With the much-anticipated film, Tere Ishq Mein, set to begin production by the end of the year, renowned filmmaker Aanand L Rai intends to delve into the nuanced and conflicting ideas of love in contemporary times. Teaming up once again with celebrated actor Dhanush, Rai aims to explore how today’s youth navigate romance.
“It’s not just the audience that is missing romance on the big screen; it’s a sentiment I share deeply,” noted Rai, a director known for his expertise in crafting love stories. “I can’t survive without making romantic films,” he emphasized. Thus, it comes as no surprise that he is gearing up for another love-centric project. “The project will go on floors by the year-end. We are in the final stage of writing and that will go on till the last minute,” he added with a smile.
Tere Ishq Mein will mark the third collaboration between Rai and Dhanush, following their successful ventures with Raanjhanaa in 2013 and Atrangi Re in 2021. With Kriti Sanon rumored to be the leading lady, the film has generated substantial buzz since its official announcement last year. Rai took his time to meticulously flesh out a storyline that juxtaposes two contrasting visions of love. “The two protagonists will have two definitions of love, and their differing perspectives will lead to conflict. It is stemmed in how today’s generation holds their emotions back. My generation has one definition of love, and today’s generation has another,” Rai explained.
Through this movie, Rai aims to better understand the love language of today’s youth—their expectations, their cynicism, and most notably, their calculated approach to relationships. “The current generation fears getting hurt. If you fear pain, how will love happen? There will be no love stories, only calculations. When people saw Atrangi Re, they thought, ‘I want a man like Dhanush.’ He will understand you, support you, but what will you do for him? This generation doesn’t think about that.
. They will hurt others, but they themselves must not get hurt,” Rai remarked.
He further elaborated on how the younger generation has an aversion to showing their vulnerabilities. “They have a fear of showing their sadness to the world. So, if their lover leaves them, they pretend not to be in pain. Are you in love or competing in a contest?” he questioned. This modern-day fear of emotional exposure and the resultant superficiality in relationships are central themes that Rai intends to scrutinize in Tere Ishq Mein.
Rai believes that relevancy is crucial for any artist, stating that Tere Ishq Mein is his attempt to stay attuned to contemporary sensibilities. “In 2011 with Tanu Weds Manu, I was in sync with the audience. It was a new kind of small-town love story, breaking the mould of foreign locales and chiffon sarees. For a creator, the biggest struggle is to stay relevant. That is possible only if I understand the present generation. I have a certain definition of love, but I have to evolve for them,” the filmmaker reflected.
In addition to Tere Ishq Mein, Aanand L Rai is also producing an OTT romantic drama, further asserting his commitment to exploring themes of love and relationships in multiple formats. By attuning himself to contemporary dynamics, Rai aims to capture the evolving landscape of modern love, showcasing its complexities and contradictions.
As the filmmaker gears up for another romantic narrative, the industry is keenly watching. Will Tere Ishq Mein capture the zeitgeist of today’s relationship dynamics? Only time will tell, but with Rai’s proven track record in the romance genre and his willingness to evolve with the times, expectations are high. This forthcoming project promises to be a poignant exploration of love as seen through the lens of different generations, and it is set to add another feather to Rai’s illustrious cap.
