- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Tere Ishk Mein: The intense romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, has transitioned from a successful theatrical run to a trending topic on Netflix. However, while the film is pulling in high viewership numbers, it has found itself at the centre of a heated academic debate. Real-life research scholars and PhD students are taking to social media to call out the film for its allegedly absurd portrayal of higher education. Directed by Aanand L Rai, the film is being scrutinised for one particular scene involving Kriti Sanon’s character, Mukti Beniwal, a psychology research scholar at Delhi University.
The scene in question depicts Mukti presenting her research topic to a panel of professors. At the climax of her presentation, she dramatically announces that she is submitting a 2,200-page thesis. A standard PhD thesis usually ranges between 200 and 400 pages; a 2,200-page document would not only be physically impossible to bind but would likely be rejected by any university for lack of conciseness. One scholar, who spent four years completing a 385-page dissertation, posted, "Almost everything said and done in this film in the name of a PhD is a joke."
Her thesis is about treating violent tendencies in humans and in the same scene, she attempts to slap someone. #TereIshkMein https://t.co/w23jnRaWb1
— Desi Deep Dive (@DesiDeepDive) January 25, 2026
Tere Ishk Mein Box Office Success
Despite the academic inaccuracies and polarising reviews regarding its "toxic" portrayal of love, Tere Ishk Mein has been an undeniable commercial hit. Produced on a budget of Rs 85 crore, the film managed to collect approximately Rs 148 crore at the box office.
The film serves as a spiritual successor to the 2013 hit Raanjhanaa, reuniting Dhanush with director Aanand L Rai. Dhanush plays Shankar, a man struggling with severe anger issues who becomes obsessed with Mukti. While its theatrical momentum was slightly dented by the arrival of the blockbuster Dhurandhar, the film’s arrival on OTT has given it a second life albeit one under the microscope of disgruntled students.