Kriti Sanon and Dhanush’s romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein has unexpectedly landed in the middle of an academic backlash after its Netflix release on January 23. While the film received mixed reactions from audiences, it was PhD scholars who sparked a viral debate online, leading to what is now being called the Tere Ishk Mein PhD thesis controversy.
The controversy erupted after a scene in which Kriti Sanon’s character claims she submitted a 2,200-page doctoral thesis. For real-life research scholars, the claim felt wildly unrealistic. PhD students took to X to point out that even writing a 300–400 page thesis takes years of sustained effort, discipline, and emotional resilience. The exaggeration quickly became meme material.
In the film, Kriti plays Mukti Beniwal, a psychology research scholar at Delhi University. She selects Shankar Gurukkal, played by Dhanush, as her research subject due to his anger and behavioural issues. Over time, Shankar falls in love with Mukti, but she does not reciprocate his feelings. While audiences debated the problematic romance, scholars focused sharply on the portrayal of academic life.
One PhD scholar wrote online that despite loving their research topic, writing the thesis remained one of the hardest experiences of their life. They said they wrote every single day for four years to complete a 385-page thesis, calling the 2,200-page claim “unbelievably ridiculous.” Similar reactions followed, with academics accusing the film of trivialising years of scholarly labour.
Directed by Aanand L Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav, Tere Ishk Mein released in theatres on November 28 last year. Despite online criticism, the film performed strongly at the box office. Made on a budget of Rs 85 crore, it reportedly earned Rs 148.5 crore worldwide.
However, the commercial success has done little to dilute the backlash. Many viewers argue that mainstream cinema must portray professional and academic settings with greater responsibility.
FAQs
Q: What is the Tere Ishk Mein PhD thesis controversy?
A: The controversy centres on a scene where a character claims to submit a 2,200-page PhD thesis, which scholars say is unrealistic.
Q: Why are scholars mocking the Tere Ishk Mein PhD thesis controversy?
A: PhD students argue that even a 300–400 page thesis takes years of effort, making the film’s claim exaggerated.
Q: Who directed Tere Ishk Mein?
A: The film is directed by Aanand L Rai and stars Kriti Sanon and Dhanush.
Q: Was Tere Ishk Mein a box office hit?
A: Yes, the film earned around Rs 148.5 crore globally despite mixed reactions.
