Kriti Sanon is stepping into a new emotional universe with Aanand L. Rai’s Tere Ishk Mein, and the actress says the film has fulfilled one of her long–held personal dreams. Opening up about the project, Kriti revealed that shooting on the Delhi University campus felt like reclaiming an experience she never had during her own student life.
Reflecting on her real-life college years, Kriti shared that she had always missed the vibrant campus culture others often cherish. Translating her words, she said: “It was an unfulfilled dream, and it finally came true. I studied at the Jaypee Institute of Information and Technology, and while it was a great place, it didn’t have that DU-style college feel. I used to be jealous of my sister because she lived that life. I was always in uniform, studying like a crazy person. I missed that carefree college experience. So when Aanand sir told me we were shooting in DU, I was extremely excited—I had never seen that world. A dream of mine got fulfilled.”
Kriti says she is naturally attracted to stories that portray intense, all-consuming love something Tere Ishk Mein aims to deliver in abundance. “I crave stories that make you believe in passionate love—love that is beyond logic, beyond anything else in life. It can break your heart, it can change your life. This movie has everything pain, love, anger, fear.”
Having admired Dhanush’s work for years, Kriti finally got the opportunity to share the screen with him and she was surprised by the contrast between his on-screen intensity and off-screen ease. She shared, “He appears serious, but he actually has a very good sense of humor. I become serious during emotional scenes, but he doesn’t—his aura isn’t serious. The moment the director says ‘cut’, he is completely out of the scene, which is magical. Hats off to him. I can do that sometimes, but mostly not.”
Kriti clarified that despite the nostalgic connection many people draw between Tere Ishk Mein and Raanjhanaa, she consciously kept the earlier film out of her mind. She said ,”This story is completely different, so I wasn’t thinking about Raanjhanaa at all. I was simply happy that Aanand sir was finally directing me, and that I was finally getting to work with Dhanush.”
She believes her character Mukti is one of the most layered roles she has ever played. “It’s rare to get a character that gives an actor so much to explore. The way Mukti starts and where she eventually reaches those feel like two completely different people to me. Showing that journey is challenging. Himanshu writes complicated, grey characters, and when you have a director like Aanand sir-an emotional director, every note he gives is emotionally driven.”
Kriti concluded by saying the experience of shooting Tere Ishk Mein felt unique from the very beginning.“Very few films make you feel, while shooting, that you are creating something special. This one felt like that.” With Kriti’s emotional enthusiasm, Dhanush’s transformative performance style, and Aanand L. Rai’s signature depth, Tere Ishq Mein promises to be one of the most anticipated love stories of the year.