Superstar Dhanush is gearing up for the release of Tere Ishk Mein, his latest collaboration with filmmaker Aanand L. Rai and his first on-screen pairing with Kriti Sanon. The romantic drama marks Dhanush’s third outing with Rai after Raanjhanaa (2013) and Atrangi Re (2021), both of which earned widespread acclaim for their emotional depth. At a recent press conference in Delhi, the National Award-winning actor reflected on why he is drawn to complex, emotionally charged characters—and why filmmakers like Rai repeatedly entrust him with such roles.
Speaking to the media, Dhanush said that although Aanand L. Rai’s stories may appear simple, they demand tremendous emotional investment. “Aanand calls me for these kinds of films. I asked him, why do you keep calling me?” he shared. Before Rai could respond, Kriti Sanon playfully jumped in, saying, “You have the face of a heartbroken man.” Dhanush added with amusement that someone—either Kriti or Aanand—once told him he has a “great love failure face,” a comment he later found himself contemplating in the mirror. “I took it as a compliment,” he laughed.
Reflecting on his breakthrough Hindi role as Kundan in Raanjhanaa, Dhanush noted that the character’s simplicity is deceptive. “It’s a very complicated part to play; a little bit that way or this way, and you may end up not liking Kundan,” he explained. According to him, the role required immense precaution, practice and emotional precision. “It needed a lot of homework,” he said.
In Tere Ishk Mein, Dhanush plays Shankar, a character he describes as easy to like but equally layered. “Shankar has his own challenges, which I can’t say much about now,” he teased, hinting at the emotional terrain the story will explore.
For Dhanush, it is the difficulty of such characters that keeps him excited as an actor. “When an actor reads a script with these kinds of challenges, they feel excited to take it on and see it as an opportunity to do something meaningful,” he said. He emphasized that a challenging role isn’t necessarily violent or aggressive—it may require emotional subtlety, restraint and thoughtful craftsmanship. “These scripts are rare. The appeal lies in the challenge.”
With Raanjhanaa and Atrangi Re, Dhanush has established himself as a performer who thrives in narratives that blend vulnerability with intensity. Fans can expect Tere Ishk Mein to continue that legacy when it releases in theatres on November 28. The film also stars Prakash Raj, with music composed by A.R. Rahman, heightening anticipation for the upcoming romantic drama.