Not in the sense of stopping-stop, for Kartik Aaryan has been consistent with driving good numbers at the box office. He has his own stardom, his own fan collective—and the audience loves him. We have his films keeping the theatres lively and full. So, no stopping on the grounds that he has the calibre. Yet, our greatest curiosity now centres on whether his upcoming film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri will be able to withstand Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.
The film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri has a good cast, with Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday in the lead. With strong backers like Dharma Productions and Namah Pictures, the film has all the massive potential to bring back 90’s romance. But is it the right time? With ragebait content getting all the hype everywhere, can a film with the eccentrically humongous title that oozes splashy romance mark the mark we all are hoping for?
Dhurandhar seems to stop nowhere
With collections soaring to Rs 639 crore and the holiday season propelling its ascent, Dhurandhar shows no signs of slowing down at the box office. While critics have raised concerns—debating its alleged propaganda and jingoistic undertones—we intentionally steer clear of that discourse. We do not intend this one to be a political posturing. Instead, let us celebrate Dhurandhar as a cinematic grandeur: a film elevated by a beloved ensemble cast, each displaying their artistry, and above all, helmed by Aditya Dhar, whose direction has magnetised audiences in droves.
The music revival has been one facet that contributed to the success. And with rage getting inside our minds, and the collapse that we see all around, people admire the violence on the screen. The blood that they see feels like a release. It is the hidden fuel of grievances. Patriotism, too, plays a role here—these are not mere conjectures; the box-office numbers tell us how a certain genre has become the audience’s cathartic release—and how ways have changed.
In these tumultuous times, a romantic comedy, though undeniably appealing, could become a fleeting escapist delight. What truly grips the collective consciousness, however, is the fervour of nationalism, as we can see from the box-office numbers—an intensity reignited by the recent teaser release for Border 2.
