Last week’s releases, 120 Bahadur and Mastiii 4, saw their collections collapse in the face of Tere Ishk Mein’s arrival. Both films failed to generate significant interest and were quickly pushed aside.
The clear field ahead gives Tere Ishk Mein runway to dominate screens for at least a week before facing fresh competition. Theater owners will likely maintain high show counts through the weekend based on opening day performance.
Netflix deal secured
Producers have reportedly signed a lucrative OTT deal with Netflix, making it the film’s digital partner. Tere Ishk Mein will premiere on the streaming platform after completing its theatrical run, though no official date has been announced.
OTT deals have become crucial revenue streams for Hindi films, sometimes matching or exceeding theatrical earnings. A strong Netflix deal provides financial cushion even if theatrical collections underperform expectations.
Production details
The film is produced by Aanand L Rai, Himanshu Sharma, Bhushan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar through T-Series and Colour Yellow Productions. The screenplay comes from Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav.
Beyond Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, the cast includes veteran actor Prakash Raj, though reviews note his role feels underutilized given his stature.
The film was shot extensively in Delhi and Varanasi, with Rai leaning heavily on these cities’ visual character to create atmospheric backdrops for the intense romance.
What critics say
Reviews have been sharply divided. Some praise Dhanush’s committed performance, noting he brings intensity and vulnerability to Shankar’s complex character.
Kriti Sanon’s performance has drawn mixed reactions. Some reviewers call it her “best work,” while others feel the character lacks dimension despite her efforts.
The most consistent criticism targets the film’s second half, which multiple reviews describe as losing narrative focus and testing audience patience. Several noted that behavior portrayed as romantic passion crosses into toxicity.
Positive reviews emphasize the film’s emotional depth, AR Rahman’s music, and Rai’s visual storytelling. Negative reviews focus on problematic character dynamics and an unsatisfying conclusion.
The numbers game
Day 1 collection: ₹16-16.5 crore net (India)
Advance booking: ₹5.3 crore (Hindi shows)
Tickets sold: 2.1+ lakh (Hindi), 26,000 (Tamil)
Overall occupancy: 25.77%
Comparison to Raanjhanaa: ₹5.03 crore day 1 (2013)
Position: 2nd biggest romantic opener of 2025
Saiyaara opening: ₹21.5 crore (2025’s top romantic film)
Jolly LLB 3 opening: ₹12 crore
Sitaare Zameen Par opening: ₹10.70 crore
Dhanush’s Hindi career total: Now crossed ₹100 crore
The coming days will reveal whether Tere Ishk Mein can overcome its mixed reception to post a solid weekend or if word-of-mouth concerns will dampen collections. For now, the ₹16 crore opening gives the film a strong foundation regardless of what follows.
Also Read / De De Pyaar De 2 Box Office Collection: Ajay Devgn’s Sequel Opens Strong With A ₹9.45 Crore Day One.
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