Aanand L. Rai’s ‘Raanjhanaa’ may have been a major box office success when it released, but over the years the film has been reassessed by audiences who now believe it glorifies stalking and obsessive behaviour under the guise of romance. A similar debate is now unfolding around ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ — except this time, the criticism is happening in real time for the Dhanush–Kriti Sanon starrer.Zeeshan Ayyub, who played a key role in ‘Raanjhanaa’ and makes a cameo in ‘Tere Ishk Mein’, discussed the issue in a conversation with The Sheroes TV. Reflecting on Dhanush’s character in the 2013 film, he admitted that the criticism is valid. The actor said, “I did not defend it (the film) then, nor will I do it now. I saw a lot of people coming up with arguments to defend what’s portrayed in it. But I won’t. It (what was portrayed in Raanjhanaa) was problematic, and the film promoted it. The addition of aggression in one-sided love is not to be celebrated. It’s wrong, and anyone who defends it is also wrong.”Ayyub also stressed that such conversations are necessary. He added, “Many people say that it’s just a piece of art and ask us to move on. But that’s not right. If something problematic is depicted in a film, it’s important to have discussions about it and criticise it. It’s essential to have a critical approach to everything. Even if someone is making something right, we should still look at it critically. Only then will our society move forward.”Recently, ‘Raanjhanaa’ returned to cinemas with an AI-generated alternate ending. In the original version, Dhanush’s character Kundan dies after being shot as Zoya (Sonam Kapoor) stays by his side. The AI edit rewrites the climax — Kundan survives, waking up in a hospital as Bindiya (Swara Bhasker) and Murari (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) break down in tears of relief.This AI twist has sparked conflict between director Aanand L. Rai and production house Eros. While Eros has defended the modified version and asserted its rights over the film, Rai has publicly criticised the move, saying it was done without his approval and setting a “dangerous precedent.” Meanwhile, Eros has countered by accusing Rai of using elements from the ‘Raanjhanaa’ IP in his upcoming film ‘Tere Ishk Mein’, further escalating the dispute.
